When I first packed up my life and landed in Türkiye, I was a mess of emotions and knew I was in for quite a ride ahead. Moving here to Ankara to start my MBA at 44 was exhilarating, yes, but I was also filled with so many questions. Would I fit in? Would the students, professors, and staff welcome me, or would I feel as out of place as I felt when I was an awkward 13-year-old rocking braces and a questionable haircut?

Honestly, no matter how confident I tried to act, there was a deep, gnawing fear that I was about to embark on a journey that would be isolating. I imagined blending into campus life would be difficult enough with the typical pressures of classes and homework, but add to this that I am no “spring chicken,” and let’s just say I was prepared for a really rough semester. I was worried that I wouldn’t know how to relate to the younger generations. But looking back now, I couldn’t have been more wrong. At METU, I have found reassurance that the future is in good hands. The kids are alright, and they inspire me every day.

First Days and Not-So-Daunting Introductions

On my first day on campus, I was prepared to handle stares, awkward silences, and perhaps a few people avoiding me like I was an exhibit rather than a fellow student. My mind was conjuring all kinds of worst-case scenarios. Would my classmates wonder if I had accidentally wandered into the wrong class? Would the professors expect me to know way more just because I was, ahem, seasoned? And what about the undergraduate students? Would they accept me as a peer or see me as an out-of-place “parental figure” roaming the hallways? What would I say when they mistook me for a professor?

Despite these fears, I put on a brave face and walked into the first class with all the grace I could muster. And then, something amazing happened.

The Kids Are Alright: Embraced By My Classmates

From day one, my classmates went out of their way to make me feel like I belonged. Granted, the MBA class itself was very small-I think there were only eight of us-and the professors had probably been prepared for the American who was joining the fall MBA classes. I wasn’t welcomed in the polite “let’s be friendly because we’re all stuck in the same boat” kind of way. My fellow students genuinely welcomed me, and some even offered their information so I could contact them if I ever needed anything. Everyone was very kind from the very beginning, and I was put at ease. (Thank you Arca, Ayla, Hazar, Sinan, Deniz, Taha, and Siraç!)

My fellow students were genuinely curious about my story-why I had chosen Türkiye, what had led me to uproot my life, and what it was like studying at this stage in life. The conversations weren’t just small talk; they felt real and meaningful. Everyone treated me as an equal, and before I knew it, we were bonding over the stress of keeping up with five graduate level classes with workloads that never seemed to ease up. And getting to know all of them was an amazing opportunity.

Sure, we might not all be at the same stage of life, but we were all facing the same academic mountains together, and that common ground proved more powerful than any difference.

Faculty as Friends and Mentors

If I had any remaining doubts about fitting in, they were erased by my professors. They addressed me by name even though I had never met any of them. They didn’t treat me any differently than the other students; they simply wanted to teach and inspire. The curriculum was more challenging than anything that I had every experienced (thus the failed class), but the professors were always willing to answer questions and I was never embarrassed about not knowing or understanding something. The warmth from my professors helped melt away any remaining anxiety (outside of general school stress) and made me feel like I belonged in this program.

The Staff that Became my Support System

And then there was the staff. I don’t know if it is just Türkiye, or if I’ve landed in some extraordinary alternate universe, but the kindness and support I received from everyone on campus were incredible. The department has a cafeteria, or canteen, along with a coffee shop, in the basement of the building. Most of the staff does not speak English, but we still managed to become friends. I learned their names, and could ask them how they were in Turkish. That was the extent of our conversations, but they were always friendly and their faces would always light up when they saw me. It truly meant a lot to me.

Another faculty member, who also became a friend, is the coordinator for the international student’s office on campus, Erdem. I had to go to him often in the beginning of my time on campus for various issues. Whether I was struggling with the residency hiccup (the landlady drama) or the fact that I couldn’t open a bank account or get a Turkish phone number (again, the landlady drama), Erdem really helped me when I couldn’t do anything else other than cry out of frustration. It was embarrassing to break down as often as I did in front of him, but he was always so kind and would always try to do what he could to help me. He was even kind enough to stop by and feed my cats for a few days when I was out of town. He is a wonderful coordinator for the international students, and I am so grateful for his help.

But everyone on the METU campus that I have had the pleasure of knowing and interacting with has been wonderful. In moments of doubt, I was offered reassurance, and a reminder that every student has his/her own challenges. And that the dishonest landlady was not a new, or even rare, phenomenon. Nobody treated me like an outsider, or an oddball. Instead I was treated as another person taking a leap into something new and terrifying, which, as it turns out, is a pretty universal experience.

Finding My Place

So here I am, just over a year into this adventure, and I feel a sense of belonging I never expected. I’m not just a student; I’m part of a METU community that has made Türkiye feel like home. My classmates aren’t just classmates-I’m proud to call them my friends. And I continue to be inspired not only by their kindness, but by their intelligence as well. My professors aren’t intimidating experts at the front of the room, they’re mentors who genuinely want to see their students succeed. And the staff? They are the backbone of my experience, supporting me as I continue to figure out this life I am building here.

For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, wondering if you’ll ever truly fit in, I can tell you this: oftentimes the fears in your head are bigger than the reality. We’re all just trying to find our way, and sometimes you’ll find a place that feels like home when you least expect it.

And so here’s to the warmest welcome I never saw coming. Thank you to everyone on campus who has helped me find my place, quirks and all. My fears of how I would be accepted were completely unfounded. Turns out, the kids are alright at METU. The faculty and staff are, too. 🙂

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