From our first meeting, I was blinded by Koc University. This might have had something to do with the fact that I had forgotten my trusty sunglasses at home. But I think it had more to do with the beauty that lay before me. In the sunlight, the exterior of Koc’s buildings are the same color as what I imagine the clouds in heaven to be.

Yes, this is my school

Located in the hills of the Sariyer district of Istanbul, the campus offers stunning views of the surrounding green landscape and Black Sea. With about 5,500 students, there is a much more relaxed atmosphere than at UBC (about 40,000 undergraduates). Being here, with the sea breeze kissing my cheek, I am able to find an inner calm, an escape from the bustling crowds of the city center, 45 minutes away. Right now, Koc (pronounced like koach) feels more like a spa resort than a university, but then again, classes have yet to start.

Map of Koc University

Established in 1993, Koc University is a leader in Turkish higher education. It is a private, liberal arts university, created and funded by the Vehbi Koc family (one of the richest families in Turkey). Being here, on a campus with a swimming pool that could be in the glossy pages of Vogue magazine and a parking lot full of luxury automobiles, the portraits of poverty I witnessed in other parts of this city seem far away.

It makes me think about how some people have so much, and others so little. How some people are able to spend their lives flying in private jets, while others spend their days begging for money on a street corner. I don’t really like to think about this, because it makes me feel hopeless. But it’s something we all have to think about. We all have to be aware of our privilege, even in the moments when we feel like nothing is going our way and the world is against us. Especially in these moments.

I believe I will happy here at Koc. I am ready to see what adventures the next four months have in store for me.