Following the difficult days we have experienced after the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that plunged our country into mourning, experts emphasize the need to strengthen our psychological well-being to re-engage with life, sometimes start anew, and continue healing our wounds despite everything. Addressing candidates especially preparing for university exams, Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş advises, “Seek ways to develop and strengthen your qualifications and abilities in the future. Review topic headings again, complete your missing subjects, and determine your daily study program.” Tözeniş reminds that studying within a planned program is productive and notes that setting short-term and long-term goals related to the exam will be beneficial in providing motivation.
Short-term and long-term goals increase motivation…
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Education Consultant Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş called on candidates preparing for university exams to return to their routine agendas after the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes.
We need to rest our minds
Highlighting the importance for earthquake-affected students and university candidates to return to their routine agendas, Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş said, “After the earthquake disaster we experienced on February 6, 2023, we all know that returning to the old normal is now more difficult for all of us. We are going through times when we wish there was a button to silence the voice in our minds. We need to rest our minds to be able to help ourselves and others.”
Psychological well-being must be strengthened
Stating that we need to strengthen our psychological well-being to re-engage with life, sometimes start anew, and continue healing our wounds, even if it's not like before, Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş said, “Psychological well-being has been defined as managing existential challenges such as pursuing meaningful goals encountered in life, personal development, and establishing quality relationships with others. It refers to a person's positive functioning in life. While our lives flow on their own course, alongside many beautiful events we experience, we also encounter many bad events that we cannot control. Coping with the good is always easier, but to cope with the bad, we need to develop certain aspects of ourselves.”
Don't rush and never give up!
Noting that young people also need to first create meaningful goals and pursue them for this state of well-being, Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş said, “When we say meaningful goal, it's hard to give a general definition for everyone. Our expectations from life, our dreams, what we want to happen, and the areas we enjoy are not the same. Finding these and choosing the right goals comes from knowing oneself. Who am I, when am I happy or unhappy? The answer to these questions takes a long journey; every day we learn something new about ourselves, and every new experience we have teaches us something. My advice to young people: Don't rush and never give up!
The biggest mistake we make when we encounter a failure or a defeat is giving up. True great successes come when we learn from every defeat and get back up again and again, working with all our might to achieve what we want with greater motivation. Success only makes us proud, but defeat, losing, matures, develops, and even heals us… It is important not to miss out on life, and the taste of life comes from living social relationships that nourish and develop us and forming meaningful friendships.”
What should I do next?
Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş said, “In these days when we talk more about merit, seek ways to develop and strengthen your qualifications and abilities in the future. May all kinds of science always be your light. Regardless of the profession, we will rise again with the right people practicing that profession. What should I do next? Asking ourselves this question will be a step towards being able to start anew.”
Heed these recommendations!
Exp. Psy. Coun. Ece Tözeniş, who provided advice to university candidates preparing for exams, both in the earthquake zone and in different regions of the country, on what they should do after this process, listed her recommendations as follows:
- You can start by reviewing the topic headings again and completing the subjects you are lacking in.
- You can set a daily study program for yourself. If you study with a program, you can progress more efficiently.
- Setting short-term and long-term goals related to the exam will be beneficial for maintaining your motivation. For short-term goals, you can set targets related to your daily and weekly studies. For long-term goals, you can review your objectives regarding university and department choices.
- By trying to regain our motivation and working harder, we will heal our wounds together. Remember, you are the future.