Going to a great high school was #6 on my bucket list. I started this list on 2014.09.21 and some of the things on there were already completed before I made the list. So I really didn’t want to have to go through all of those again and re-post them. For instance, I have “learn how to snowboard” on my bucket list and I learned how to do that 3 years ago…..So yeah. I will probably re-post them when I go snowboarding again….someday I am sure it will happen. Doing this new bucket-list category thing has really made me feel an attachment to my blog, actually. If that makes any sense….:)
I always like to include stories, pictures, anecdotes, and a lot of other media I can utilise to make me story more REAL. So… although I didn’t take photos of the school itself yet, but I am going to edit them in when I go to the freshmen orientation next Thursday (can you believe it is already December how time flies by!)
So I want to break this story down into two parts. This bucket list is “go to high school” so I am going to explain how I got into this high school (and trust me going into high school, especially a private high school like mine, is EXTREMELY difficult).
I live in South Korea.
In South Korea, there are two moments of one’s life.
There is the life before you go to university and the life after you go to university. A university itself is more than just a place where you can strengthen your ability to think and expand you knowledge. It is a social rank and your so-called “label”.
And I know a lot of people are going to criticise me for saying this, calling out that I am generalising the entire population and/or just picking out a common misconception/prejudice.
But I’m not. I say on behalf of the 16 years of my experience in this country and yes, for most people, it is this way. And I’m not saying this is a bad thing or an exclusive life struggle. I realise in life there are struggles for everyone, just in different forms.
Anyways, getting back on topic. University is just that important for one if you happen to live here. And just before university is high school. I am currently in middle school and I am in the graduates’ class. Getting into a so-called “prestigious” and “famous” high school will grant you an easier access to university, by no means. Therefore the war between students began.
The high school I got into is the 7nd most high-ranked high school in all of South Korea. The way they rank the high schools is simple. Get higher marks on the college entrance exams (commonly known as Suneung in Korea) the higher rank you get.
So yeah it is a pretty tough school.
This year, more than 800 people applied. On the first step of the selection progress, we had to hand in our test scores. I managed to get in the English department, which is the most desired therefore the most competitive department. Only 500 people made it past the first step.
The next step of the process is an interview with the schools’ staff and handing in your school reports (basically what you did at school and what kind of activities you had partaken after school) and also your self-introduction essay.
I am never the type to get jitters before a big exam or a show or anything of that sort. Therefore I was able to get through the interview quite easily. I think the hardest part was just waiting. Waiting for the results, waiting until it is my turn to speak, waiting for the interview to be over, waiting to get in.
Today at precisely around 4:00 PM, the school’s website had a new notice. I checked frantically for my number, 00216. Right there on the fourth row, there was my number. I screamed, my mother screamed and we ended up in tears. Yeah, it is that dramatic. I felt as if I were starring in a pre-teen novel.
Today, I haven’t done really anything but just daydream.
But I realise that starting tomorrow, I will have to go back to studying and more studying because that is what life is in Korea, at least for someone my age. However, I believe that somehow….I have more confidence. I have more strength and I have more faith for myself. If I did this, why not other things? The world is full of possibilities and I think it is a waste not to grasp it.
Sorry, this kind of ended up into a motivational speech.
So this has been great. I think through my hardships and tears and also bittersweet laughters, I was able to grow. I was able to reach beneath my skin and really discover my true self and genuinely feel the desire. The desire is the key.
So this was my experience. Ended up a bit longer than I expected, but hey if you read this far, my hand goes out to you, my good friend.
Well, good luck!
-Sally
simpleseen 