Dear Young People,

Every brick laid in the name of education contributes to shaping the future of our beautiful country. For this reason, our universities —and you, our esteemed young individuals— are our greatest hope for the future.
At our university, the C

areer Development Application and Research Center (BUKAGEM) supports our students and graduates in their career planning, providing guidance in line with their career goals. I believe that some professions are not currently on the agenda, yet in time, they will become viable career choices for generations that have not even been born yet. We are also aware that certain professions of the past are no longer relevant today, having completed their time. Our Career Center organizes events to enable our students to take part in qualified projects, both during their academic journey and in line with their career aspirations. In these events, industry representatives share their experiences with our students, and it is gratifying to see that the expectations of our students and graduates—who can plan their careers effectively and envision their employment paths—align with the needs of the industry. As a university, we aim to establish the scientific foundation of promising projects in our region and to connect young individuals on their career journey with these high-quality initiatives.
State-led development has come to an end in today's world. The private sector and entrepreneurship have therefore become critically important. Once an opportunity is missed and time has passed, the situation cannot be reversed. Our present is built upon yesterday’s decisions, and our future will be shaped by the choices we make today.
Today, starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur means breaking old boundaries and taking the lead. Do not be afraid of failure. Success is failure that has been overcome through hard work. If you take your eyes off your goal, you begin to see the obstacles. Great journeys begin with small steps. Be proactive, and try again. Break the mold. Be bold. Create something new. In fact, success often stands right beside us. All it takes is the effort and the willingness to pursue it.

A famous philosopher was once asked:

“If wealth lies beneath your feet, why are you still so poor?”

“Because to reach it, one must be willing to bend down,” he replied.

What we learn is constantly evolving. Continuously reflect on yourself and your experiences throughout your career journey. If your work no longer adds value to you—or you to your work—and everything starts to feel routine, take notice. You may be just one step away from making a mistake. It may be time to renew yourself or grow further. As Nobel Prize-winning author Bernard Shaw once said, “If the path you are walking has no obstacles, it leads nowhere.”

Never let the work you start feel too difficult or discouraging. Don’t take the easy way out, and don’t complain. Don’t give up at the beginning of the journey, and don’t lose hope. Reaching a goal without effort or hard work cannot be considered success. What comes easily is lost just as easily. Every meaningful achievement requires effort. These words may sound familiar, but believe me, this is the essence of it all. The moment you say, “Did I study just to end up doing this?”, you are making a mistake. And once you make that mistake, you may find yourself having to start over from scratch.

Surround yourself with friends who share your excitement. Work that is not done with passion cannot lead to success. That is why you should do what you love. Engage in open-minded and unbiased dialogue with others.

If you ask what an employer expects from young people, I would say, above all, analytical thinking and patience. Analytical thinking means being able to view things from multiple perspectives. It serves practice more than theory. 

On the other hand, patience, determination, and perseverance will lead you to the point you aim to reach in the future.

One of the best examples of this is the story of a restaurant chain that you all know today. At the age of 68, a man who had gone bankrupt tried to offer his food, one by one, to restaurants across the country for a very small fee. However, he kept receiving rejections. Until he reached the 1,019th restaurant. This 68-year-old man visited 1,019 restaurants without giving up, and finally achieved success. This man is the founder of KFC.

Another crucial element is trust. In business, trust is the greatest virtue. If people do not trust you, you cannot sustain yourself in the business world. "I would rather lose money than lose people's trust." Always keep in mind this quote by Robert BOSCH, the founder of one of the world’s largest home appliance manufacturers.

When making career plans, focus not on conventional professions, but on those that hold promise for the future. As you know, information and communication technologies are now taking precedence over labor-intensive technologies. This is no longer the era of physical labor, but the era of intellectual effort. Global examples show us that those who make groundbreaking discoveries are often remarkably young. While still at university, some spent time working in their garages, others in their homes — and today, they have shaped the world we live in. As we can see, success is all about making a difference.

Two major brands that you all know well—Apple and Google—emerged in exactly this way.

Dream big, believe in yourself, and don’t let challenges discourage you..

In a globalized world that revolves around the principle of constant change, resisting change is simply not possible. As a Chinese proverb says, “The issue is not the depth of the well, but the shortness of the rope that fails to reach the target.” That’s why we must continuously review the way we work and develop new methods. Change is one of the primary necessities of our time.

If you don’t lengthen or adjust your rope, drawing water from the well will not be possible.

In today’s evolving world, those who acquire, produce, sell, and embrace a culture of collaboration will be the ones who succeed.

Never forget: you are each a valuable asset to this country.

Remember, you don’t need a magic wand to succeed; you simply need to carry out your responsibilities with patience, enthusiasm, and discipline—fully and on time. No task done without passion can lead to success.

Dream big, and show the determination to make those dreams a reality. Wishing you a highly successful academic journey and an equally successful career ahead—with all my best regards.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan ŞAHİN

Director of the Center

September 2022