Erman Tatar, Information Systems Engineering, Binghamton University-ITU'18
I wrote a letter to myself while I was studying for the university entrance exams. In my letter, I promised myself that one day I would make my biggest dreams come true. One of my biggest dreams was to study at Istanbul Technical University and the other one was to study at a department related to computer science and information systems. I even mentioned that I would set out my journey towards the United States to make it real after making a long-term plan and graduating from ITU successfully. With these goals and dreams, I had a very tiring year in the YGS-LYS exam marathon. During preference days, my mother said that the greatest opportunity to make my dreams in my letter come true would be the Information Systems Engineering dual diploma program run by SUNY Binghamton University and ITU and she would do whatever it takes to make it happen. Thus, there was SUNY Binghamton with ITU on top of my preference list. And I promised my devoted mother that I would work hard during my college years.
I finally learned that I was placed at my dream school with the announcement of the exam results in the middle of the night. After two difficult years at prep class and freshman year, I was in America which was the next level of my dream. We had a great time on campus in Binghamton which is an incredibly cute, small and green city. We had difficulties at first, however the challenges were replaced by amusements, adventures, travels and studying a lot. When I look back, I had such a good time that I can say that the memories will last forever. I have to emphasize that we have worked hard, both to represent our country well and to study hard with my classmates for our own dreams and it was worth it to do so.
Especially in my last year, I took part in social responsibility projects in my free time. As we were working voluntarily at the dual diploma programs office, we went to primary schools with our team to promote Turkish culture to American children. We also joined their painting classes to teach them marbling art and play games with them. We organized events to promote Turkey, we gave presentations on April 23rd, and we celebrated the October 29th. Those were a beautiful four years.
My biggest supporter was my mother. Despite the incredible exchange rate fluctuation, four years of tiring classes and thousands of challenges, I have never given up on my promises with my mother. In June 2018, ITU announced that I was the top student of the department and invited my mother for the award ceremony. I could not attend because I was in the United States.
I guess I will not forget over the years my mother's happiness when I received my first prize and that feeling of keeping the promise we have given each other.
After my successful university education, I received two job offers, one from the United Nations in New York and I have moved to my new place in Manhattan, NYC. Now I live in my dream city. I am putting an end to my story in New York City, which I began in Gaziantep. When I look back I give my thanks loudly; THANK YOU SUNY DUAL DIPLOMA PROGRAMS!!!