Welcoming Mr. Hearn
This year, the Robert College community welcomes a new face to the College Counseling Office. Paul Hearn joins us as the newest college counselor, ready to support students as they navigate the journey of applying to universities abroad.
Mr. Hearn initially found his passion for education while studying Modern Languages and Linguistics (German and Russian) at Cambridge University. His first teaching experience was unexpected: during an exchange year in Moscow, studying Russian, he volunteered to help local high school students practice English, and he found out that he enjoyed the process of cultural exchange, which led to further opportunities in Germany and eventually a career in teaching that took him to diverse places like Saudi Arabia and eventually Turkey. His transition to counseling was a happy accident. While teaching in Bahçeşehir Schools, a few students asked him to help them navigate their SAT and foreign application process. Mr. Hearn stated that "the initial group was very successful, and soon, what started as a small favor blossomed into a dedicated role," where he was helping half of the school's students apply abroad.
Mr. Hearn's connection to Turkey is long-standing: he visited the country for the first time in 1994. He believes that "when you first go to a new country, it's best to start in a small town to fully experience the culture before moving to a metropolis." When he moved to Turkiye, he first started to live in Isparta, where he ended up meeting his wife. Later on, he lived in Eskişehir before finally settling in Istanbul. He eventually pursued a second Master's Degree focused on International Relations, Politics, and Economics of the Middle East at Durham University—an education that included studying Arabic and Turkish, before returning to Turkey to continue working as a teacher. Having lived in Turkey "on and off" for years, he's built up his Turkish language skills by reading books in Turkish and watching Turkish historical films like "Battal Gazi" and "Kara Murat", and he is now fully fluent in the language. So, feel free to strike up a conversation with him in Turkish whenever you see him!
Mr. Hearn notes that he came to RC because he had a strong interest in exploring the Mediterranean region, and Türkiye in particular, while stating that his experience at Robert College has been "overwhelmingly positive," as he found the environment very friendly and the students exceptional. However, he admits the current counseling agenda, during the busiest application weeks for the UK admissions, is "very intense."
As a counselor, Mr. Hearn strongly believes in the "importance of a personal journey." His perspective was further shaped when his daughter and son recently went abroad, to the US and the UK, to study. This firsthand experience gave him a deeper understanding of the challenges and excitement students face, reinforcing his belief in the value of the journey itself, guiding him to help students explore new opportunities and discover their own potential during the application process.
When asked about his hobbies or interests, Mr. Hearn stated that he "is a big music fan who loves attending concerts," and he tries to go "whoever and whatever comes to Istanbul." His favorites cover a wide spectrum of genres as he likes 1960s girl bands like The Crystals and the Ronettes, 1970s punk like The Ramones and Stiff Little Fingers, 1980s electronic bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, 1990s Britpop like Pulp and Suede, and European Coldwave groups like Molchat Doma and Lebanon Hanover from the 2010s. He is also an avid reader of modern history and science fiction, travel, music, and film biographies, as he hopes to read more contemporary Turkish literature in the near future.
At home, he shares his life with his two cats, Limon and Tarçın. Mr. Hearn mentions that his family had never had cats before coming to Turkey, but that changed when they rescued a sick stray from the snow, a small act that turned into a beloved and permanent addition to their family.
Mr. Hearn's diverse background and personal commitment to guiding student journeys make him a valuable addition to the Robert College community. We welcome him warmly to the RC community!
