An Interview With the Karabağlar District Governor: Mehmet ÖZER

Can you tell us about yourself?
I was born on March 23, 1978, in Çorum. After I completed my primary and secondary education in Çorum, I graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law. In the same year, I started my career as a provincial administrator as a Çorum district governor candidate. In 2002-2003, I was in England for language and my master's degree. After my duties as Adana-Feke District Governor, Erzurum-Köprüköy District Governor, Ordu-Aybastı District Governor, Muş-Hasköy District Governor, Rize Deputy Governor, Düzce-Akçakoca District Governor, Provincial Administration General Directorate Department Head, Istanbul-Sarıyer District Governor, I served as a senior manager in the Metal Industrialists Union between 2022-2024. I was appointed as the District Governor of Karabağlar, Izmir, by the Presidential Decree dated July 2, 2024. I am married and have two daughters.

What advice would you give to us young people when choosing a career?
It's said, with reference to Napoleon, that "War is won in preparation"; to be successful in life, it is very important to be prepared for life. A day is 24 hours for everyone, but for people who have a goal, that 24 hours is the time for preparing themselves for their goal. As we consider the fact that education life doesn't fully prepare us for life, first of all, I think it would be very useful to make a list of jobs that we believe that we'll love or are suitable for our talents. After that, with doing a detailed research of the jobs that we listed, when we combine the advantages and disadvantages of jobs with our own personality traits, our understanding of discipline, and our feelings about whether we will like those jobs or not, it will be easier to make decisions about jobs. If possible, reading the memories and biographies of the people who do that job will help you to understand what the ups and downs will be in that job. I think as long as you do the job that you love, challenging with the difficulties in life would be much bearable.

What is basic principles have you prioritized in your life?
Main priorities are discipline, sincerity, and effort. Therefore, people should see every job that they have to do as the most important job ever, and they should give importance to the fact that the job is done in a timely manner that suits them and the requirements of the job. A person's approach to his work is directly proportional to the value he gives to himself. People who don't value himself won't show enough respect, attention, and care to his job and his colleagues. Therefore, I think that we should see ourselves as valuable in life and not forget that the value we show to our work and friends also reflects the respect we show to ourselves.

Which book, series or movie would you recommend to us young people?
If you bring the world’s most fertile wheat seed together with the most fertile soil, you might think that you will achieve the most productive wheat harvest. However, this may not always be the case. While combining fertile soil with a high-quality seed is a necessary condition, another crucial factor is required. We call this factor climate. If you fail to provide the right climate from the moment the wheat seed sprouts to its growth into wheat and finally to its harvest, you might still obtain some yield, but it won’t be the most productive one. That is why climate is one of the key factors determining both the quality and quantity of the crop. You can think of the books you read and the movies/series you watch as the climate shaping your mindset and lifestyle. That is why I believe it is essential to develop awareness against environments that may distract you from your goals and hinder the full realization of your potential.

Of course, reading written sources and following visual content such as videos and films can contribute significantly to our knowledge. However, it is crucial to plan their timing in a way that aligns with our personal goals. Eisenhower once said, "Plans are nothing; planning is everything," emphasizing that while plans may constantly change, the process of planning must be continuously updated to fit the spirit of the time. As the saying goes, "The world steps aside for the person who knows what they want." As young individuals at the very beginning of your lives and as the guarantors of the Republic, it is important for you to equip yourselves with the necessary qualities for the future.

As a book recommendation, I suggest Papillon by Henri Charrière, along with its film adaptation if you can find it. Additionally, to better understand today’s competitive world and human nature, I believe The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand would be a suitable read for high school seniors.

For the final words, the schools you have attended and the ones you will attend in the future are the tools that will help you realize yourself and unlock your potential. Seeing yourself as a unique masterpiece, giving yourself a shape that you desire or letting society shape this unique masterpiece as they wish are the decisions that you will decide. Taking the initiative to shape your own life by thinking, researching, and realizing your potential without getting caught up in romanticism is something that no one else can ever do for you.


Edited by Rüzgar Kaçmaz
Interview from Mehmet Özer, District Governor of Karabağlar