When she got married, she was a primary school graduate. She persevered and completed middle and high school externally. She managed to graduate from the same university as her daughter, at the same time. Üsküdar Üniversitesi's 7th and 8th-term graduation ceremony experienced a rare enthusiasm. The mother and daughter, experiencing graduation excitement simultaneously, left their mark on the ceremony. While Fatma Acar graduated from the Laboratory Technology program, her daughter Rabia Acar graduated from the Psychology department.
“The Path from Primary School to Second University”
Stating that she was a primary school graduate when she got married, Fatma Acar graduated from her second university by studying at the same school as her daughter.
Acar: “I graduated from the Health Services Vocational School, Laboratory Technology program, in the 7th term at the age of 42. My daughter, Rabia Acar, is 23 years old and graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Psychology department this year. When I got married, I was a primary school graduate; my education life restarted in 2005. First, I completed middle and high school through open education. Later, I studied Justice through open education at Anadolu Üniversitesi. I was a very successful student in primary school, my teachers had suggested to my family that I continue my education, but due to financial difficulties and inadequacies in village life, I couldn't. After getting married, I started working in the cafeteria section of a hospital in Istanbul. Here, I realized my interest in the healthcare field and prepared for the university entrance exam again. Among my choices, I was placed in the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Laboratory Technology department with a 75% scholarship,” she said.
“Mother and Daughter's Shared Graduation Excitement”
Acar stated that her daughter first began her education at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and she herself graduated before her daughter. Acar: “My daughter was placed in the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Psychology department, and that year I decided to prepare for the university entrance exam again. I had an interest in the healthcare field throughout my life, and I was doing research on it. After I started working at the hospital, I realized I wanted to work in the healthcare sector. During my preferences, when I communicated with our head of the Laboratory Technologies Department, Ebru Özkan Oktay, I decided to enroll in this department. This is how our Üsküdar Üniversitesi adventure began. Since my department was a 2-year program, I graduated last year, and my daughter graduated this year. Due to the pandemic, a graduation ceremony couldn't be held. This year, I experienced the joy and pride of graduating at the same time as my daughter,” she said.
“It was a source of pride to study at the same school as my daughter”
Acar expressed that it was a very proud feeling for a person to graduate at the same time as their child; “Everyone who heard that my daughter and I were studying at the same school was very surprised and looked at us with envy. My daughter and I were schoolmates in a way, but since our faculties were separate, we couldn't see each other much. My daughter was also quite pleased to be studying at the same school as me and proudly told her friends about it. During this process, my husband and two sons always supported us and never hindered our education.
“Acar: My Career Goal is to Work in the Healthcare Field”
Acar stated that her future goal is to work in the field of Laboratory Technologies, the department she graduated from; “My first priority was to start working in this field at my own hospital, but for some reasons, I am currently continuing to work in my old position in the cafeteria department. However, I aim to work in the healthcare field as soon as possible. Of course, we are experiencing an extraordinary period, the pandemic process, and changing jobs under these conditions is not that easy. But in the future, I would very much like to work in this field,” she said.
Reporter: Esmanur Tuna