We asked our Chairman of the Board:

If you were a young person making choices for the YKS today, what would you want to say to yourself?

Here are the words I would say to Hatice, who is making choices for the YKS today:

Life cannot be confined to a single exam or a single score. Whatever job you do, do it with your heart and with integrity.

There is No Score for Being a Good Person; Life is Measured on the Scale of the Heart

You have worked for months, for years. On the morning of the exam, you felt excited, your heart raced. The YKS exam is now behind you, and you are at the beginning of a brand new path: the time for choices. Everyone around you is talking about scores, and you are waiting with a gnawing excitement, wondering, "Which department should I choose? Did I make the cut? Will my dream come true?"

But never forget one truth: Life cannot be confined to a single exam or a single score. No matter which university, which city, or which profession it is; if you have done your best, your path is beautiful and valuable.

The YKS is a step, but it is not the entirety of the journey of life. Choices are made, results are announced, but the real issue is to be a good person, just, conscientious, and beneficial in whatever profession you choose.

Do Not Judge Yourself, Every Path is Valuable

Some people may be making grand statements to you: "Study this, there is a future here, look this department is very good!" But the real treasure is hidden at the beginning of your path, beneath the soil, in the heart of the person. The most accurate choice comes from knowing yourself and choosing the profession you will do best.

Life is Not a Race, Everyone's Journey is Different

Life is not a race; do not try to measure success with someone else's compass. Do not compete with anyone, and do not belittle anyone. Everyone's path, opportunities, and stories are different. Write your own story with effort, labor, and virtue. Focus on the journey, not the victory.

Set Out on the Journey of the Heart Wholeheartedly

Not everything is about grades and exams. There is no score for being a good person; it can only be measured on the scale of the heart. Great successes start with small steps. Holding a friend's hand, mending someone's heart is the most precious success you will see in life. A small kindness, a smile can sometimes change the world. Every step you take with good intentions, every word that touches the heart leaves a mark.

Think, Pray, Set Out

Think carefully when making choices, consult, pray. May Allah grant you what is best. Remember; life is not a choice, it is the path of choices. As long as you continue on your path with your heart, your effort, and your hope. The real gain is being able to be human, to add value to humanity...

Av. Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz
Chairman of the Board