See the world through cabin crew eyes

I had never done anything bad to anyone. I put in so much effort just to be a good person. Sometimes I’d hear an inner voice say, “Come on, do you always have to be the good one? Be a little selfish, think about yourself.” But I could never be selfish. I was always so careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Every single person mattered to me — even someone I had only talked to for three minutes. I tried to be kind and sweet to everyone I met.

But still, I couldn’t understand. Some people simply didn’t like me. And I could feel it. Why? I had never wronged them. On the contrary, I had even complimented them when the time came. I always tried to stay positive.

Maybe no one taught me the “rules” of society. That close friends are supposed to exclude the new girl. That if there’s a girl who shines in a room and catches everyone’s attention, you’re supposed to be annoyed by her. That to impress a teacher, you have to outshine your own friends. That jealousy, drama, and manipulation are tools some people use in relationships — especially among women.

But my mother taught me something else.

She taught me to approach everyone with friendliness and warmth. That every human being is valuable. She said, “Don’t step on the weak — stand beside the lonely.” And I did just that. I always made an effort to include the quiet ones, the ones who couldn’t find a way into the conversation.

But still, something felt off. Everyone else was doing the opposite. They were pushing the lonely even deeper into isolation. Being social had become a competition — everyone wanted to be the alpha. And the way to do that was by further excluding the less social ones, even mocking them to gain popularity. Seeing someone better than them, especially in their ecosystem, would drive them crazy.

I couldn’t make sense of it all. Either everything was taught to me wrong, or everything was wrong with people.

Who could I have asked for help understanding these twisted social codes? Is there a course out there that teaches gossip, slander, envy, and insecurity, sir?

Looking at things from the inside, the world often felt unbearable. But when I managed to take a step back, I could see the bigger picture — and in that view, I noticed something: people who thrived off negativity eventually drowned in their own darkness. And yes, the good ones also won. I was one of them.

I was happy.

Instead of getting stuck in moments of disappointment, I learned to zoom out — to look at life as a whole. Sure, I had experienced many painful things. But each one tried to teach me something different. One said, “Don’t trust people so easily, be more cautious.” Another whispered, “Don’t assume everyone is kind at first glance — be prepared. Look for the hidden motive behind every act of kindness.” And another one shouted, “Stop dreaming! It only brings you pain!”

But I didn’t listen.

I stubbornly continued to trust. I believed in the good intentions of the people I met. I kept dreaming, and I never stopped. Now I have new dreams — ones that give me energy, that feed my soul. And I trust God so deeply. I believe, without a doubt, that He protects me. He always finds a way to save me from dark situations. He constantly sends me beautiful souls to walk this path with.

I won this battle.

Yes, there were times I broke down. But I always managed to rise again. Every experience became a new weapon in my arsenal. And I wasn’t afraid to use them when needed. I never dropped my shield.

Yes — I am standing tall. I am here, with all my strength.

Kübra Turcan,