"... As my grandfather used to say, to get an idea about the future of a country, you need only look at its teachers; I look, and I see a bright future."

Atatürk's words, "The only and absolute saviors of a nation are its teachers," are always on my mind; it is not an exaggeration, it is the truth. As a child of this nation and a father of two, when I look to the future, my reliance and assurance for myself, my children, and this country are contemporary, devoted, and self-sacrificing teachers who embrace Atatürk's principles, just like my own teachers. As my grandfather used to say, to get an idea about the future of a country, you need only look at its teachers; I look, and I see a bright future. The children raised by İTK teachers will become scientists, businesspeople, politicians, and artists in the future, but most importantly, they will be enlightened and virtuous individuals. For the development of this country, the number of enlightened and virtuous individuals must increase. That is precisely why teaching is a sublime and noble profession. I congratulate and thank all new teachers for having chosen this profession. The reason İTK is one of the most deep-rooted institutions in Türkiye is its teachers and staff. An institution's most valuable capital is its human resources. We are such a fortunate institution, such a fortunate family that we have a grand and highly esteemed İTK Family that elevates İTK and our country.

"Working at such a school was a wonderful opportunity for us"

In 1960, my husband Hüseyin Çolakoğlu and I began working at this beautiful school as music and physical education teachers. Working at such a school was a wonderful opportunity for us. We experienced the joy of accomplishing highly enjoyable and wonderful work at the school. Our three children graduated from this school: Zafer, Muzaffer, and Emine Çolakoğlu. It makes me very happy that the school is progressively getting better and more beautiful. I wholeheartedly congratulate our Esteemed Founder Bahattin Tatış in this regard. I wish for Özel Türk Koleji to live on for many more beautiful and successful years.

"Its superior level in education and training, its success in social activities, and its understanding of discipline..."

I am happy to know Özel Türk Koleji, where I came after working for nearly thirty years as a teacher and administrator in public schools, and where I have been working for over ten years. With its superior level in education and training, its success in social activities, and its understanding of discipline, I have closely seen and experienced how it achieved its outstanding success and position in National Education and how it became a school that meets the expectations of society. I congratulate our esteemed teacher and businessman, our Founder Mr. Bahattin Tatış, with my most sincere feelings and respect, for the precious students he has raised during the 50 years since its establishment and for bringing such a deep-rooted institution to Turkish National Education. As a teacher who carries the happiness of serving as the Principal of the Özel Türk Science High School, which has proven itself and taken its superior place with the material and moral support of our Esteemed Founder; I wish for our Özel Türk Koleji, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, to live on for many more fifty years by continuing to grow and increasing its success in affectionate, faithful, hardworking hands that embrace Atatürk's principles, and I wish for Turkish National Education to attain schools at this level. (December 1, 1999)

"My heart wishes for this distinguished institution to reach into eternity along the path of Atatürk, which it has upheld to this day without ever compromising"

From the fortieth anniversary of İzmir Private Turkish High School to the present day, taking pride in being a member, I have tried to impart my professional experience at every level. My heart wishes for this distinguished institution to reach into eternity along the path of Atatürk, which it has upheld to this day without ever compromising. I respectfully greet all the graduates and members of our institution—which has raised countless valuable individuals while contributing to Turkish National Education in adherence to its solid and unerring principles—especially our esteemed FOUNDER, MR. BAHATTİN TATIŞ. (December 12, 1999)

"... How fortunate it is that our new generation of teachers working at İzmir Özel Türk Koleji today is also a brand-new generation nurtured by that selective character."

One of the greatest strengths of İzmir Özel Türk Koleji is that it provides education and instruction together. Our school holds an important place not only in İzmir or the Aegean Region but across Türkiye. The teachers working at and raised by this school have a tremendous contribution to the school holding such a significant position. İzmir Özel Türk Koleji has embraced its mission and carried it further forward with each passing day. When we look at the students we have graduated, we see individuals who have reached important positions in society. This is a great honor for both our school and our teachers, and the greatest share in raising these individuals belongs to our teachers.

I remember Mr. Bahattin Tatış, who founded our college, with endless reverence and respect. When we travel a little back in time, we see that Mr. Bahattin radically changed the concept of a private school for parents and students. Because the concept of a private school put forward by Mr. Bahattin set out with a philosophy that prepares our students for the future by providing instruction and education in the best possible way. As we say in our school anthem, our school follows in the footsteps of the Great Atatürk. Mr. Bahattin was a selective teacher and administrator. He did not work with just anyone; he worked with teachers who would add value. How fortunate it is that our new generation of teachers working at İzmir Özel Türk Koleji today is also a brand-new generation nurtured by that selective character.

".... hem kendimizi bu kuruma ait hem de kurumu kendimize ait hissederiz."

İzmir Özel Türk Koleji mezunu,yöneticisi ve velisi olmaktan her zaman gurur duyduğum okulumda ,öğrencilik yıllarımda edindiğim bilgi, beceri ve disiplinin iş hayatıma katkısı büyük olmuştur. İzmir Özel Türk Koleji aynı zamanda öğretmen de yetiştiren bir kurumdur. İşbirliği, iletişim, yaratıcılık, sosyal sorumluluk gibi beceriler misyonumuzla bütünleşmiş ve her Türk Kolejli tarafından içselleştirilmiştir.İTK daki takım ruhu; her zaman en iyiye odaklı gönülden çalışmayı ve başarının keyfini bu aileyle çıkarmanın mutluluğunu yaşatır; çünkü hem kendimizi bu kuruma ait hem de kurumu kendimize ait hissederiz. Atatürk’ün yaşamında önemli bir yeri olan ve önemli kararlar aldığı İTK Uşakizade Köşkü'nün okulumuzda olması, bizler için büyük bir onur ve motivasyondur. İTK lı olmak bir ayrıcalıktır.

"...Hangi okulu seçerseniz seçin, kuvvetli bir mezunlar derneği olanını seçin. Çünkü hayat okuldan sonra başlıyor. İşte, o zorlu hayatın içinde Türk Koleji Ailesi mezunları hep birbirine destek veriyor ve bu sayede hiç yalnız kalmıyorsunuz..."

Geçenlerde 8. Sınıf öğrencilerim bana “Niye İTK da devam edelim?” diye sordular. Onlara dedim ki; "Her şeyden önce bu okul büyük bir ailedir. Ben hala Türk Koleji'ndeki sınıf arkadaşlarım ile 3 haftada bir düzenli olarak görüşüyorum. Hepimiz hayatımızda kendi dallarımızda başarılı bir şekilde belli seviyelere geldik ancak bir araya geldiğimizde sadece Bahar, Pınar, Bilge, Aslı… yız. Birimizin sorunu olur, hepimiz organize olup yardıma koşarız, Birimizin sevinçli bir günü olur, hepimiz onun sevincini paylaşırız. Bir Türk Kolejliye hangi okuldan mezunsun diye sorduklarında üniversitesinin adını söyleyen çok azdır. Çünkü biz TÜRK KOLEJLİYİZDİR.

Benim annem, babam, amcam, kuzenlerim, ben hepimiz Türk Kolejliyiz. Şimdi de çocuklarım evim dediğim, mezunu ve öğretmeni olduğum bu kurumda okuyorlar. Kendi öğrencilerim, çocuklarımın öğretmeni oldular. Bundan daha büyük bir paylaşım nerede vardır?

Türk Kolejli, Türk Kolejliyi korur, gözetir, iş önceliği verir, yeri gelir aralarında birleşip sıkıntıda olan arkadaşlarının çocuklarını okuturlar. Ama bunu kimse bilmez. İşte bu yüzden İTK büyük bir ailedir.

Sosyal bir ortamda, Türk Kolejli hemen fark edilir. Çünkü, akademik anlamda aldığı eğitimin yanı sıra, kültürel ve sosyal anlamda da iyi bir eğitim almıştır. Okulunda mutlaka bir gösteriye çıkmış veya bir müzik aleti çalmayı öğrenmiş veya çok iyi bir sporcu olmuştur.. İşte bu aileden biri olduğum için çocuklarımın da Türk Kolejli olmalarını istedim.

Hangi okulu seçerseniz seçin, kuvvetli bir mezunlar derneği olanını seçin. Çünkü hayat okuldan sonra başlıyor. İşte, o zorlu hayatın içinde Türk Koleji ailesi mezunları hep birbirine destek veriyor ve bu sayede hiç yalnız kalmıyorsunuz. İşte bu yüzden İTK da devam etmelisiniz" dedim.

"... Puedo afirmar que la experiencia me ha fortalecido y enriquecido como persona, lo cual siempre es de agradecer."

¿Cómo ha sido mi experiencia en İzmir Özel Türk Koleji?

Bueno, pues he de confesar que he vivido de todo un poco. Al comienzo me sentí un poco desorientada ya que cada centro trabaja a su forma a lo que hay que añadirle el problema de mi desconocimiento del idioma. A pesar de todo, me fui adaptando gracias a mi esfuerzo y a la gran ayuda que he recibido por parte de mis compañeras que me han ayudado en todo momento. En este colegio he podido sentir que todos trabajamos en equipo como un solo grupo. Aquí hay muchos profesionales muy bien preparados y lo que ofrece calidad en la educación. Estoy muy orgullosa de trabajar en un colegio tan prestigioso y exitoso. He vivido también momentos muy valiosos y bonitos en los que mis alumnos, en los pasillos han venido corriendo hacia mí para abrazarme y decirme que me quieren. Y como no, me encanta que cada vez que me ven, sin importar la distancia, me digan “hola” sonriendo. Puedo afirmar que la experiencia me ha fortalecido y enriquecido como persona, lo cual siempre es de agradecer.

"... I can say that my experience here has strengthened and enriched me as a person, and for this, I will always be grateful."

How was my career at İzmir Özel Türk Koleji?

First of all, I must confess that I experienced a lot in a short amount of time. In the beginning, I was a bit confused because each department had its own working procedures, and along with that, I was unfamiliar with the language. Nevertheless, through my own effort and the immense support I received from my colleagues, who helped me at every moment, I gradually adapted. Here, everyone works with a team spirit, as a single unit. We work alongside many professional teachers who ensure this standard of quality in education. It is truly a great source of pride to work at such a deep-rooted and successful school. At the same time, I spent incredibly precious and beautiful times here; it was wonderful when my students would run up to me in the corridors, hug me, and tell me that they loved me. I also loved how they would smile and say "Hello" every single time, no matter how far away they were. I can say that my experience here has strengthened and enriched me as a person, and for this, I will always be grateful.