Meet the 2019 Scholars

Hello! My name is Ceren and I am 21 years old. I am a senior student at Marmara University Faculty of Law. Like many young people in Turkey, I had big concerns about the future. Thanks to Educ8 program my future-related anxieties have significantly decreased, and I feel more confident about my goals. In London, I met many people from my profession. Talking to them was very inspiring for me.  My mentors’ support for my goals motivated me.  I am currently researching master programs in the field of human rights. At the same time, I actively participate social responsibility projects, particularly in the field of gender equality.

In 2019, I joined the Educ8 Project and had the opportunity to experience a one-month overseas stay in London. At the time, I was studying Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering at Yıldız Technical University. My goal was to broaden my horizons through this project and to connect with and become part of a community affiliated with CYDD.

Spending a month in London, taking language courses, meeting professionals specialized in my field, and learning about English history and culture was an experience beyond what I could have imagined. It made me realize how vast the world is and how much more there is to discover. Additionally, it helped me see my potential as an individual and increased my confidence in my own decisions.

Currently, I work as a Technology Consultant/Data Scientist at PwC Turkey. I’ve had the chance to get to know the dynamics of medium and large-scale companies across various industries and to design technologies that support these industries using the most up-to-date solutions. The dream I referred to when applying to the Educ8 Project—"to develop technological solutions that can touch and improve people's lives"—is something I am now shaping at a corporate level through artificial intelligence and cloud technologies. 

In my free time, I go running, study sign language and Italian, and embark on new adventures by traveling to other countries whenever possible.

Londra’da bir ay dil eğitimi almak, alanımda uzmanlaşmış kişilerle tanışmak, İngiliz tarihini ve kültürünü tanımak benim için hayal edebileceğimin ötesinde bir tecrübeydi. Dünyanın ne kadar büyük olduğunu ve henüz bunun bir bölümünü keşfettiğimi farketmemi sağladı. Bununla birlikte birey olarak potansiyelimi görmeme yardımcı oldu ve kendi kararlarıma olan güvenimi artırdı.

Şu anda PwC Türkiye’de Teknoloji Danışmanı/Veri Bilimci olarak çalışıyorum. Orta ve büyük ölçekli, çeşitli sektörün dinamiklerini tanıma ve bu sektörlere en güncel teknolojilerle destek sağlayan teknolojileri tasarlama şansı buldum. Educ8 projesine başvururken değindiğim “İnsanların hayatına dokunabilecek, fayda sağlayabilecek teknolojik çözümler geliştirmek” olan hayalimi kurumsal seviyede yapay zeka ve bulut teknolojilerini kullanarak şekillendiriyorum. İş dışı vakitlerimde ise koşuyorum, işaret dili ve İtalyanca öğreniyorum, imkanım yettiğince başka ülkeleri gezerek yeni maceralara atılıyorum.

Hello. I am Deniz, 23 years old and from Hatay. I am a senior student studying Molecular Biology and Genetics at Istanbul Medeniyet University. In 2024, I was one of the girls who participated to the Educ8 program. I feel very lucky, special, and proud to have been selected for this program. After the program, many things in my life changed. The program not only improved my English but also gave me an amazing social and cultural experience. When choosing my department, my biggest goal was to go abroad, continue my education there, and represent my country in my field by achieving significant accomplishments. Thanks to the Educ8 program, I took the first step toward my dreams. Living and communicating with foreign people in London for one month gave me confidence and courage while improving my social skills. The mentors and students I met in my field expanded my social network and prepared me for the future. The museums and exhibitions I visited in London inspired me greatly. Thanks to this wonderful experience, I started working on a TÜBİTAK project in the field of cancer with my advisor at my university. After the program, I researched universities abroad to pursue a master’s degree and applied to a few of them. The Educ8 program reduced my anxieties and increased my motivation during this important phase of shaping my future. At the same time, it brought me amazing friendships. This program gave me the best days of my life. It was an unforgettable experience that I will always remember with gratitude. I am very thankful to everyone who contributed to this program.

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