Student Focus

From the moment I set eyes on Buğce I knew I was going to have someone who would challenge the things I said and be inquisitive and curious. I always love this type of student as long as they also listen to what I respond with and eventually understand what it is I am trying to do for them as a teacher. Buğce sees this and knows that I want to help everyone in the class succeed while also challenging them to do better.

She is a girl who definitely is not embarrassed by much (which is what she says in the interview) and someone who would be fun to hang out with because of her laid back attitude. Here is where you can get to know her more. Introducing Buğce!

Full Name: Buğce Güler

What does your name mean?: The first snow flake that falls to the ground.

Why did your parents name you this?: I have no idea. Maybe to be different than other names.

Place of Birth: In İstanbul at Bakırkoy – The International Hospital

Why were you born here?: My mom was born in Izmir after she was twelve she came to İstanbul with her family. I don’t know why, but we still go to Izmir. There are not many people with whom we speak from the family, but we go there to go to Çeşme and my mom opened a new boutique in Izmir. My dad has always lived in İstanbul. He has done the same job for 26 yrs. Before he was working with his father at his father’s factory and then he opened his own factory. After he married my mom, my mom also wanted to work, though my dad said “you don’t need to” But she started to work as a finance officer. Then she became the top designer of our company and now she has a brand name B and G for four years and that’s all. I think that she is very good.

Is that what you will do?: Yes. I also want to be a designer and be educated at Parsons which is in the US. So, I hope to be an IB student.

Age: 14 yrs

What hobbies do you have?: Now I am on the basketball team of our school. I used to be on the volleyball team for 4 yrs on the school team and I used to do Motocross, but now I am not doing it because I fell down while I was training for a competition. The ambulance took me to the hospital, but I don’t think it was very serious. My eyes went white and I couldn’t breathe. I also play tennis now.

Where do you want to go to school: FIT maybe...besides Parsons.

Brothers or sisters?: Yes. I have a brother. He is 8 and he is in the Acı School near Akmerkez.

Embarrassing moment: I guess I don’t have one. I do, but I know what I am doing, so I don’t get embarrassed of the things I am doing usually.

Favorite movie: There are lots of movies that I like, but the movie The Notebook was pretty nice. It was a classic love story actually, but I still liked it. Usually romance makes me cry.

World’s worst problem: I need to think about it because it is a very serious question and I don’t want to give a regular answer for this.

Who is your hero?: My dad used to be my hero, but I don’t know why now. I don’t believe that he is strong enough. I don’t know. I can’t answer this question.

Biggest decision you are thinking about right now: I need to think about whether to choose Science/Math or Turkish classes.

One word that describes you: What do you think it is? (You have to answer that...) "Shopaholic" and "Talkative" maybe.

Lighting

How does lighting affect the mood of a scene? What kind of lighting could produce something scary? What kind of lighting produces something more serious? etc...

(THINK color and brightness and angles and shadows)

Cinema vs. Movies

How are some movies art while others are just something that was made to be sold? How can people tell the difference between a well made movie and one that was just made for money?

IMDB

If you guys do not know this site already, you must go to it: imdb.com

It is a movie database with all sorts of facts and information about movies and actors and television shows -- everything people love being entertained by.

Check out this page about Stand By Me.

Remember -- a "spoiler" means that you will find out information that may ruin the movie for you, so don't read on if you want to enjoy the film as you watch it.

Stand By Me

What could this title mean? What do you think the movie is about based on the title? (Don't respond to this question if you already saw the movie or if you have looked it up online)

Interview Subjects!

Calling all interview subjects! If you want to be interviewed via email, just comment to this post letting me know you will check your email for the interview questions within the next few days.

Whoever responds, I will send a list of questions that I would like you to answer. I will also probably send a follow up email with additional questions because I always have some other things I want to ask after I learn a bit more about you.

Hope to be in contact soon! Remember - I have all of your email addresses, but if you think you gave me an address that you do not check -- feel free to email me with a new email address.

Thanks!

Student Focus

Ecem is a great girl who views life as something that is quite easy to live. With a lot of support and some time, she knows that anything she wants to do will be quite simple.

Introducing the very focused yet very laid back Ecem!


Full Name: Ecem Şenyuva

What does your name mean?: My queen –Ece means queen – so Ecem means my queen.

Why did your parents name you this?: My mom decided to name her first daughter Nazlı, but I didn’t have a name for 2 weeks. I don't know why.

Place of Birth: İstanbul – Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi

Why were you born here?: My mom used to work there, so the doctors were her friends, so it was good she knew the doctors.

Age: 15 yrs

Have you always lived in Istanbul: Yes, but I have moved like 8 times because of school and my mom’s and dad’s job. My mom is a general surgeon and my dad is a plastic surgeon professor. He goes to the University twice a week.

What hobbies do you have?: I have played basketball since third grade. I played piano. I have done SCUBA and windsurfing.

Where do you want to go to school: I came to Koç because I want to go to University in the US. My sister goes to Princeton. She is studying biomedical engineering.

What do you want to study?: I don’t know, but if I try to be a doctor it will be so easy. Sometimes I still want to be a star in Hollywood. (laughs) That is kind of like every girl’s dream.


Brothers or sisters?: I have one sister and she is 18yrs old. No brothers. Only her. I am alone right now. She is my best friend in the whole world and the greatest person I ever met. She will come back home in December and then I will go visit her in February.

Embarrassing moment: We used to go to extra courses for HS after school to prepared for HS. It was the graduation party of that course and before we were given the certificates, they were announcing our names they would have a sort of an introduction. So for mine, the teacher said nice things and I thought it was me and went to the stage and then it turned out that it was someone else and I was standing on the stage.

Favorite movie: I have four actually: Children of Men, The Devil Wears Prada, Atonement and Gladiator.

World’s worst problem: War, Global Warming, and Education

Something people would be surprised to know about you: When I am in places that I am not familiar with I am so shy, but when I get used it I am the real Ecem. It has taken a month and a half here I guess. It depends on the students and the teachers of course.

Who is your hero?: Our leader Ataturk and my mom. I know everything about Ataturk, like how he saved us, and still we feel how he affected us and we try to protect him. My mom because she taught me everything I learned and “Made me who I am today.”

Biggest decision you are thinking about right now: Being in the IB program and going to University.

One word that describes you: I love sharing. Maybe “outgoing.”