ASSIGNMENT #1

GPC 125
Müge BEİDOĞLU
Miray Zehra TOPCU
2315000
 My name is Miray Zehra Topcu. I was born in Istanbul. My date of birth is 9 July 1998. I am

the one child of my family. Actually, I had a sister but she died right after her birth. If she were

alive, there would be a year between she and I. She would be older than me. I never met her, so

this story can not be very sad for me. During my life, I have lived one city which is Istanbul. I

think that Istanbul is a great city. Also, I believe that the city of Istanbul has a kind of soul.

Especially, when I was a child, Istanbul was much more better. My childhood was great. I was

spending my most of time with playing my friends in outside. It was fun. When I remember my

chilhood memories, I always smile. On the other hand, my family environment was warm and

kind. There are still a lot of love and respect between my family members which are my mother

and my father. I think that feelings of love and respect in the family environment are the most

important things for a child’s development. Also, this situation affects his or her all entire life

for my opinion. On the other hand, watching film or TV series and making some comments

about them, walking almost every day, listening music, reading novels and poetries can be my

hobbies. I feel happy when I do these things. The important information about myself is art and

theater. I like watching a play. Actually, I like all things about art and theater. I always wanted

to be an actress. This is my dream job in my childhood. On the other point of view, I am

interested in psychology and most of the topics which are releated with psychology. I think that

I noticed my interest in the beginning of high school years. Also, my mother always encourage

me to be a counselor. She talked to me most of the time when I was in my last year of high

school. For example, she made some researches about universities and job opportunities for me.

However, these all things are my decisions. It belongs to me. She just influenced me at some

points. One of the other reason is that the mental illnesses look so interesting and attractive for

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me. When I observe people, I think that most of them have some disease. They need help and I

want to be that person. That is why I want to be a counselor. For example, in my middle and

high school, there are too much problematic people. I can see and understand the other side of

the people. I like my this skill. Also, I think that I can see the World in a different way, and this

is a very important quality for being a counselor. The all things are reasons and factors that

influenced me for being a counselor.

Humanity is one of the most complicated creature in the World. Also, it is the most toxic one.

Especially, when we think about the past ten years, we saw too many bad things such as rape,

murder, and serial killers. When I was a child, the World was not too like this. There are always

bad things but nowadays, we can see the top point. To be honest, I do not know that people can

change. Evil and anger are offended deeply into human nature.

There are some special areas that I specially interested. The addiction and mental illnesses

are interesting topics for me. For my future life as a counselor, I want to work with serious cases

and patients. Maybe, I will work in a mental hospital or addiction center. Also, criminal

psychology looks interesting for me. I always wonder that what is the back ground of a criminal

cases. I have not decided yet but some points are shaped in my head. Overall, the criminals,

people who have mental illness, and addicts are the most intetested groups for working with as

a counselor for me. On the other hand, family and child psychology does not look interesting

for me, so the children and their families are the least interested groups for working with as a

counselor in my opinion. In this job, there are some difficult clients and situations. In my

opinion, addicts are the most difficults clients because addiction is hard to deal with. In some

situations, people who are addicts can not control their behaviors or actions. For example, in

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most cases, drug addicts can not give up taking drugs easily. Also, I can understand them

because even smokers can not quit smoking easily. That is a hard situation. I think that all types

of addictions are the most difficult cases fort his job.

There are some limitations and strengths for me. Sexism and homophobia are my limitations.

I can not stand with homofobic and sexist people. However, in my professional life, that

situation might be different. If a homofobic or sexist person come to my office, that would be

a challenge for me. I think that I must learn how to deal with these kinds of people. On the point

of view, I see my some qualities as my strengths. In my opinion, I can be very cold-blooded in

some serious situations such as during the meeting with a tough patient. My other strength that

I like very much is taking emergency decisions. In some situations, people need to make a

decision in a one or two minute, maybe shorter than one minute, so I can think briefly and

calmly in these types of situations.

There are some plans that I think about it after graduation. Since the beginning of my Guidance

and Psychological Counseling journey, my plans did not change. When I think about 10 years

after graduation, there are some things that come to my mind. I will open my own counseling

center in abroad. I have not decided the country that I want to live yet but I want to live in

Europe. Also, I will specialize criminal psychology, mental illness or addiction psychology.

Maybe, I will work with a group of counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists together. My

other plan for my after graduation is to maintain a home office business. I will accept my

patients in my home but in the different part of my home in certain hours. I hope that one of my

target will come true. Also, I want to take attention the point of “dreams”. I do not dream. I

have targets. Dreams are unrealistic things but when you put yourself a target, you can make it

real.