Interview with a Turkish student who travlled the world in her gap Year with Baret Scholars

From Türkiye to 14 Countries: Her Gap Year with Baret Scholars What if you could spend a year traveling across 14 countries, living in 20 cities, and learning alongside changemakers from around the globe — all on a full scholarship? In this episode of the Opportunities Platform Podcast, we sit down with Zeynep Irmak Özcan, a 19-year-old powerhouse from Bursa, Türkiye, whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. From earning a full ride to UWC South East Asia in Singapore to deferring college for the Baret Scholars Program, Zeynep has redefined what a gap year can be. Want to jump to a specific part of Zeynep’s story? Use the timestamps below to explore the exact moments you’re most curious about from how she got into the Baret Scholars Program on a full scholarship, to her travel experiences across 14 countries, the application process, and her final advice for students. Whether you’re here to learn about scholarships, gap year travel, or the program’s structure, you can skip straight to the sections that matter most to you. 00:00 - 00:26 Introduction 00:26 - 01:21 Who is Zeynep? 01:21 - 02:04 What is the Baret Scholars Program? 02:04 - 04:54 Inspiration Behind Baret 04:54 - 06:00 Baret Scholars Age Group 06:00 - 07:41 Zeynep's Best Moment in her Baret Scholars Journey 07:41 - 09:46 A Year Very Much On! 09:46 - 11:17 What makes Baret Valuable? 11:17 - 14:09 The Global Route & Adaptability 14:09 - 15:25 How Does Baret Diverse the Program? 15:25 - 16:41 Application & Scholarship Process 16:41 - 20:14 Baret Learning Program 20:14 - 22:06 Morning Programs & Sessions 22:06 - 24:22 Some of the Best Speaker's in Zeynep's Experience 24:22 - 26:10 Baret Fellowship 26:10 - 28:52 Visa Process 28:52 - 30:19 Structure of a Baret Scholar's Week 30:19 - 32:28 Safety Measurements 32:28 - 33:38 Committing to your Sports throughout Baret 33:38 - 35:58 Capstone Project 35:58 - 38:49 List of Countries Zeynep Travelled To 38:49 - 40:00 Graduation Ceremony 40:00 - 42:34 Applications Process Advice 42:34 - 44:18 Zeynep's Future Plans 44:18 - 46:28 Baret Scholarships Provided 46:28 - 48:06 Taking This Bold Decision 48:06 - 51:34 Final Piece of Advice 51:34 - 53:23 Conclusion We talk about: ✈ What the Baret Scholars Program is and why it matters 📚 How it’s different from traditional education like IB or UWC 💡 Her capstone project and personal growth moments 🤝 Building a global network of friends and mentors 💰 How students can join on full scholarships — no matter their background Whether you’re dreaming about taking a gap year, exploring the world, or finding a unique path to college, this conversation will give you the insider’s view on how it’s done. 🎥 This is your sign to think bigger, aim higher, and step out of your comfort zone. 🔗 Learn more about Baret Scholars: www.baretscholars.org 🌟 Subscribe for more inspiring interviews with global scholars & change-makers! Why you Subscribe our Channel? Opportunities Platform started because we kept hearing the same thing: students want experiences that matter, but they do not always know where to look. Today our community 80+ countries members have shared 1000 real and free opportunities for international students, and over 21000 students have connected through our network in last three years. We are a small team with a simple idea. Find real programs. Share them clearly. Help people take the next step. 🔗 Links & follow Telegram: https://t.me/opportunities_platform121 Instagram:   / opportunities_platform   LinkedIn:   / opportunities-platform   Opportunities Platform YouTube:    / @opportunitiesplatform   👍 If this was useful… Like the video, subscribe to the channel, and click the bell to be notified when we post interviews and opportunity alerts. Share this with a friend who should know about alternative high school models. Credits Interview host: Ankit Guest: Zeynep, Baret Scholar 2024 Recorded and shared by Opportunities_platform #BaretScholars #Scholarships #GapYear #OpportunitiesPlatform #StudyAbroad #FullyFunded #GlobalEducation #YouthOpportunities #TravelAndLearn