I am an international student from Istanbul, Turkey. Coming to New York for college was an intentional decision, knowing the city is a multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis. I never felt like an outsider here! Since the summer of 2021, I've been surrounded by unique backgrounds and perspectives, which simultaneously gave me the opportunity to think deeper about my identity and how I can express it aligned with my values and environment.

I studied abroad in the NYU Abu Dhabi campus during the Spring 2025 semester. NYUAD is even more international than the New York campus, and I got to meet so many people from different nationalities. I have learned so much and got the quench to learn more about the world out there. Studying abroad here was a great opportunity for me to be exposed to stories I would never have heard through mainstream media. I also continued my journey of learning how to best represent my culture through this experience. I want to keep working on letting go of assumptions and how to best respond to assumptions about my background.

I am a GLASS Peer Ambassador.

• In this position within my honors program I organize events for our honors and international exchange students. Through these activities, we promote engagement beyond traditional academic settings. These efforts help ensure that all students, particularly international exchange students, feel supported and integrated, positively impacting their academic success and personal development at the university.

I am the Mentorship Committee Chair of NYU Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES).

• As part of my responsibilities, I mentor students who share academic and professional interests in the field. Moreover, I dedicate time every week to communicate with and assist other e-board members in coordinating club activities. These efforts are for fostering meaningful connections and promoting knowledge-sharing within the biotechnology community at Tandon and beyond.

I am the Design & Media Manager for the NYU Turkish Culture Association (TCA).

• It is important for me to stay close to the Turkish community across NYU. As the E-board we plan events throughout the semester to bring students together. I work on social media management as well, responding to any questions we may receive from NYU and non-NYU people interested in our club.