Kivilcim Degirmencioglu, a Turkish student, describes her experiences growing up in a small town in Turkey, attending college in Istanbul, and pursuing a PhD at Penn State University in the United States. Kivilcim discusses the differences between the education systems and social environments in Turkey and the US, as well as the challenges of learning English and adjusting to life in a new country. Kivilcim's goal is to work in a field related to child and family development, whether through research, social work, or academia, and she is open to various career paths that align with her interests and values.