Interview with Ms. Elif SELÇUK, one of the most respected teachers in the world.
We want to know people who benefit the whole (the world). All people in the world need inspiration, science, kindness, and reminders that beauty is possible. ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER continues its interviews with proud and inspiring people. Because we want to know and introduce people who will inspire us with their success and courage.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Who is Elif Selçuk? Let’s hear from you. 😊
Elif SELÇUK: I am a teacher at Denizli Merkezefendi Pınar Baha Abalıoğlu Anatolian High School in Turkey, I am an advocate of the United Nations Global Schools Program, I was born in Istanbul, I lived in Kayseri and Kars, I was a teacher for 19 years.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Where do you live? Since when?
Elif SELÇUK: I have been living in Denizli, a city located in the Aegean Region of Turkey, since 2012.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Are you married?
Elif SELÇUK: Yes, I am married and have a child.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: You are a “United Nations Global Schools Program Advocate”. Could you tell us a little about your role?
Elif SELÇUK: As one of the 300 teachers worldwide accepted into the Global Schools Program, an initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), I have integrated my school into the UN’s global network. This education program, which I brought from New York, offers a fresh perspective on the Turkish education system. I serve as the advocate and representative for a program that emphasizes an educational approach to Sustainable Development in Turkey.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Let’s discuss the topic further: How did you begin this job? What are some key skills for your job?
Elif SELÇUK: The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in education. During this time, I began to explore ways to distinguish my efforts from those of my colleagues. I committed to addressing these inequalities by promoting the Sustainable Development Goals and empowering girls. In 2021, I was awarded the SDSN K12 Teachers Sustainable Development Goals scholarship by SDSN Turkey, which marked a significant turning point in my career. Following this, I was accepted into the Global Schools Program, an initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
In this context, my advocacy mission for the United Nations Global Schools Program is to raise awareness among students about global issues, emphasize the principles of sustainability, and encourage them to engage as active global citizens. By creating an inclusive and effective education model and equipping students with knowledge alongside global responsibility and leadership values, we aim to develop the next generation for a more sustainable world, in line with 21st-century skills and pedagogy.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: You know a lot of people due to your profession. Do you have any observations about human profiles? You see and perceive many things that we cannot see. If you have something to share, we would like to hear it.
Elif SELÇUK: The teaching profession is a journey where we encounter different stories, perspectives, and life experiences today. The most important thing I have learned as a teacher is that each individual is different. One of my strongest observations about human profiles is that people’s behaviors are often shaped by their past experiences, sense of value, and sense of belonging.
I am a high school teacher, and when you work with teenagers, you sometimes learn to read the real messages behind their behavior. A quiet student is not necessarily disinterested; sometimes they just want to feel safe. A talkative student may not be looking for attention, but rather to be listened to. Similarly, in adults, someone who appears strong and confident on the outside may be hiding vulnerabilities.
Empathy is one of the greatest values my profession has taught me. I believe trying to understand people without judging them can improve interpersonal communication and society.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: You recently received an award at “The Sheinspires Awards” in England. What was the subject of your award? What can you say about inspiring teachers in different parts of the world?
Elif SELÇUK: I received an award in the ‘Girl Up’ special category at “The Sheinspires Awards” program in England. This award stands for an exceptional woman who supports girls and women to achieve their goals and who is a role model for women with her kindness.
I want to say this to my colleagues working in different parts of the world: “Teaching is a profession that has the power to create change. An idea that starts in a small classroom can turn into a global movement. Remember that everything you do leaves a mark on the lives of your students. Always be brave, think creatively, and never lose faith in the future success of your students.”
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Our readers who want to do your job, what paths should they go through? What do you recommend in terms of education and experience? What determines your vision?
Elif SELÇUK: Teaching is more than a profession; it is a lifestyle that touches people. Those who want to embark on this path should build a strong academic foundation and focus on gaining experience in the field. It is not just about transferring knowledge, it is also about inspiring.
While planning your career, follow global developments, learn new educational approaches, and develop projects that are sensitive to social problems. Make continuous learning a way of life; be open to change.
My vision is to play a role in designing your students’ futures. Believing in their potential and preparing them for the world is the essence of teaching. Making a difference in the lives of others by pushing your limits is an important part of my vision.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: What are the advantages and disadvantages of your profession?
Elif SELÇUK: Teaching provides an opportunity to touch human life and create change, watching your students develop and contribute to their dreams provides an indescribable sense of satisfaction. It also provides the opportunity for continuous learning and self-improvement; it is possible to discover something new every day.
As for the disadvantages, it can be quite emotionally heavy. Feeling our students’ problems as our own can sometimes become tiring. In addition, heavy workload and time pressure can make it difficult for us teachers to balance our personal lives. However, these difficulties gain meaning and become valuable with the traces we leave in our student’s lives.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Elif SELÇUK: As an advocate of the United Nations Global Schools Program, I have goals to expand my sphere of influence, and to meet different audiences, life offers me surprises and incredible opportunities, and I will share them as I live. Let me just give you a little tip, one of my biggest dreams is to be a TEDx speaker; Why not? Who said it’s impossible? It will happen, of course, it will.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: How is your dialogue with your students? Do you have an unforgettable memory?
Elif SELÇUK: As a teacher, strong communication builds a wonderful journey. Isn’t that right… Hatice; she is my first love, she was 13 when she lost her mother in a worker accident, one of her siblings was disabled, her determination to hold on to life, her educational struggle to discover her potential, to overcome obstacles… We can say that it is the story of a young girl who went from the hot pepper (isot) fields to the University. In 2008, upon the request of a friend, we interviewed Hatice in a magazine, Hayrunisa Gül, the wife of the President of the time, Mr. Abdullah Gül, read the interview in the magazine and were impressed, they reached out to me from the presidency and provided Hatice with many supports such as a scholarship, this memory is very valuable.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Do you have any new projects? Did you receive the Global Teacher Award because of these projects?
Elif SELÇUK: I currently have projects that I can’t wait to bring to life, everything waits for its time. Receiving the Global Teacher Award The difference I have made in education, the work I have done for gender equality, the sustainable development projects I have implemented with my students, and not just my students but also my support for students studying at university and women who want to do and produce something for their community were effective in me being deemed worthy of this award.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Everyone in this world learns important lessons about life. What lessons have you learned?
Elif SELÇUK: Our most valuable power as humans is our ability to renew ourselves and inspire others. Life has taught me, as a woman and a teacher, how being brave, dreaming, and encouraging your community makes an individual’s life meaningful and fun.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: Last question. 😊 How does Elif Selcuk spend her 24 hours?
Elif SELÇUK: I love experiencing different activities with my students outside of certain homes and work routine patterns, connecting with different people in different places, but always planning the next step. Life’s gift to me is not knowing where I will be, surprises, opportunities….
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER: We thank Ms. Elif SELÇUK for this wonderful interview and wish her continued success.
