Kim Hyunje from Korea

Abbotsford School District has provided me with a great opportunity to discover my own
potential. When I first came to Abbotsford in 2017, adapting to a new environment was the
hardest task I had to face as I was an introvert. I have always challenged myself to overcome
shyness by attempting to communicate and to get along with others; however, that was
more difficult in Canada because English was not my first language and there were cultural
differences that I had to adapt to. Overcoming this dominant trait was a difficult process for
me, and there was only a slight improvement every time I attempted to socialize. However,
as I joined various clubs in Yale Secondary School such as Key Club and Golf Club and tried
to communicate with others, I was gradually becoming a member of the school
environment. Also, the international program of Abbotsford District allowed me to have
connections with other international students which provided stability to my studies in
school as I was able to discuss any difficulty with other international students. These
opportunities allowed me to explore myself, and as I worked with other students in different
activities, I realized that I possessed some distinguishing abilities that I could utilize to
overcome my introversion; I was more independent than any other student in the process of
learning. As an introvert, I could reflect on myself - on my capabilities and personal quirks -
and this introspection has helped me to achieve better grades in school and better
socialization in life. The latter has taught me to consider the feelings of others and that in
turn has led to many enduring friendships. Surmounting my shyness has also meant that I
have been able to assist and tutor other students having difficulties with their tasks;
eventually, I learned the best way to share my knowledge. This allowed me to grow self confidence
in expressing myself. With self-confidence, I could pursue what I truly desire. As I
always had a strong passion and interest in science, I took every possible science course and
as I progressed through those courses, I became a well-rounded student who possesses
considerable knowledge of science. Also, I had an opportunity to share my knowledge with
other students in my peer tutoring session in which I communicated with other students and
learned how every student has different learning styles. In general, Abbotsford School
District allowed me to discover my full potential and provided me with a great opportunity
to be involved in various activities. I have been admitted to every university that I desired to
get into, and this was possible since I was in a great learning environment with great
teachers and students. I truly appreciate everyone who assisted me through my high school
career.

Activities

2017.9 ~ 2021.6 Member of Yale Secondary Concert Band 2018.3 Achieved Bronze
Medallion / Cross certification 2018.9 ~ 2019.2 Member of Yale Secondary Pit Orchestra
2018.9 ~ 2018.12 Member of Yale Secondary Badminton Club 2019.3 ~ 2020.5 Member of
Yale Secondary Golf Team 2019.4 KPU International Music Festival Silver Standing 2019.4
Achieved CPR/AED Level C certification 2019.9 ~ 2020.2 Volunteered in Korean School
2019.9 ~ 2021.6 Member of Yale Secondary Concert Choir 2019.9 ~ 2021.6 Member of Yale
Secondary Key Club 2020.11 Yale Secondary Student of the Month 2021.1 ~ 2021.6 Member
of Yale Secondary Esports Club

Post-Secondary Plans

I was accepted to the University of Toronto for computer engineering and computer science,
the University of British Columbia for applied science (engineering), and the University of
Waterloo for computer engineering with scholarships of 7500$ (U of T Scholar), 80,000$
(UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship), and 2000$ (Waterloo President’s Scholarship
of Distinction). I am determined to be involved in the University of Toronto computer
engineering program, pursuing my own interest in both hardware and software. I look
forward to joining various activities in university as I did in high school to discover my
potential and to be involved in the whole portion of the university. Finally, my long-term
goal would be to become a software developer.