Why FSU?

I was living in Istanbul, Turkey, and working at another university when I decided to pursue this degree. The International and Multicultural Education Program in the FSU College of Education was a good program that I couldn't find in Turkey. Also, it allowed me and my spouse to be able to spend more time with my extended family in Tallahassee.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

My motivation was a combination of things. After my undergraduate degree, I was working as an English teacher in Turkey. I had gotten to the point where I was running a very large program but was lacking some of the technical skills to continue. So I returned to school for my master's, which rekindled my interest in education.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

This is a tough question because I feel my choice to return to school was more personal. However, my current research focus is on gap years and specifically how students experience them. So I've been able to focus more on education outside of a classroom. For its importance, I have found that I contribute to understanding how students make sense of what they learn in school. Considering the talks about "what's the worth of a degree," I think that's pretty valuable.

Career aspirations

This is difficult to answer because of my graduate school career. I enjoy my current job at FSU as one of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement's associate directors who oversees the department's global programs, such as FSU's Gap Year Program and Global Scholars. However, I cannot really think past a semester ahead because I also want to finish my PhD.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Be honest with yourself and follow your interests. I feel a ton of people view grad school as a necessary evil on the way to a better job, and it's not really that. You get to find yourself within your research, and so you should focus on your interests.