Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
An 81-year-old former commando officer is studying his sixth university course after retiring because of fears he may develop Alzheimer’s like his father.
Elderly Mehmet Deniz from the Turkish city of Izmir lost his father due to Alzheimer’s and feared he was heading the same way after “falling into a void” after retirement.
He decided to go to university to not end up like his father in his later years, and went on to obtain degrees and diplomas in office management, economics, business administration, Turkish language and literature and justice at the open education faculty.
Deniz is currently studying his sixth course in emergency and disaster management and plans to go on to do a masters and a doctorates in some of the subjects.
Deniz, who worked as a commando petty officer for many years and then at the Turkish embassy in Moscow, also speaks Russian, English, and German.
The 81-year-old student, who has hundreds of certificates from the many courses he has attended, said: “After I retired, I fell into a vacuum.
“My children and grandchildren went to university so I thought ‘they are doing it, why can’t I?’
“First, I entered the Anadolu University Open Education Faculty in the office management department. After studying there for two years, I studied business administration for four years in the faculty of business.
“Later, I entered the economics faculty and studied economics for four years. I learned that reading is good for me so I wanted to carry on. I then wanted to enter the Turkish language and literature department, but I had to take an exam for this.
“I took the exam and passed it. I speak Russian, German and English, but I did not know Ottoman Turkish. I read up on this to learn the Ottoman language as well.
“After I finished my last course, I took a break from studying and my body started to ache and hurt. I realised my pain started as soon as I dropped out of class.
“I then studied in the law department’s justice programme for two years. We live in an earthquake zone, and I am an AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) volunteer.
“Finally, I started the two-year emergency and disaster management course I am currently on. In other words, I have graduated from five courses and I’m now on my sixth.”
The OAP student added: “I’m afraid of getting Alzheimer’s so I keep my brain busy all the time.
“My father died of Alzheimer’s and it could have passed on to me genetically. That is why I am scared and I keep my mind occupied – so I don’t develop Alzheimer’s.”
Stating that the people around him give positive reactions, Deniz said; “My children and grandchildren admire me. They ask me how I achieve success. They failed classes a few times, but I have not failed a single class. My goal is to pursue a master’s degree in the Turkish language and literature. I am thinking of doing a doctorate after that.”
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