Scholarship Stories

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Oğuzhan Çakır

 

My journey to Toronto started in Uzunkopru, Edirne. When I come back for visit, I always hear the same thing from my relatives and family friends: "It was obvious that you would be a great man when you were walking around with a red tie as a child."

There is still a long way to be a great man, especially since I just graduated from the university and feel like I am at the start of everything. On the other hand, when I look back, seeing that I have come a long way reinforces my faith in the future. The red tie probably had an impact, too. The fact that I could make my dreams part of my plans and overcome the burdens before me was made possible thanks to the persons and organizations that supported me. The university scholarship given to me by The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation and Galatasaray Education Foundation allowed me to achieve one of the most important milestones in my life.

I started to study at Galatasaray High School in 2005, which was undoubtedly the first milestone in my life. In 2010, I applied for universities in France and Canada. I was accepted by all the places I applied for, but McGill University in Canada was in the first place among the schools that I wanted to go to. I had received a partial scholarship from McGill, but the financial conditions of my family were quite far from affording the costs of life abroad. At that point, I was aware that I needed a miracle. The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation and Galatasaray Education Foundation created a university scholarship for me and made this miracle a reality.

In September 2010, I started a whole new life in Montreal. I graduated from McGill in 2014 with "First Class Honours" and "Dean's Honor List" with double major in Economy and Finance and minor in Business Management. Aside from the good university education, the cultural diversity of Canada was an important source of richness in my life both academically and personally.

Since September 2014, I have been working as an Analyst in the finance sector in Toronto. A new start in a new city in the twenty-fourth year of my life.  After this, I could be anywhere in the world. I am glad that the Suna and Inan Kıraç Foundation and Galatasaray Education Foundation gave me an opportunity to follow my dreams.