At 15 years old, most teenagers are figuring out who they are.
Azra Ozgul was packing her bags.
“I pretty much moved away from them when I was like 15,” she says, reflecting on the moment she left her hometown in Turkey to pursue basketball at a higher level.
That decision — to leave home, to chase growth, to step into the unknown — would define much more than her athletic career. It would shape how she approaches opportunity, education, and her future.
Because for Azra, coming to Goldey-Beacom College wasn’t just about playing basketball in the United States.
It was about refusing to choose between who she is now and who she wants to become.
Azra grew up near the capital of Turkey in a small town. Basketball quickly became serious. But she realized early that staying comfortable would limit her potential.
“I realized that I couldn’t do anything more than playing with four other teams,” she explains.
So she moved to a larger city — then another. In bigger cities, there were dozens of teams. Winning a local championship meant advancing to national competition. The talent was deeper. The expectations were higher.
She eventually competed on semi-amateur teams and earned a place on a professional second-league team.
On paper, that’s success.
But Azra was thinking beyond the present.
In Turkey, athletes often face a difficult reality: pursue professional sports or pursue higher education.
“You’re going to have to choose one way or the other,” she says.
That model didn’t sit right with her. She loved basketball. But she also understood something many young athletes avoid thinking about.
“If I retire at 35 years old… now what are you going to do with your life? You still have 35–40 years of your life left in front of you.”
That question changed her direction.
Instead of focusing only on the next season, she focused on the next several decades. She began researching opportunities in the United States and discovered the NCAA structure — a system that allowed her to compete at a high level while earning a degree.
“I realized that NCAA and basically United States allows you to play the sport that you love and also keep your education.”
For the first time, she saw a path that didn’t require sacrifice — at least not the kind she wasn’t willing to make.
Leaving Turkey for the United States wasn’t just her decision. It was her family’s.
Her father attended college; her mother did not. Both believed deeply in education. Both supported her career fully. But sending their daughter across the world required faith.
“It was definitely hard for them to leave a 15-year-old girl in a different city,” she says of her earlier move within Turkey. Moving continents was even bigger.
The financial aspect added another layer. When she committed, the exchange rate made studying in America a serious investment.
“Sending their girl, knowing that they have to pay something out of pocket, was definitely a hard decision.”
She also has a sister. Every dollar mattered. Every choice had ripple effects.
That reality made her decision more intentional. She wasn’t just choosing a school. She was choosing wisely on behalf of her family.
Azra was being recruited by multiple schools. They were in places like New Jersey, Boston, even Montana. She had options on the table, and many of those schools were recognizable and exciting. But the process didn’t’ unfold as expected.
Then, Goldey-Beacom College entered the conversation.
Affordability mattered. It made the possibility realistic.
But the real difference was relational.
Unlike other programs, the coach took time to speak directly with her family on FaceTime. That mattered. It reassured her parents that their daughter would be supported, not just recruited.
And then there was something intangible.
“You will see that there’s a family tradition.”
Watching team and dorm videos, she saw a small campus with a strong international presence. Students from Mediterranean countries, Italy, and other parts of the world built a community that felt familiar in spirit, even if far from home.
“It felt like you could fall right in.”
She did.
Now a senior majoring in psychology, Azra has spent four years balancing early practices, academic deadlines, road trips, and late-night calls home.
When asked what has kept her going, her answer is steady.
“Being able to keep going with your education and play the sport that you love is one of the biggest things.”
That balance — the very thing she came here seeking — became her reality.
Psychology wasn’t a random choice. It reflects her long-term thinking. She plans to pursue her master’s degree and eventually open her own mental health practice.
“I would like to open up my own mental health practice one day.”
Basketball built her discipline. Psychology is building her future.
When people talk about college, they often mention friends and community. Azra does too — but for her, it runs deeper.
“Definitely having the small community and having a lot of international people on campus is just different.”
Different means understanding. It means shared experience. It means knowing what it feels like to leave home in pursuit of something bigger.
“Knowing that you have a family here too.”
Goldey-Beacom became that second family.
Definitely having the small community and having a lot of international people on campus is just different… If I would go back and change anything, I would definitely throw any offer that I got and I would reach out to Goldey by myself.
As graduation approaches, there’s no hesitation when she reflects on her choice.
“If I would go back and change anything, I would definitely throw any offer that I got and I would reach out to Goldey by myself.”
That isn’t a casual statement. It’s clarity earned through experience.
Azra Ozgul’s story is not just about an athlete coming to America. It’s about foresight. It’s about maturity at 15. It’s about honoring her parents’ sacrifice. It’s about thinking beyond the next game and building a life that will last long after the final whistle.
She came to Goldey-Beacom to avoid choosing between basketball and education.
Four years later, she leaves with both — and a future that extends far beyond the court.
Goldey-Beacom College is a Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Text Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY) Relay Service: 711 or 800-232-5460 for English or 877-335-7595 for Spanish
