Why High School Years Are The Most Crucial In Your Life

When I was 13, I randomly saw students wearing traditional Korean clothes called “Hanbok” as their uniforms on TV.

They were students going to arguably the best high school in Korea called KMLA (Korean Minjok Leadership Academy).

After watching the day in the life of them on TV, I somehow REALLY wanted to attend this school.

I suddenly became a devoted student with a clear dream to pursue. Throughout my middle school years, I dedicated myself to rigorous study, driven by a deep-seated ambition to attend this school.

Luckily, thanks to my grades and a glowing recommendation letter from my class advisor, I was accepted into the school of my dreams.

However, the biggest blessing in my life quickly turned into the worst nightmare. It was extremely challenging to get used to the new, competitive academic environment.

Every morning, the day began at 6 am, leading to Kendo training sessions starting at 6:30 am. The academic schedule was rigorous and all my peers seemed to be smarter than me. Relentless pressure and expectations resulted in depression and significant sleep deprivation.

I couldn't have completed high school without the support of my friends, the biggest takeaway from the three most challenging years of my life.

The thought of applying to Harvard would never have crossed my mind had it not been for my friend Victor, who convinced me that I stood a chance. Ultimately, we both attended the University of Notre Dame for our undergraduate studies and later reunited at Harvard in 2018—him pursuing law and myself in engineering.

One of my high school friends that I randomly ran into during the Korean army training introduced an amazing female who became my wife last year. Most of my friends who attended my wedding were high school friends.

Another friend invested a significant amount of money in my business without hearing my idea, saying “I’d like to be part of whatever you’re undertaking”.

High school friends are those who remain close to you, even when you meet them once in a few years. They are the ones you can reach out to at any moment for guidance and support, and vice versa.

I highly encourage you to find your lifelong friends during your high school years.