Excitement at its peak on the road to university

Millions of our young people are waiting for the results of their university placement exams. As the date for the announcement of the results approaches, the excitement grows. What if they don't get the score needed for their target program, what if they don't get placed in any program and are left with nothing, what if their dreams are shattered, etc.—a whole host of questions are occupying their minds. Some of our young people are also worried not for themselves, but for their families, fearing that the dreams their parents have built through them might be shattered. For some, the goal is to study at a university abroad. It doesn't matter which country, which department, or which university it is, as long as it is abroad. Consequently, minds are confused, but the excitement is at its peak.

Studying at a university is certainly important, but I do not think it is very meaningful to set goals too high or to dream too big. Our young people should, of course, be idealistic and plan their professional lives. However, the more realistically a plan is made, the easier it is to achieve. First and foremost, it should not be forgotten that there is no standard definition of success. For every individual, success has a separate definition and meaning. The environment in which each individual is born, socialized, and raised is different from the next. An individual's upbringing conditions and the social environment they are part of make their internal and external dynamics different from others. Every individual has a unique intellectual and emotional world, and therefore a unique character. The external conditions in which every individual is situated, that is, the socioeconomic and cultural environment, are different from others. Internal and external dynamics create the foundation for an individual's ideals and goals to also be different from one another. Therefore, it facilitates the process of achieving a goal if the individual first knows themselves well, analyzes their own conditions, talents, desires, and inclinations very well, and sets goals accordingly.

On the other hand, the country's general conditions, socioeconomic priorities, and needs should also be taken into account. It is important for our young people to look at the country's general policies, vision, and initiatives when choosing a profession and, consequently, setting university and program goals, in order to make sound decisions. For this, seeking answers to questions such as which sectors hold promise for the future, which professions are prioritized, and in which fields there is a need for professionals is important for making more realistic plans.

The approach of our young people who set their goal as going abroad also seems extremely flawed to me. Every individual should first integrate with the place and country where they were born, raised, and belong. Developing in the place where we belong and improving it is the best path for long-term happiness. Of course, one should go to foreign countries, be in other environments, and have international interaction, but this needs to be planned very correctly. I do not think there is a need to go abroad for associate or undergraduate studies. Our universities today compete with the most developed universities in the world and possess the same standards. The research focuses, visionary perspectives, and interactive education and training approaches of our universities are sufficient to provide our young people with a quality education. Therefore, there is no need at all to set the goal as going abroad. If they wish, for the sake of reinforcement after their undergraduate studies, our young people can go to universities abroad with various research scholarships and carry out the necessary interaction. There are quite significant foreign scholarship resources in Turkey, and the opportunities abroad to reinforce the education of our successful young people are quite good. But for undergraduate studies, the right decision and preference are the universities in our own country.

As for the choice of program and field, here too, internal and external dynamics must be analyzed very well. Goals can be set high, but let us not forget that professional prestige is not limited to certain professions. To be respected in society, one does not necessarily have to be a doctor, engineer, judge, or prosecutor. We must push the boundaries of this understanding that families often impose on their children. Every individual's work performance, talents, and inclinations are different. The choice of program and profession should be in accordance with this. Therefore, I suggest that our young people get rid of the obsession with getting high scores. For those who cannot get into any undergraduate program, it would be a much more realistic plan to settle for one of the associate degree programs instead of postponing university education and to become a professional through a shorter path. All sectors need intermediate staff, and for this reason, it is very easy for graduates of relevant programs to find jobs. Therefore, our university candidates who cannot get a high enough score to be placed in their targeted undergraduate program should settle for programs they can enter through a shorter path and become professionals quickly. Later, if they wish, they can continue their studies and also study the program they targeted. Becoming a professional through a shorter path and joining the production process as soon as possible is important both for the individual to achieve their own economic independence and for contributing to the country's economy.

In that case, let us set our goals high, but let us walk toward them with cautious steps so that they are easy to achieve.