Our Quarterly Bootcamp

DAY 1: UNMASKING — Let's Get Real

Theme: Let's Get Real

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10:30–11:15 AM

• Opening: Anonymous "What would colleges never accept about me?" submissions

• Interactive: "Resume vs. Reality" two-column exercise

• Key Insight: Authenticity as competitive advantage

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11:30 AM–1:00 PM

Empathy as a Superpower

• "Walk in Their Shoes": Real applicant profiles + interactive exercise

• "Who Wins the Race?" physical demonstration of systemic advantage

• Reframe: Privilege = responsibility to lift others

• Key Takeaway: Understanding others' contexts for meaningful impact

 

1:00–2:00 PM Lunch

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2:00–3:30 PM

Social Awareness Workshop

• Privilege Mapping Exercise worksheet

• Small group sharing

• The Insensitive Essay Rewrite (tone-deaf statements → empathy framework)

• Discussion: "Helping" vs. "Learning from" in Korean student essays

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3:45–4:45 PM

Finding Your Unfiltered Voice

• Concentric Circles of Identity exercise

• Timed Write: "What my teachers would never know about me"

• Volunteer sharing + group feedback

• Framework: Vulnerability ≠ Trauma Dumping

 

4:45–5:00 PM

• Silent reflection: masks to remove, stories to tell

• Homework: Write 250 words about a moment, a quality, a habit, or a characteristic you usually edit out

 

DAY 2: BUILDING — From Activity to Impact

Theme: Doing work that matters, for people who matter

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10:30–11:15 AM

Vulnerability Debrief

• Volunteers share homework reflections

• Group feedback on compelling elements

• Transition: Channel authenticity into action

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11:30 AM–1:00 PM

The Korean EC Death Trap

• Data Reveal: 73% list same ECs, 8% vs 12% acceptance rates

• Why This Fails: Zero differentiation, résumé-building motivation, hollow impact

• New Framework: NEED → CONNECTION → LISTENING → CO-CREATION → IMPACT

• Case Study Analysis: Bad EC vs. Good EC comparison

• Key Question: What problem have you personally witnessed that breaks your heart?

 

1:00–2:00 PMLunch

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2:00–3:00 PM

Identity Excavation

• Guided Workshop: "What Would Shatter Your Parents' Image of You?"

• Private writing: beliefs, struggles, desires you hide

• Discussion: Gap between public and private self

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3:15–4:45 PM

EC Team Formation (The Main Event)

• Part 1: Existing KYND Projects presentations (Difficult Conversations, Runway Rescue, Kindred, Pure Pump)

• Part 2: The Choice — Join existing or develop new EC (3-sentence pitch)

• Part 3: Speed Collaboration Rounds (5-min stations, find your people)

 

4:45–5:00 PM

Day 2 Closing

• Teams solidified

• Homework: Teams draft community need statement, personal connection, listening plan, first milestone, 6-month vision

 

DAY 3: SYNTHESIS — From Story to Strategy

Theme: Weaving empathy, action, and narrative into one application

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10:30–11:00 AM

Empathy Checkpoint

• Perspective-Taking: 200-word journal entry from beneficiary's perspective

• Share: What assumptions am I holding?

 

11:00–11:45 AM

EC Team Lightning Presentations

• Each team presents: need + evidence, connection, strategy, milestones, impact measurement

• Peer + Counselor Feedback: Authenticity, community-centered approach, genuine listening

 

11:45 AM–1:00 PM

The Vulnerability Workshop

• Case Studies: Read 3 exceptional essays revealing internal struggle

• "Letter to Younger Me" Activity + voluntary reading

• Framework: Vulnerability + growth + awareness = compelling narrative

 

1:00–2:00 PMLunch

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2:00–3:00 PM

Building Trust

• "Behind My Back" Exercise: What do people say behind my back?

• Debrief: Discounted strengths, delegation, trust in carrying EC vision

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3:15–4:15 PM

Differentiation Strategy

• Challenge: "All Asians Look the Same to Admissions—Prove Them Wrong"

• One-Sentence Differentiation Statement formula

• Workshop: Your Spike = EC + Essay + Reflection (cohesive story mapping)

 

4:15–4:50 PM

6-Month Action Plan

• Team Commitments: Timeline, impact metrics, empathy check-ins, communication

• Individual Commitments: Growth goals, essay milestones, empathy practice, aligned programs

 

4:50–5:00 PM

The Empathy Circle (Closing Ceremony)

• Circle sharing: "Because of this bootcamp, I will now..."

• Group commitment to authentic applications

• Introduction to KYND's ongoing support channels

 

Post-Bootcamp Deliverables

✅ Fully Designed EC

• • Community need statement with evidence

• • Personal connection narrative

• • Listening/co-creation strategy

• • 6-month roadmap with milestones

✅ 250-Word Authentic Essay

• • Linked to empathy growth

• • Vulnerability + reflection + growth

✅ Differentiation Paragraph

• • Integrates EC + awareness + unique angle

✅ 6-Month Action Plan

• • EC milestones with accountability

• • Essay deadlines

• • Continued empathy practice

• • Strategic competition/program list

✅ Access to KYND Support System

• • Quarterly accountability calls

• • Ongoing EC mentorship

• • Peer Slack/Discord community

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