In this blog post, we will introduce how to effectively convey the image of a trustworthy person that the Bank of Korea is looking for in your self-introduction letter based on your consistent attitude toward life and self-controlled values.
Background
As a child, I was satisfied with the simple happiness of everyday life, living with my parents and younger sibling in a bustling household of four. Of course, there were many children at school who were better off than me, who studied better, or who excelled in arts or sports, but I realized early on that just because I was not born with the same advantages or talents as them, it did not mean that I could not be happy. I have always believed that satisfaction derived from material possessions or the presence of others is ultimately incomplete and leads to dependence. In order to fill the void in one’s soul and become a complete person, one must cultivate a sense of gratitude for the life one has been given.
Although my parents could not provide me with a materially rich home, they gave me more love than any other parents could give in terms of spiritual affection, and this had a great influence on me. My brother and I did not receive gifts such as fancy clothes or school supplies like our friends from wealthy families, but we were able to grow up as children who knew how to be satisfied with what we had and use it carefully. school supplies like our friends from wealthy families, but we grew up as children who were satisfied with the clothes and school supplies our parents bought us and knew how to take good care of them. In addition, I realized that I could achieve much more through my own perseverance and hard work than I could easily obtain without effort, so I was able to grow steadily while experiencing firsthand the pride and fulfillment that comes from working hard to achieve something. Rather than children who grew up receiving more fish than they could eat, we learned the truth that in order to eat fish, we had to learn how to fish and clean it ourselves, so our growth was all the more remarkable.
School life
It was a time when I worked harder than others, without being frustrated by the fact that I had less than other children. After school, my brother and I helped our parents and couldn’t even think about quitting cram school, so we struggled to find ways to learn on our own and read through our textbooks. Unlike my friends, who were able to learn a condensed curriculum in a short period of time from talented private tutors, I had to start from a different starting line. However, as a result of my efforts to learn how to stand on my own two feet without relying on others, I was able to move forward little by little with my own will, albeit clumsily. I also used the wounds I suffered along the way as stepping stones to avoid making the same mistakes. The knowledge I gained through painful and difficult experiences had the advantage of being easy to remember.
Furthermore, I was not satisfied with just keeping this knowledge to myself, so I shared it with my younger brother, who was working hard every day like me, to reinforce my own knowledge and help him find an easier path. For example, when walking on a dirt road with many stones, it is easy to hurt your feet if you don’t wear proper shoes, and if there are large rocks, it is better to take a detour even if it is a little more trouble. I was able to teach my brother these simple facts from my own experience. When our efforts bore fruit and we were able to give our parents grades that made them happy, I felt a sense of pride that I couldn’t explain. It was nothing compared to the kindness our parents had shown us, but it made them happy, even if only for a moment.
Strengths and weaknesses
Even if I have difficult goals that are hard to achieve right now, I am the type of person who strives to become a talented individual who can keep my focus and grow by looking far ahead. Although human life is limited, we have many years to live and many trials to endure, so if we just accept the reality in front of us and live our lives, we will have nothing to pass on to our future selves when we meet them after a long time has passed. As the saying goes, “little strokes fell big oaks,” the amount of money I save each month may seem insignificant, but when I think about how much of an impact my efforts will have when they accumulate, I feel compelled to prepare for my future one step at a time.
Some people have expressed concern that my patience in putting off immediate pleasures for the future may cause me to miss out on enjoying life to the fullest. They say that in order to gain the energy to move forward into the future, I should not give all the rewards to my future self, but also reward myself in the present for my consistent efforts.
View of life
As a child, I lived a slightly harder life than my friends, but I never lost hope and worked hard every day to become a better person. I believed that if fate had dealt me a bad hand and forced me to start behind the starting line, I had to work even harder to catch up. If someone took one step forward, I took two steps forward; if they studied for two hours, I studied for two hours and ten minutes. The years I spent striving to achieve a little more each day allowed me to build a stronger foundation.
I have grown a little since then, but I am still not satisfied and am determined to continue climbing upward. Life is like a tower that stretches upward without hesitation, so even if it is tiring and difficult, it is only possible to continue growing by looking up at the sky and taking careful steps. Therefore, I am moving forward by imagining the heights I will reach in the future and enjoying the anticipation.
Motivation and aspirations
As a child, I did not live in a wealthy environment or receive much material support like other children, but with the help of my parents, who taught me the importance of caring for and cherishing each other, I was able to grow up with a strong sense of integrity. This aligns with your company’s preference for talented individuals who do not allow themselves to be swayed by external factors and who uphold their own beliefs, which is why I decided to apply.
If I am given the opportunity to work at your company, I will draw on my childhood memories of persevering through hardship and never giving up, and demonstrate my tenacity in overcoming any setbacks or sadness that may come my way. I have already experienced most of the events that people encounter when they start their social lives through my many part-time jobs, so I believe I can maintain my composure and respond firmly to any crisis.
