Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, met with high school students within the scope of Motivation Meetings organized by the Ümraniye Municipality Youth Council. In the interview, also attended by Ümraniye Mayor İsmet Yıldırım, Tarhan stated that he sees Generation Z, which he described as open to innovation and change, as a generation capable of easily becoming wise. Advising young people to think 360 degrees, Tarhan also noted that the biggest cause of exam stress is outcome-oriented thinking. Stating that ‘don't stress’ means inviting stress, Tarhan also gave important tips to candidates preparing for the exam.
The event took place at Ümraniye Martyr Governor Muhammet Fatih Safitürk Cultural Center.
The event, also attended by Ümraniye Mayor İsmet Yıldırım, was met with great interest by the students.
İsmet Yıldırım: “We are getting a youth vaccine from our youth”
Ümraniye Mayor İsmet Yıldırım delivered his speech within the scope of the event. Yıldırım; “As Ümraniye Municipality, we have held 113 motivation meetings. We are meeting with our high school students. And we will continue to do so. We are getting a youth vaccine from our youth. We are with children almost every day. Everything has changed in Ümraniye. For example, we have afternoon teas in neighborhood parks. There, citizens ask and we answer. On-site transformation happens. If there is a need for something, it is immediately forwarded to the relevant director. We even do that in parks. In other words, citizens need dialogue, not monologue. In fact, we all need dialogue. Being able to talk and understand each other is very important.” he stated.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “I see Generation Z as a generation that can easily become wise”
In the interview attended by young people preparing for the university exam, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the future of Generation Z youth is bright; “Generation X is the radio generation, Generation Y is the television generation, and Generation Z is the digital generation. That's why those in the digital generation are lucky. They are in a much more advantageous position. The biggest characteristic of Generation Z is its openness to innovation and change. Their expectations for innocence and justice are very high. This is a very good thing. It is very important for Turkey's future. It is very valuable to be open to change and innovation, and at the same time to have the desire not to deviate from what is right and just. I see this generation as one that can easily become wise.” he began his words.
“The combination of these three features is called a tray of wisdom”
Tarhan emphasized the balance of idealism, realism, and activism; “Generation conflict always exists. It is a universal situation. Hz. Ali has a saying, ‘Raise your children not according to the age you live in, but according to the age they will live in.’ That's why they are more advanced and developed than us. Because they can predict what will happen in the future. They want the world we will live in to be better, to be more beautiful. Therefore, their questioning and critical approaches are the nature of youth. It should not be perceived as a threat. There is a balance of idealism, realism, and activism. There should not be an idealism detached from reality. Like Hz. Rumi's compass metaphor. One leg of the compass will be on the ground, and the other leg will be in ideals. And also activism, meaning not just being an idealist. Taking action together with the idealist. Not just saying and staying. The combination of these three features is called a tray of wisdom. If idealism, realism, and activism are balanced, the tray stands balanced. If young people keep these three in balance, good days await them.” he stated.
“Profession is an intermediary element for reaching a goal”
Tarhan stated that it is normal to feel anxiety about the future; “Having anxieties about the future is an expected situation. That's why young people generally tend to choose secure professions. This comes to the forefront in university preferences. Material concerns are important for short-term goals, but if a person does a job without loving it, it is not sustainable. Therefore, it is important to be able to do the job with love. Is a profession a dress or skin? You can change your dress, but you cannot change your skin. If we see our profession as skin, that is, as our identity, our personality, it has a negative effect on us. Profession is an intermediary element for reaching a goal. Just as there are material goals, there are also abstract goals. ‘How do you want to be remembered when you come to the end of your life? What kind of mark do you want to leave? What kind of story do you want to write?’ These are abstract goals. Concrete goals are, ‘I want to have a house, I want to have a car, I want to have a comfortable life.’ These are short-term thoughts, but someone who thinks long-term combines abstract and concrete goals. We see the synthesis of these two more often. So, young people here are affected by global concerns. They can be influenced by anxieties, but their concerns about the economic situation are sinusoidal. Looking back 100 years in human history, the level of material well-being is going not worse, but better. Therefore, material anxiety is not very realistic.” he said.
“Young people should think 360 degrees”
Tarhan underlined the need for a multifaceted perspective; “Young people should think 360 degrees. The thing that makes people make the most mistakes is looking with blinkers. In our culture, there is even the term 'feraset' (discernment). A horse's eye sees 360 degrees. A human eye does not see 360 degrees. That's why blinkers are put on horses' eyes so they don't make mistakes. When analyzing an event, the example of a cube is given. A cube has a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a right and a left. Being able to look in six dimensions, to look 360 degrees. If they look at their current position 360 degrees, there are many negative conditions. This indeed causes anxiety in young people. It causes anxiety and uncertainty about the future. As Anatolians, we are actually used to storms. This geography is a geography that struggles with difficulties. Therefore, they should not see only the negative aspects. What they currently possess is powerful and capable enough to correct the negatives. Therefore, life does not go in a straight line. There is nothing to fear unless there is a war. Every problem can be solved.” he said.
“Success does not come in the comfort zone”
Tarhan explained where the success story comes from; “A person becomes successful when they immerse themselves in their work. For example, look at Nobel laureates, they live and breathe in the laboratory. If you have a purpose to work for, success comes. Success does not come in the comfort zone. If you want to be successful, get out of your comfort zone. They said to Confucius, ‘You work too much.’ and he replied, ‘I'm not working; I'm doing what I love.’…” he stated.
“Artificial intelligence is a life-facilitating tool”
Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence is inspiring; “Artificial intelligence has made our lives incredibly easier. Just as the invention of the printing press and the discovery of electricity brought about a transformation in human history, artificial intelligence is doing the same. That is, artificial intelligence itself is inherently neutral. If you use it for good, right, and beautiful purposes, it leads to tremendous information. In other words, it saves you from doing a lot of literature research. The information can be wrong. You must definitely read and verify it. It only collects suggestive, inspiring sources. Artificial intelligence is a tool that facilitates life and enables easy access to goals. It is valid for those who have a purpose. In other words, it facilitates a person with an ego ideal to reach their goal.” he said.
Outcome-oriented thinking creates exam anxiety!
Tarhan also shared important insights on managing exam stress with prospective students; “The biggest factor causing exam stress is outcome-oriented thinking. One needs to think process-oriented. For example, they say, ‘What if I don't pass the exam, what will people say?’ That is, the biggest jury in the world is the 'what will people say' jury. When you think, ‘What will people say?’, anxiety immediately increases. Process-oriented thinking is necessary. Saying, ‘I will solve 100 tests a day’ is process-oriented. They should stop thinking outcome-oriented. They should set their own goals aside, make their plans, and think about the process. They should think about the small steps in that process. There are some types who say, ‘I couldn't do it, I'm ruined, I'll be disgraced, I failed.’ They take the exam and get more points than everyone else. Don't be influenced by them at all. They are negative, pessimistic types. If you put them in heaven, they would complain about why it's so beautiful. Such people exist. Therefore, do not take those people as examples. We should focus on how to evaluate this next one and a half months. Ultimately, we are responsible for doing our best. We are not responsible for the outcome. If a person thinks about what they cannot control, anxiety occurs. If they think about what they can control, anxiety decreases. We can control the process, but we cannot control the outcome.” he said.
“‘Don't stress’ means inviting stress”
Tarhan touched upon the sense of responsibility in young people; “To tell someone ‘Don't stress’ is to invite stress. This phrase definitely has a negative effect. One of the most common mistakes parents make is to say, ‘My daughter, my son, you are important, forget the lessons, don't study.’ If a child or young person has a sense of responsibility, they are negatively affected by this approach. A young person with a high sense of responsibility will already have high exam anxiety. Because their responsibility is high. When you tell them, ‘What if you fail the exam, it's not important, you are important,’ their anxiety increases even more. Because in their mind, they do not see failure as an option. You need to tell them, ‘You are responsible for doing your best, but what the outcome will be is not your responsibility.’ Also, constantly asking, ‘How was the exam?’, turning every morning's breakfast into a conference, always talking about lessons as soon as you see the child... If parents behave this way, that child's anxiety will never end.” he stated.
The others are like high schools…
Tarhan stated what universities need to do to keep up with the times; “Currently, there are 3rd generation universities in the world, which are called good universities. Universities have four functions. The first is to provide vocational training. This is always known. In fact, this is just one function. The second function is research, R&D. Producing and developing projects. That is not enough. The third leg is to inform society. After producing knowledge, sharing that knowledge with society and informing society, serving the advancement of an idea. The fourth leg is to ensure the industrialization of knowledge. Establishing university-industry cooperation. Universities that have these four are universities that have caught up with the age. The others are like high schools. Regardless of the university, the university's role in making a person successful in their profession is 20-30 percent. 70-80 percent is the individual's own effort. They educate themselves, complete their deficiencies.” he said.
Book signing took place
At the end of the program, which attracted great interest from students, Tarhan signed his book titled ‘Being a Conscious Young Person’ for high school students.
