OSTİM Technical University hosted an important event within the scope of the Rectorate Seminars, drawing attention to the power of expression and social representation of youth. CHP Ankara Deputy Umut Akdoğan presented an inspiring journey to the participants with his seminar titled “Being Young in Society: The Right to Speak is with the Youth, the Power of Self-Expression”.
Coming from life, labor and determination, Akdoğan gave strong messages to young people through her own life story.
Akdoğan, who began his speech by asking, “Is there anyone who doesn’t know İvedik Organized Industrial Zone?”, sincerely recounted his life that started in the industry and continued with entrepreneurial experiences such as sandwich making, canteen management and truck clipper trade. Akdoğan, who stated that while he was struggling for life on the one hand, he was also studying law, political science and public administration at Bilkent University on the other, drew attention to the importance of the youth’s effort to hold on to both life and academia at the same time:
“My GPA was 0.38 in the first semester of university. But I didn’t give up. I went back and forth between life and school. If I only lived life, I wouldn’t be able to finish university, if I only focused on university, I wouldn’t be ready for life. The way to walk that line correctly: Working hard.”
In Mr. Akdoğan’s speech, which was adorned with sections from her life, the participating young people realized once again how transformative determination, hard work and self-expression can be.
Following the seminar, Mr. Akdoğan visited the area where the projects of OSTİM Technical University students were exhibited, had one-on-one conversations with the young people and took souvenir photos together. Expressing his interest in the students' innovative ideas, Akdoğan also took a short test drive by testing the domestic electric vehicle in the university's parking lot.
