Our graduate Serhat Karslı, who graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in History in 2022, continues his career by balancing and sustaining his talents, skills, and hobbies in his professional life. Serhat Karslı, who works as a Data Analyst at Blueart, appears as the Conductor & Art Director of ITU A Capella.
In the interview we conducted with him, our graduate, whose versatile nature is apparent, answered our questions in his own words:
Can you tell us about your experience at Yeditepe University?
Spending a significant part of my youth on a campus surrounded by greenery, away from the chaos of Istanbul, is truly gratifying. I can say that I tried to make the most of the opportunities available in areas such as clubs, music, and sports on the Yeditepe University campus. From an academic perspective, receiving education from many leading academics in the field of social sciences has greatly enriched my perspective."
What differences and advantages did being a Yeditepe alumni bring to your career?
As a Yeditepe graduate, I had the opportunity to actively participate in club activities alongside various courses I took. In my experience as the Art Coordinator at the IEEE Women In Engineering club, I had the chance to meet many people from different fields, most of whom were engineers.
Later on, I took on roles such as President of the Music Club and Choir Responsibility, where I developed my leadership skills in the field of arts. These experiences paved the way for the projects I developed in later years. I believe that properly utilizing the club opportunities at Yeditepe University has had very positive effects.
What do you think was the turning point in your career?
The first significant turning point in my career was being part of the Yeditepe Polyphonic Choir as a chorister and getting acquainted with choir culture. I became deeply passionate about polyphonic choir music and never lost that passion throughout my time. The Yeditepe Polyphonic Choir not only enriched me musically but also provided vital administrative experiences during my time as Choir Responsibility.
My second turning point was when I went to Barcelona through the Erasmus+ program. I can say that the education I received in history, art history, geography, and especially choir music at the UAB university was very important to me. Besides my university education, joining a Catalan choir in the city center and attending festivals with them was a groundbreaking experience. I remember being very excited to bring all the choir culture elements I saw in Barcelona back to Yeditepe and Istanbul.
What advice do you have for our students/new graduates on their career journeys?
It is evident that academic success is a fundamental element for the continuation of university life. However, besides academic success, I believe that the environment and experience gained through club activities throughout university life will have a positive impact on one's career in the long run. Therefore, I am of the opinion that being active in club activities according to one's interests will contribute to both academic success in the long term and accelerate personal development.
What message would you like to share with our readers in the bulletin for the 100th anniversary of our Republic?
Throughout my Yeditepe experience, I had the opportunity to meet people interested in many different fields. Some of them surprised everyone by doing quite extraordinary thingsIn this context, I believe that only by doing what we do with love and dedication, regardless of the work we are engaged in on this land, can we truly be part of this century-old enthusiasm of our Republic.
