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Delegate
From Turkey: Sema Karaoglu
by
Burcu BOZKURT
Sophomore
at Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC
LM South - Teen Representative
I heard of Sema Karaoglu first when I came across her "Daughters
of Ataturk" website on the Internet.
The enticing description itself prompted
me to join immediately, and at first,
I was quite surprised by the number of
people who were actively involved in this
organization. Months later, when I was
invited to write a paper about Sema Karaoglu
from a teen aspect, I was not only extremely
honored, but also anxious that I wouldn't
be able to truly reflect the importance
of the accomplishments and undertakings
of such a distinguished person in our
community.
Our phone call, however, made me realize that Ms. Sema Karaoglu,
at one time or another, went through the
same situations and experienced the same
feelings that almost all Turkish-American
teenagers experience. Situations where
one receives special attention because
of his or her Turkish name and is left
to answer the unavoidable subsequent questions,
such as "Where is Turkey? I've never
heard of it." It is how Ms. Sema
Karaoglu answered these very questions
that propelled her to represent Turkey
in the best manner possible, thus bringing
on her younger nickname, the "Delegate
from Turkey," bestowed by one of her school instructors.
With a serene voice
that almost happens to portray her state
of peace, she explained to me that her
urge to keep her culture alive in her
younger years snowballed into the big
strides that she has taken not only for
Turkish women, but overall the larger
Turkish-American community. Originating
from the grassroots level, she has continuously
promoted the Republic of Turkey in America
by drawing similarities between the two
countries and by sharing information that
represents all aspects of Turkish society.
Her achievements prove that this kind
of evidential entrepreneurship is successful
in reaching extensive recognition, simply
due to the fact that the only things that
are needed to present a perspective are
evidence and the thirst to market one's
ideas.
The Daughters of Ataturk group, founded by
Ms. Sema Karaoglu in 1999 and launched
from her hometown of San Clemente, California,
has proven exactly this. It has established
a network for Turkish women to not only
correspond with one another, but it has
also been successful in recognizing their
international achievements. However, one
of the most noteworthy aspects of this
association is that it has not just instituted
a set precedent, but has also supplied
a significant stepping-stone for the generations
to come.
The recognition that
Ms. Sema Karaoglu has received is not
only motivational to herself, but also
to anyone who yearns to start a movement,
or endorse a cause. Her wish is that the
future generations continue and expand
in her footsteps. As for advice on how
to do this, she states the obvious- that
everyone is unique and therefore, has
the capability to specialize their creations
and to mark them their own. One thing,
she says, that the future generation must
never forget, still is the actuality that
we must continue our education and find
ways to educate ourselves with the world
around us. This can go anywhere from volunteering
regularly, to attending town meetings,
or just simply sitting down and reading
the daily news.
It all seems so simple,
and it is. We must take steps now to ready
ourselves for what is to come. Therefore,
my words are to the Turkish teens around
the world. It will soon be our turn to
step up and keep fulfilling the dream
that Ataturk and thousands of others once
fought for; to protect and ensure the
future of our nation and its people. We
are Turkey's future leaders, doctors, scientists,
engineers, writers, and community builders.
Ms. Sema Karaoglu gave
me more than advice that night when I
talked to her. She emphasized that it
was once harder to voice an opinion, to
receive acknowledgement, yet she succeeded.
And we can, too. She also told me that
the most influential words in her life
came from her father in her teenage years,
and now, it might be mine, also. "Never
forget you're a Turk...."
Burcu Bozkurt
April 18, 2006
Cary, North Carolina
Light Millennium - South
Teen Representative
Read
more about Sema Karaoglu at > http://www.lightmillennium.org/2006_17th/epamucak_sema_karaoglu.html
More
LM - South articles at>
http://www.lightmillennium.org/south.html
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