Ok Yoonyung from Korea

Pursuing an education in a country in which the education system is nearly opposite to the one I had been in for the majority of my life was a difficult transition. To be honest, I struggled immensely to keep up with the pace and contents of my courses. Having a language barrier with the people I had to interact with was a significant struggle and it was incredibly frustrating to not be able to voice my ideas due to my limited vocabulary. However, at the same time, were it not for the Canadian education system, I do not think that I would have been able to expand my critical thinking skills as I have over the past several years. Living in Canada has increased my ability to gain self-confidence and branch out and challenge my capabilities. My teachers consistently encouraged me to analyze concepts, apply my knowledge, and form my own opinions by specifically calling me out in class to include me in discussions and encourage me to participate. Being emboldened to embrace my ideas has definitely shaped my confidence and to receive constructive criticism to improve my way of expressing my thoughts. Not only has my English fluency improved, but I also have gained maturity. As a young girl, I fancied reading for personal enjoyment. However, it was when I moved to Canada that my love for reading blossomed in conjunction with my English fluency. I started with reading short novels which progressed to having a passion for each and every one of the books that I read. As I progressively gained to love each and every book that I read, I started to go to the library at my school every day to pick out a new book. One author I remember deeply in my early teens was Judy Blume. Reading her books helped me escape the challenges of my reality by being immersed in the mesmerizing atmosphere the book creates. Not only do I enjoy the books that I read during my spare time, but as I have gotten older, I have also learned to appreciate literature. The passion I developed for reading in middle school progressed to high school. In grades 9, 10, and 11 I was recommended to take Honours English, and now as a grade 12 student, I am currently enrolled in AP Literature through the Abbotsford School District. I take great pride in my accomplishment to be able to succeed in AP Literature after years of hard work learning English as a second language. Looking back, it is remarkable to see my improvement and how my studies have progressed. I have pursued my education and focused on academics, but I am also dedicated to extracurricular activities as well. Since grade 9 I have been part of the Yale Key Club, band, and I have had the pleasure of working in the school cafe since grade 11. Devoting myself to activities outside of my studies has helped to shape my character by working at the things I have a passion for. To be specific, Key Club experiences have encouraged me to encounter many unfamiliar situations by volunteering and promoting the Key Club to different classes. I was afraid in the beginning, but I gradually gained confidence resulting in better performance when speaking in front of others. With my constant hard work, I finally was promoted to the position of co-chair of the promotion committee where I have the ability to take control of spreading the word to get students interested in activities or events such as the bike club, filling shoeboxes at Christmas, and popcorn sales to raise funds for our organization. Donating my time to causes other than academics has given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose for my school and community while developing my character. Looking back at my accomplishments both in and out of the classroom, I am proud of what I have achieved in my time in Canada. I am unable to adequately describe in words how grateful I am to my teachers and others. With their encouragement and support I found motivation and determination which has guided me to the path of success over these past 10 years of living in Canada. 

Activities

September 2015 - June 2018 Concert Choir at Abbotsford Middle School September 2015 -June 2018 Concert Band at Abbotsford Middle School September 2015 - June 2016 Member of Hurricane (Korean Drum Team) September 2017 - June 2019 Member of 861 Silverfox Air Cadet Squadron September 2017 - June 2018 Member of Husky Pride at Abbotsford Middle School September 2018 - Ongoing Concert Choir September 2018 - Ongoing Concert Band September 2018 - Ongoing Member of Key Club at Yale Secondary September 2021 -Ongoing Co-chair of the Promotion Committee at Yale Secondary Key Club September 2015 - Ongoing Volunteered tutoring Flute and Piano June 2020 - Outstanding Achievement in Senior Music March 2020 RCM level 8 theory March 2021 RCM level 8 piano

Post-Secondary Plans

I applied to University of British Columbia Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University in Bachelor of Arts and BSc Interactive Arts and Tech, and McGill University in Faculty of Arts and Desautels Faculty Management. I am proud to share that I've been accepted to all three universities I applied to. I hope to pursue a post-secondary degree in the field of Language Arts and become an English teacher in the future.