Pyongyang rises again

To the Admissions Committee of Pyongyang University, Faculty of Architecture,

My name is Ji-seok, and I am writing to apply for a place in your prestigious architecture program. I have never designed a real building, but for the past seven years, I have built an entire city—with nothing but matchsticks.

Every evening, after school, I return to my room and continue my work. Pyongyang rises again, piece by piece, carefully measured, carefully placed. I have studied every rooftop, every avenue, every monument. My fingers have memorized the curves of Juche Tower, the symmetry of Kim Il Sung Square, the angles of our grand apartment blocks. The details matter—even the smallest matchstick must stand in perfect harmony with the whole.

I have taught myself patience, precision, and perseverance. My parents once worried that I was wasting my time, but when I showed them my finished model of the Ryugyong Hotel, they smiled for the first time. Even my teacher, who usually tells me to focus on my "real studies," admitted that my hands were made to shape cities.

Now, I want to learn how to build for the future—not just with matchsticks, but with stone, glass, and steel. I dream of designing homes where families will live, halls where people will gather, towers that will touch the sky. If you grant me this opportunity, I promise to dedicate myself to building a Pyongyang that will stand for generations.

With utmost respect,
Ji-seok