Written By Ayse

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A selection of articles that showcases the variety of topics that I write about. Topics vary from peaceful childhood memories to political turmoil. Get ready to learn, reflect on your own experiences, question, and to bear witness to life.

Dear Nahit, I wish I could do more than write this article.

As I write these words, I am intentional that someone, somewhere will read this and know that Nahit was a kind soul, that he tried standing up against the face of injustice…

A Look Into the Turkish Justice System Through the Broken Glasses of a Teacher: Gökhan Açıkkollu

The government fired him, tortured him, took away his life, refused him a religious burial, and in the end reinstated him and said sorry. They did not even pay attention to the fact that they killed Gökhan before they sent the apology letter to his home.

My Books Broke My Heart


I was very hesitant to buy any books in my first year in Canada. I only got the essential ones for my classes. I would even say that I was very angry at any book that I had to buy. 

To be honest, I did not want to get hurt by my books. 

a Journey into Turkish History Through Music

To understand modern Turkey, we need to take a look into the personality-forming events of its past. There is a saying we have in Turkish which goes; “Turkey does not let its youth be interested in anything other than herself”. There is always something happening that we have to pay attention towards. The trauma caused by this non-stop turmoil is best carried between generations through art. The artists I write about in this series have sang about the lives of everyday people, politics, imprisonment, urban migration, national identity, exile, and many other topics which we will explore through this page

Latest Posts

Dear Nahit, I wish I could do more than write this article.

I used to live in Turkey before I ended up here. I think it was 2012 when I started my first year in Istanbul Social Sciences High School and 2017 when I left for Canada. I haven’t been back since. I didn’t want to return anyways. At times, I find myself wondering what had happened…

A Look Into the Turkish Justice System Through the Broken Glasses of a Teacher

On the night of the attempted coup in 2016, the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan – without any official investigation had been completed, has accused the members of the Gulen Movement of trying to overthrow the government. This accusation against a large group of civilians has not been accepted to be true by any of the…

My Books Broke My Heart

I was very hesitant to buy any books in my first year in Canada. I only got the essential ones for my classes. I would even say that I was very angry at any book that I had to buy.  To be honest, I did not want to get hurt by my books. 

My Existence was Gifted to the Turkish Nation

In Turkey, when you start first grade you learn a few important things; reading, writing, and the student oath. One morning a teacher comes up to you and gives the exciting news: “In a few days you will be making the whole school repeat after yourself as you read the oath during the morning assembly.”…

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