SEZER ŞAHİNDAŞ
FETHİYE – Doğan News Agency (DHA)
Fethiye girl wins Atatürk essay contest in southwest Turkey
The writing contest among primary school students in southwestern Fethiye was won by 12-year-old Nicole Melisa Pranic. The topic of the contest was, “If Atatürk were alive, how would he have wanted Turkey to be?” Pranic, who has a German father and a Turkish mother, won among 61 entries with her essay named “Our eternal leader.”
The writing contest was organized by Ölüdeniz Municipality in southwest Turkey on the occasion of April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Holiday. The results of the contest was made public at the Fethiye Tourism, Promotion, Education, Culture and Environment Foundation, or FETAV, building with a ceremony. Several parents and students attended the event.
Ölüdeniz Mayor Keramettin Yılmaz announced the winners of the contest. Pranic won the contest among 61 students from nine schools. An eighth grader at Özel Ata Primary School, Pranic read aloud her composition. An outstanding part of her essay was, “If Atatürk were alive, opposing students would not have fought. And would not have killed each other.”
Pranic said: “As every child born as a Turkish citizen, I started to learn about Atatürk at an early age. We learn about him, his principles and his view of life first from family members then continue learning about him all through our school life. I wish I had the opportunity to know him. When Atatürk made the hat and dress revolution, he wanted Turkish women to dress according to a modern society. In today’s Turkey, Atatürk would have seen many deficiencies in this area.”
via Fethiye girl wins Atatürk essay contest in southwest Turkey – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.