TAC Students Meet with Community Leaders – Session 1
The first guest of our panel, which aims to introduce community leaders from various professions to TAC students, was Mr. Hamit Tuna, the Mayor of Toroslar Municipality of Mersin.
At the first "Meeting with Community Leaders", TAC hosted Mr. Hamit Tuna, the Mayor of Toroslar Municipality of Mersin.
Tuna met with our students on November 28th, on a beautiful day at the unique and historic TAC campus. In the assembly, he shared with TAC students the benefits of education in his career, his experience as a mayor and a long serving local administrator, and his projects in the fields of health, education, sports, culture, arts and employment as well as towards improving Mersin’s public spaces. He provided important advice to students to help their future careers.
At the beginning of the assembly, TAC Principal, Günseli Yüksel, expressed the pleasure of hosting Tuna at TAC. "We are aware of your development and human-oriented projects and the emphasis you place on social projects which improve quality of life. We keep watching your valuable work. We believe that you will be a true role model and inspiration for our students as a community leader." She expressed her appreciation to Hamit Tuna and Ms. Fatma Yılmaz, the President of the Women’s Assembly of the Toroslar City Council, a TAC parent, and the esteemed members of the Council.
Ms. Fatos Yilmaz, the President of the Women’s Assembly of the Toroslar City Council, who took the floor in the first "Meeting with the Community Leaders", thanked Fatih Alkar, Producer of Kanal 33 TV Channel and moderator of the panel. "As the makers of the future, we wanted to introduce TAC students to Mayor Tuna, who will provide his insights, hopefully to become a role model for them" she said.
Toroslar Mayor Hamit Tuna, who started the panel by giving information about his academic and political career, expressed the great emphasis the panel places on education and youth.
Mayor Hamit Tuna also made references to our Great Leader Atatürk in his speech.
President Tuna emphasized the importance of using collaborative decision making: "We are carrying out our projects and services in a common and collective mind, not in a way which emphasizes one person’s leadership. Before we decide on our projects, we ask the people in the region and decide together" he said.
While emphasizing the major role of education in making a good career choice, Mayor Tuna answered the questions of TAC students.
In response to the question "What were the most important personal characteristics which led you towards this position?" he said “self-confidence, sincerity, entrepreneurship and courage”. “So you will be determined that you will do the job. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk says "courage surpasses all arms and weapons." Under this mandate, we were courageous and we arrived at this point. Of course, working hard is the most important factor which nourishes courage”
At the end of the panel, Principal, Mrs. Günseli Yüksel, and Activities Coordinator, Mrs. Gülay Damar, thanked and presented flowers to Mr. Hamit Tuna, Mr. Fatih Alkar, and Ms. Fatma Yılmaz.
Following the panel, where he shared his valuable experiences and provided important messages, Mayor Tuna went on a school tour with our school administrators while being briefed about the school’s history, facilities and resources. He also had photographs taken with our students.