Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was a guest on the “Education Journey with Ebru Doğdu” program broadcast on TV100. Tarhan noted that career choice is one of the important decisions in life, and emphasized that what a young person should consider when choosing a profession is ‘In which profession can I develop and utilize my own capacity at the highest level?’
“Adolescence is a period when emotions dominate over intellect”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that social isolation negatively affects adolescents, stating that children turn to social media as a stress-reduction technique. Tarhan said; “Behaviors such as social media addiction, running away from home, substance abuse, and applying violence to parents have significantly increased among adolescents. Social isolation during the pandemic negatively affected adolescents. In a loneliness study conducted, the loneliness rate among older age groups was expected to be high. 27% of those over 75 years old say 'I am very lonely'. 40% of individuals between 16-24 years old say 'I am very lonely', and suicide cases have significantly increased. The rate of those who say 'I am lonely' accelerated and increased further with the pandemic. Due to this increase, there is currently a serious psychosocial crisis. Children are not actually alone inside the internet, but there is social isolation. They establish virtual relationships in a virtual environment. Since there is no real life, they cannot face the realities of real life. Adolescence is a period when emotions dominate over intellect. It is a period when feelings are more effective than logic. During this period, if family ties are weak or there is a crisis in the family, these children turn to social media, smartphones, and tablets as a stress-reduction technique. As a result, problematic cases continue to increase,” he stated.
“It wasn't the pandemic, but the way it was handled that caused harm or brought benefit…”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that for children to grow up healthy, the family must be a safe space; “The family being a safe space is the most important ecosystem for a child. When there is no safe space, the child does not grow up healthy. The first cost of a weakening family is borne by the children. During the pandemic, everyone was confined to their homes. Some families used this as an opportunity, and relationships improved. They could turn off their mobile phones and spend time together. These families turned the pandemic into an opportunity. For those who couldn't manage the pandemic crisis, their marriages fell apart, and children suffered more. Therefore, the pandemic itself did not cause harm. People benefited or were harmed depending on how they handled the pandemic,” he stated.
“One of the important decisions in life is career choice”
Tarhan stated that career choice is an important decision and emphasized the need to benefit from educational consultants to make the right choice. Tarhan said; “One of the important decisions in life is career choice. Students have some information to make the right choice, but they lack sufficient data. It is very important to seek help from experts who know that data. For this reason, preference consultants and educational consultants are very important. The first condition here is for the individual to know themselves. They need to look at 'What are my strengths, weaknesses, and inclinations?' Investing in a field one loves does not necessarily mean doing that job. Some people have high social intelligence. They are more successful in relational aspects. Some have high intrapersonal intelligence. They can develop themselves more deeply through deep thinking. Sometimes, their musical intelligence is high. For example, they might absolutely want to be a musician. However, they may not become a musician but use musical elements in a profession they love. This is how they should be guided correctly. Generally, when choosing a profession, they think 'In which profession will we be comfortable, in which profession will we earn money?' However, what a young person should think is 'In which profession can I develop and utilize my own capacity at the highest level?' The child will know their own capacity, or third parties will know it and guide them accordingly,” he said.
“Talents are seeds cast beneath the soil”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that a psycho-SWOT analysis should be performed while progressing towards a goal; “In resource management, in financial management, they perform SWOT analysis. They identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats. According to this, one thinks 'Which aspects do I need to improve?' By identifying those weak points, one performs a resource analysis. They turn to work where they can develop their resources and progress step by step towards that goal. Today's youth are prone to giving up immediately at the slightest obstacle. This has always been present during youth. Previous generations matured through hardship. The current generations need to mature amidst abundance. Maturing amidst abundance is more difficult. They don't want to endure hardship. They don't use their own capacity. Their talents cannot develop. However, talents develop when challenged. Talents are seeds cast beneath the soil. It is exposed to decay in the mud, it struggles, but a flower emerges from it. For this, it needs to endure hardship,” he stated.
“Modernism Made Freedom and Hedonism a Sacred Value”
Addressing the global system's understanding of freedom, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the balance of responsibility in freedom. Tarhan said; “Modernism made freedom and hedonism a sacred value. It idealized boundlessness, irresponsibility, and insatiability. Freedom is important, but when this liberation disregards the rights and laws of others, it leads to selfishness. Liberation is important for developing human talents, but it must be within a balance of responsibility. The global system promotes boundlessness, irresponsibility, and insatiability under the name of freedom. In narcissistic individuals, this is seen as greed, insatiability, and boundlessness. Among new generations, truancy, self-harm, suicide cases, and violence cases are very high. This stems from the child's inability to learn life's boundaries,” he stated.