Merve Kaşıkçı

Student at the Koç University School of Nursing

I am in my fourth year at the Koç University School of Nursing. Since my family lives in Manisa, I live in the dorms. I graduated from Anatolian High School.

How you were first introduced to the Vehbi Koç Foundation?
I first learned about the Vehbi Koç Foundation when I came to this school.  However, I have always been interested in nursing since childhood. Since there are many people in my family who work in the healthcare industry, I have always wanted to be a nurse. When I was deciding on which school to attend, a family friend who was a physician told me that if I were to study anywhere it would have to be at Koç University. Actually, that was the day I learned about The Vehbi Koç Foundation. What's interesting is that I made my decision first before learning and researching more about the university, the Koç Group and the American Hospital. Here I have started to both love and respect nursing as a profession, even though I had already valued it greatly. What's more, all our professors are very good leaders and role models in our profession.

Could you talk about your future plans and goals?  
After graduation, I want to work at the American Hospital because it is very prestigious and I believe I can improve myself there. Then I want to continue with my Master's degree. The areas that I would want to work in are intensive care and emergency.

What is the role of the Vehbi Koç Foundation (VKV) in your life?
The Vehbi Koç Foundation is of course a big influence in my life. Since I am away from my family, the last four years of my life have been divided between the school and the dorms. Our school is open 24 hours and there are many activities that we can participate in. And I think that's why we do not need to go outside the school that often. The facilities and means provided to us here are utopic when compared to those of many state and private universities, and I am very happy about this.

Although I do not have any apparent relation to the Vehbi Koç Foundation besides being a student, I still feel a strong bond. I feel safe in the foundation and knowing that I will continue to feel safe puts my mind at ease. My hope for the Vehbi Koç Foundation is that the University Hospital they are planning to establish in the future will house a psychiatry department.

February 2013