# Benim Yolculuğum | 2025 | Oğuzhan Özkaya | TEDxReset Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTIQUXridd0 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/TTIQUXridd0 Generated: 2025-11-12T17:45:45.983+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Oğuzhan Özkaya details his educational journey, "My Journey," which transformed from a student's idea into establishing multiple vocational workshops and achieving international recognition, culminating in his students earning high rankings in science competitions and receiving full scholarships to prestigious universities. **Key Points:** - The speaker's educational philosophy began with a student's idea to place an A310 Airbus in the schoolyard, which was eventually realized (07:17). - The speaker established vocational workshops including Agriculture/Livestock (where students sold produce at a market, earning 97,000 TL in the first year), Woodworking, Ceramics, and Culinary Arts (15:55, 13:33, 07:50). - Students achieved significant academic success, ranking 12th in an NTV ranking of the top 50 schools in Turkey for academic achievement (18:37). - Two students, Firuze Kökten and Hasan Yalçın Arkanoğlu, received full scholarships to ITU (Istanbul Technical University) and achieved a 2nd place in the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (20:24). - The speaker emphasizes that the "Village Institute spirit" involves teaching practical life skills (like cooking and cleaning) and fostering self-reliance, which they demonstrated during a trip to England (16:01). - The speaker personally obtained a helicopter pilot's license after his students inspired him with their ambitions (07:09). - The speaker concludes by thanking his team and emphasizing that the students' success and inherent potential are paramount (20:00). ![Screenshot at 06:05: The speaker stands in front of a slide showing an aerial view of the school campus, highlighting the A310 Airbus placed in the courtyard, which was the initial idea that spurred many of the school's practical learning initiatives.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-06-05.png) **Context:** The presentation, titled "My Journey" at TEDxReset, is delivered by Oğuzhan Özkaya, who recounts his career transformation driven by the vision of his students. He details how he moved from teaching in a village school to creating an educational institution that integrates vocational skills (like farming, cooking, woodworking, aviation, and ceramics) alongside academics, leading to remarkable student achievements both nationally and internationally. ## Detailed Analysis Oğuzhan Özkaya narrates his professional journey, "Benim Yolculuğum" (My Journey), which began with a student's dream of putting an old Airbus A310 aircraft on the school grounds in Aksaray/Ortaköy (05:05). This initial idea catalyzed the development of various hands-on vocational workshops at the school, including Agriculture/Livestock, Woodworking, Ceramics, Culinary Arts, and Aviation. The Agriculture/Livestock students successfully sold their produce at a local market, earning 97,000 TL in their first year (09:09). The speaker himself was inspired to pursue a helicopter pilot's license after his students showed interest in aviation (07:09). Academically, the school achieved a significant milestone by ranking 12th among Turkey's top 50 schools in an NTV ranking (18:37). The ultimate success stories involve two students, Firuze Kökten and Hasan Yalçın Arkanoğlu, who won second place in the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition in the Artificial Intelligence and Computer Engineering categories and secured full scholarships to ITU (Istanbul Technical University) (20:24). Özkaya stresses that these achievements stem from instilling the spirit of the Village Institutes, focusing on self-reliance and practical skills, evidenced by students managing their own projects and even cooking for themselves during a trip to England (16:01). ### Initial Vision & Aviation - A student's idea to place an A310 Airbus in the schoolyard (05:05) - Speaker obtaining a helicopter pilot's license (07:09) - Student flying in a helicopter (07:03) ### Vocational Workshops & Entrepreneurship - Establishing workshops in Agriculture/Livestock, Woodworking, Ceramics, and Culinary Arts (13:33) - Students selling farm products at a market for 97,000 TL in the first year (09:09) - Students learning to calculate profit/loss and market their goods (13:54) ### Academic & International Success - School ranked 12th nationally in NTV academic achievement list (18:37) - Students Firuze Kökten and Hasan Yalçın Arkanoğlu winning 2nd place in Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (20:24) - Students earning full scholarships to ITU (20:44) ### Life Skills & Village Institute Spirit - Teaching essential self-sufficiency skills like cooking and cleaning during a trip to England (16:01) - Instilling courage and self-reliance so students do not fear failure (17:28) ![Screenshot at 05:05: The opening slide showing the speaker's name and the title 'My Journey,' featuring an image of the A310 aircraft on the school grounds.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-05-05.png) ![Screenshot at 07:48: A collage slide showcasing various practical workshops, including students with farm animals and harvesting crops under the title 'Farming and Livestock Lesson...'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-07-48.png) ![Screenshot at 10:31: A slide featuring students actively engaged in the Textile Workshop, using industrial sewing machines.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-10-31.png) ![Screenshot at 13:34: A slide dedicated to the Woodworking Workshop, showing students constructing a wooden boat frame.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-13-34.png) ![Screenshot at 15:58: A slide titled 'International Achievements' displaying students holding Turkish and Polish flags at an international event.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-15-58.png) ![Screenshot at 18:36: A slide showing the academic achievements, including the school's 12th rank nationally in an NTV list, next to a photo of a student studying.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-18-36.png) ![Screenshot at 20:24: The final slide presenting the two top-performing students, Firuze Kökten and Hasan Yalçın Arkanoğlu, with their awards and university placements.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-20-24.png) ![Screenshot at 20:02: The speaker acknowledges the standing ovation from the large audience at the conclusion of the presentation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/TTIQUXridd0/00-20-02.png)