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Advice / Career Paths / Exploring Careers

It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Dream

Name: Abdullah

Dream Job: In high school, Abdullah’s biggest aspiration was to one day become the president of Turkey. He always laughs when he recalls this because it reminds him that young minds know no limits.

How His Journey Began: After studying finance in school back home, Abdullah became a tax inspector, which was a natural fit for someone with his academic background. He continued on this path for a few years, holding several positions as a public official, but, ultimately, the finance world always felt like there was something missing. He still dreamed of studying politics in the United States.

Make the Leap: Abdullah made the decision to transition to politics early on his career. And while a lot of people questioned the practicality of pursuing an entirely new field after dedicating his education to finance, he had the love and support of his wife. About a year ago, they traveled to New York with their two children. They plan to stay for just one more year, when Abdullah finishes his graduate program in politics at The New School.

Best Piece of Advice for Anyone Who Want to Change Course: “Don’t be afraid to make a change in your life. I was in Turkey, I have a family, I have two kids. Making a transition seemed a little difficult, but you gain so many things from making a big leap sometimes.”

Moment That’ll Make You Smile: When Abdullah finished sharing his story, his wife and children ran over to greet him with big hugs.