TED SAMSUN COLLEGE / 11-C
The
COMMITTED
What Transformation Means to Me
Ela SEFERBEY ‣
Transformation, to me, refers to a deep and meaningful shift in the way I perceive myself and the world around me. It does not always emerge from major life events; sometimes a film I watch, a word I unintentionally say, a piercing I choose to get, or even a dream I experience can quietly initiate a process of change. Moments that appear insignificant can lead to powerful internal awareness. However, transformation is not always a smooth or easy process. For some individuals, it becomes a state of a will to change but feeling unable to make it come true. Habits, fears, and external expectations may prevent action, making transformation emotionally demanding. In this sense, transformation involves not only growth but also struggle.
The moment that initiated transformation for me was realizing that for a long time I did not know who I truly was. It seemed as though every action I took, everything I shared, every song I listened to, and even my smallest expressions were shaped according to the person in front of me. I cannot say that this situation has been fully resolved; I am still navigating it. Yet the transformation I describe is not an action, but an awareness. Even if I have not yet been able to change my behavior, understanding the source of the issue is itself a form of transformation. I understood this more clearly when I recognized the similarity between my experience and‘ The Truman Show’, a film I watched years ago. The movie centers on the question of self-definition, and I realized that this was exactly what I needed to understand.
For this reason, transformation should not be viewed as something grand or rare. It is like a staircase— its steps can be small or large, and movement can go both upward and downward. What creates real change is how we manage the process.