Meet Current Reconnectors
Berkay Isik
MAJOR: Computer Science
Berkay Isik had been away from school for over a decade when he learned about the NYS Opportunity Promise program, also known as CUNY Reconnect. The new initiative from Governor Kathy Hochul lets qualified New Yorkers ages 25 to 55 earn an associate degree in high-demand fields for free.
After graduating from a specialized high school in Turkey, Berkay’s college plans were put on hold by family matters. He moved to the United States in late 2011, hoping to become a citizen before turning 18 and attend college after finishing ESL classes.
“I wanted to reconnect where I left off my education,” said the Midwood resident. Strong scores on standardized math and reading tests helped boost his confidence. “Those results gave me a lot of confidence when planning to pursue college again.”
Paying for college full-time felt out of reach, especially while living on his own in New York City. “NYC is expensive, and I had to make a living as an independent adult,” he said. “Governor Hochul’s free community college program made it easy to consider attending full time.” Now, he is in his first semester studying computer science at Kingsborough Community College.
He chose Kingsborough for practical reasons. “It’s the only community college in Brooklyn, which needs to be emphasized,” he said. The campus location, an easy commute from his home, and free tuition sealed the deal.
Returning to school was smoother than he expected. “It feels like nothing much has changed as a student even though I aged some,” said Berkay, now 32. “I found it quite manageable to add college into my weekly schedule.” College life is also less demanding than his high school days in Turkey, which meant long commutes and full days of classes.
Berkay chose computer science because of the growth in areas like artificial intelligence and cryptology. He hopes to continue his studies after graduation and work in one of those fields.
For anyone thinking about returning to school after a gap, Berkay has simple advice: “I kinda didn’t know how everything would end up for a person who had a long gap in education, but everything turned out to be very good. I don’t feel any alienation at all. Society in the U.S. is quite broad-minded when it comes to certain things, and it seems like the education system is one of them,” he said.
Outside of class, Berkay likes to spend time outdoors, especially walking or sitting near the water. He appreciates that Kingsborough’s campus has plenty of spaces to do just that. He said he’s grateful for programs like CUNY Reconnect that help adults continue their education.