Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a guest at the Book Council event organized by Genç Memur-Sen. Tarhan met with young people who read his book 'Conscious Youth' and gave important advice to them during the program. Tarhan emphasized that to be a conscious young person, one must try and err.
“In my book, I tried to give new answers to old questions.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about the story of his book 'To be a Conscious Young Person', stated that this book is a companion for young people. Tarhan said: “In our nation, there is a master-apprentice relationship, and we teach in an authoritarian way, but the system has changed in the world, and the footsteps of digital transformation have begun. Now, young people research any question as they wish and get answers quickly. Today's young people need to feel they belong to a family and also be free. Young people no longer say yes to everything they are told and question things. Young people are currently asking not 'how should I worship?' but 'why should I worship?', and in such a situation, it is necessary to give new answers to old questions. I tried to give new answers to these questions with the book I wrote.” he spoke.
“To be a conscious young person, one must try and err”
Tarhan stated that generations used to change every 30-50 years, but now the change is quite fast; “Those born into the digital generation are natives of that generation, while we are immigrants. This era we live in means new questions, and old knowledge needs to be transferred to young people. Imagine a pack of wolves. Old wolves walk in front, followed by young wolves. Thus, experiences learned in times of danger are transferred to the young wolves. Being a conscious young person is also lived through trial and error.” he said.
“The wind carries young people who choose their destination port in advance to where they want to go”
Tarhan stated that to be a conscious young person, one must be virtuous; “Those who are self-serving think short-term, a conscious young person thinks long-term. Those who only think short-term flare up like a straw fire but give up the next day. It is necessary to set the strategic goal correctly, first determine your current position, then make an action plan, and finally set off. Young people who think this way will progress. There are many obstacles on the path advanced with virtue. Young people need to remember their purpose and choose their destination port in advance. If they act this way, the wind can take them where they want to go.” he expressed.
“Values abandoned during the construction of civilization should be reinstated”
Tarhan stated that we should not be too oppressive or too lenient; “One of the most important skills of our age is the ability to learn by experiencing, by doing, by living. If a person can achieve this, they will be both happy and feel successful. Instead of tying our happiness to external reasons, training has begun on finding happiness linked to internal reasons. We also need to reintegrate the values we abandoned during the construction of civilization into that construction. This is not going back to the past; it means bringing from the past while standing here.” he said.