School: Florida State University
Year: Sophomore
House: Smith-Tyner
Hi, my name is Arkin Buyukozturk. I’m a resident and an Ambassador of SSF. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and first found out about SSF through my older brother Bert (right in photo above) who is also an Ambassador and has lived at SSF for several years. Since the first time I stepped foot into an SSF house, I knew could see myself living and thriving there. I’m currently studying in the Business school at Florida State University and love it here. Ever since I’ve been a part of SSF I have felt very welcomed and I try to do my part to give back to the organization that has given me so much.
I come from a five member family in which I am the youngest. Part of being the youngest meant that I had to work hard and be successful like my older siblings. There were always expectations set for me by my parents and older siblings so I have always strived to rise to the challenge while giving it my all to be successful. I challenged myself in school and took harder classes like IB and AP to prove to my family, and myself, that I have what it takes and that I could achieve at a high level if I worked for it. As a young man I learned quickly what it meant to be busy, but instead of dwelling on problems I chose to be a problem solver. I learned to be organized, prompt, and I learned to be a good manager of my time and my abilities. I always strive to be a leader rather than a follower in the classroom, a captain on the soccer field, and the president of student organizations in school. I learned from my family that I should strive for the best in whatever I do and pursue my aspirations to attain knowledge and earn respect. I’ve been this way since I was young and I plan to remain fervent in the future.
I’ve brought my knowledge and experience here to Tallahassee, where I’ve continued to grow as an individual. Attending Florida State University and living at SSF has been truly an amazing experience. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time here and the endless possibilities and opportunities that come from living at SSF. Being a resident has been a great experience. I’ve learned so much as an Ambassador and I’m proud of the accomplishments of our Ambassador team. I don’t think of my time here as being away from home, I think of it as being with my SSF family. When you’re here, you’re spending time with people that care about learning and people that care about the well-being of each other. I’ve met people that I’ll stay friends with for the rest of my life. That is the beauty of SSF. I can picture myself and others years from now and I know the future is bright for all of us. Southern Scholarship Foundation is truly an Education for Life!
