I was once one of those people who kept insisting, “I want to get into Computer Engineering.” As it turns out, I got in, and currently, I am a Computer Engineering student. How did I get in, and what is my life like after getting in? Honestly, nothing has changed. Except for the increase in the number of computers I format, of course. Although formatting technically falls under our field, we receive education more in the software area rather than the technician area. Of course, formatting carries the nature of general knowledge for us.

How did I win (get into) this Engineering program? To be realistic, I couldn’t get in the first year I took the exam. And again, realistically speaking, I didn’t study at all the first year. Because of computer addiction. Look, the real deal is this: people who are computer addicts are actually the ones who love computers and are intimately involved with them. But there’s a catch: while trying to be deeply involved with computers, they blow the opportunity to get into Engineering. I guess you could say I won half-and-half. I was also one of those who were involved with computers at an advanced level. Therefore, classes took a back seat. Honestly, sitting down to edit a WordPress theme, examining newly established websites on the internet, or observing the graphic design field felt more enjoyable to me than the formulas of chemical experiments. Actually, I could have liked chemistry too, but we never got our hands on any concrete tools or equipment. Since the computer was always right beside me, I think this interest awakened towards the computer. Rather than work on paper, I have always wanted something tangible, or something that when people see it, they know it’s something new… how should I put it, something they know was made by me. In short, I like things done in practice a lot more. Paperwork only catches my attention for short-term notes and planning.

I got into Engineering on my second attempt at the exam. Honestly, instead of having the mentality of “I’m taking it for the second time, I must get in this time,” I thought to myself, “I took it last year, and most of the people here are taking this exam for the first time. They are encountering this booklet and answer sheet for the first time.” In a way, I saw myself as having the advantage. If you ask how I prepared for the exam, I messed around with the computer again all year long. No matter how much you try, it just doesn’t happen, but when there was like 1 month left, I looked, I thought, I calculated, and I said to myself, “Let me study.” I looked again, and there were 2 weeks left, and I still hadn’t studied properly. Computer again. By the way, when I say computer, don’t think of computer games. I’m not someone who loves playing games very much. It seems like a waste of time to me most of the time. But sometimes it’s a good way to activate the happiness and winning hormones. The joy of winning a game is something else. Especially if it’s fiercely contested.

You’re probably saying, “If you didn’t study, how did you get in?” Let me explain it like this. Actually, I can say that getting into this Engineering program was a result of built-up knowledge. My high school years had a big impact on this. First, I got into an Anatolian Teacher High School, and then I transferred to a Regular Anatolian High School. The place where I gained knowledge without studying was Dr. Kemal Naci Ekşi Anatolian High School. The teachers were really high quality, and the questions in their exams were really difficult. Let me even give you an exam example. In the 11th grade, across the entire science/math department, in a math exam out of around 120 people, there were fewer than 10 people who scored over 45; in fact, I won’t lie, I remember a number like 5 people. There was no one above 55 anyway. Anyway, with such low grades, a decision was even made to cancel the exam or something. Then the teacher said, “Let whoever has the guts come, I’m going to give a new exam.” And he scared us, saying this one would be harder. Why would I go and take it? We had already gotten a 20, it wasn’t like we were going to lower it anyway. Look, this incident wasn’t because the students in the school were unsuccessful. The students weren’t unsuccessful people who didn’t study. The issue was that the questions were quite advanced. They were trying to educate us on par with science high schools in the math and science field. So, with the accumulation provided by all that time, I managed to handle that exam.

Now, I would say things like “if only I had studied,” but I don’t feel like saying it. Thank God, I am happy with my situation. But studying in Istanbul is a different story. Fine, let my school be the same, but let the city be Istanbul. So my advice to you is to get into a school in Istanbul. Rest assured, when you think of technology in Turkey, Istanbul comes to mind.

How am I now, am I happy with my life? Computer Engineering is a good major. Don’t expect anything from the professors; you will research it yourself, blend the information, and then digest it in your brain. Just so you know, Mathematics, Physics, and similar courses won’t leave you alone. Math 1, Math 2, Math 3… it just goes on like this 😀 Stay well. May God bless you. Never give up on dreaming. Everything is in your hands; if you want to do it, you just need to work hard. And pray, of course.. 🙂