Despite being born in the United States during my father’s internship, I am originally from Turkey, where my father was a military doctor and my mother was a special education teacher. After Turkey’s failed coup in July 2016, my father was expelled from duty and sentenced to prison as a political criminal, as did the majority of military doctors. Though it was a difficult experience both financially and psychologically, we were one of the fortunate families because my mother had a job (a large number of teachers, civil doctors, academicians, businessmen, and even some restaurant owners served prison time as political criminals).
The government crushed all opposition as a result of nationwide prosecutions justified by the failed coup. Almost all media outlets and television channels were either owned and operated by the government or collaborated with it closely. Our liberty was eroded in unexpected ways, and we were deprived of rights or freedoms we never imagined losing. After a single night, we (my family and I) were no longer honorable members of our society; we were simply “political criminals.” We went from being a respected member of society to being labeled a “enemy of the state” in the blink of an eye. This incident completely changed my outlook on life. I didn’t have as many opportunities as I used to. I was on my way to see my father in jail. During these visits, I was able to observe many relatives of ordinary criminals, who are socially at the bottom of society, up close and personal.
I had been in the United States for 8 months as of January 2022, and during that time, I worked for $11 to $13 an hour in day-to-day jobs to make ends meet. My parents do not provide financial assistance because they face discrimination. Despite the fact that I have nothing to offer economically, I am confident that I will pursue an academic career in physics. Living on a low income in the United States with the poorest or nearly poorest members of society has been an eye-opening experience. Despite my economic and political difficulties, which I may exaggerate by going into detail, I am a laid-back type of person.
Despite the fact that my experiences over the last six years have had a negative impact on my psychology, economy, and education, I believe I have gained a lot from this process. I was confronted with the realities of life at a young age and interacted with people from a diverse social spectrum. Because of the difficulties I encountered during this process, I received one C and one D in high school and my university application was delayed for two years, but when I consider their contribution to my success, I do not consider this a setback. Overall, I don’t regret having gone through these negative experiences because I believe my gains outweigh my losses in this process. It is easy to see how many successful people use the challenges they face in their lives as stepping stones to success. I intend to be one of them.