Life is learned through experience; it is lived through exploration. For me, it is a rich and free space of experimentation — open to knowing, transformation, and deepening. That’s why I define life as a journey of authenticity, through which we reach our true wholeness.

Being born in the very land where philosophy itself was born, I come from a remarkably “colorful” lineage: Western Anatolia, Izmir, Afyonkarahisar, Greece, Crete/Chania, Istanbul, Tekirdag, Bulgaria, and Tarnovo… In short, my ancestors were what you might call multicultural Turkish migrants.

I was born in Izmir and spent most of my early years in Karsiyaka. My journey eventually led me to the United Kingdom for my education. This page is a small memory corner, a selection of a few frames from the wide photo album of my life:

My dear mother and father, pictured here during their engagement ceremony in Izmir in the 1980s… They first laid eyes on each other on the streets of Alsancak, fell in love, and chose each other for life:

I was born in Izmir  – the most beautiful city in the country (yes, that’s a “slightly” biased statement) — and here a three years old me (a little bit “serious” )

From my primary school in Izmir in early 2000s, here is a photo. At the time, I was learning how to read and write

Middle school years… I could say it was the age when I had “started reading newspapers.”

High school years… I was enrolled in a curriculum designed for communication studies at the secondary school level. During these years, I began to discover my outgoing nature.

With each passing year in high school, I became more curious and adventurous. I mostly spent my time reading modern history books and fictional novels, playing volleyball and football, and I was also a good runner:

During my undergraduate studies, the courses I took such as ‘History of Philosophy,’ ‘Ethics,’ ‘Logic,’ and ‘History of Religions’— made me contemplate about freedom and other kinds of social perspectives more.

For instance, reading articles on “the relationship between Law and Ethics” and “Asian belief systems and women,” marked critical moments of insight for me. At that age, I would often retreat to my room for long hours and study:

During my master’s studies, I entered a new academic phase where the practical concerns I had already become aware of during my undergraduate years began to fit into a theoretical framework—like pieces of “a puzzle” coming together.

I graduated with a thesis on autonomy and liberalism. Here are a few memories from the graduation ceremony I attended in the following session:

With the start of my PhD, I was finally able to focus more closely on the specific topics I am currently working on. Throughout this journey, I took joy in being part of student-led initiatives and used the opportunity to explore Northern Britain along the way:

Night dance break in Glasgow…

Glasgow University – Philosophy Department summer PhD party! The arrival of summer had even brought the sun to Scotland:

A tour in England National Gallery

During my second year of PhD, I took my research to a new level by examining the philosophical foundations of human rights through the lens of the concept of “freedom from domination.” Philip Pettit was my research advisor at Princeton. This photo is from a memorable farewell reception:

A joyful coffee with Professor Miranda Fricker—founder of the concept of epistemic injustice—on a street near Princeton University. In my view, this stands out as the most significant intellectual breakthrough in 21st-century philosophy

Autumn sunshine at Princeton. Just after a Behavioural Psychology class—followed by a quiet library break

Exploring American islands! With a New York Architecture — The temperature was around -7 degrees:

Ellis Island and historical newspapers

The journey continues at the University of Oxford. As of 2025, I became a recognized student in the Philosophy Department with my project on a new theory of human rights

A valuable meeting with an inspiring woman aero-space professor, Yurdanur Tulunay, in Oxford Union:

Let us turn to be a little bit “personal.” Oxford – Waterstones…

St Catherine’s College, after an insightful class on John Stuart Mill