The Cheer of Youth and Sports Bayram at TAC

May 19, 1919 is a day that is one of the turning points for the Republic of Turkey. Atatürk saw during the National Struggle that those who would take the Turkish nation forward and challenge outdated ideas and the status quo were young minds. For this reason, the concept of youth was of special importance for Atatürk. When talking about youth, Ataturk frequently meant intellectual youth, that is, the innovation in ideas.

In order to be able to feel the importance and happiness of this special day, which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk presented as a gift to the Turkish youth, students in prep, 9, 10 and 11 prepared an enjoyable and dynamic program under the guidance of the Science Department teachers

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The program included enthusiastic and meaningful performances, like Ataturk’s gift to us. The assembly started by echoing the words of Ataturk: "Teachers! The Republic requires that you have free ideas, free conscience, and free knowledge". We paid tribute to him by observing a moment of silence and singing our national anthem in unison.

Poems, dances, videos and music ... everything about youth was included in this program. We started the assembly by hearing the peppy performance of our percussion group. Following remarks and the video which underlined the meaning and significance of the day, we watched a modern dance show prepared by our 9th grade students. This performance helped us get a better understanding of the words of Ataturk; "Youth! The young people who undertake to fulfill my goals for the future! I am very content that I will leave this country to the youth who have fully understood me".

In Turkey, May 19 is synonymous with youth, sports, happiness and pride and the best way to convey all these emotions is through poems. Our grade 9, 10 and 11 students spoke about their most sincere emotions about the day in the poem, "Here He Comes".

We then watched a video featuring teachers and students involved in various athletic, social and scientific activities. As the May 19 assembly’s energy culminated, the school band performed, further bringing out the energy of the youth. With the performance of the band and the accompanying voices of students, enthusiasm reached its peak.

Ataturk's words were engraved in the hearts and minds of all young people in the audience as one of our 10th grade students recited Ataturk’s Address to the Youth, and the students announcing their response to him. ''It was us who instituted the Republic, but you, the young people of Turkey, are the ones who will raise it and take it further”.