Fatma, the mother of future chefs, shares her 30 years of experience in the kitchen with students

Fatma Yılmaz, a 49-year-old mother of 4 children, who won the Culinary Arts Program of the Department of Hotel Restaurant and Catering Services at Yozgat Bozok University Vocational School, is learning the intricacies of Turkish and World cuisine in addition to theoretical education in the school’s practice kitchen. Yılmaz also shares her 30 years of experience as a housewife with her classmates.

Living in Yozgat, 49-year-old mother of 4 children Fatma Yılmaz sets an example for everyone with her passion for learning. Having dreamed of going to university during her high school years but unable to complete university education due to some reasons, Yılmaz, with the support of her family after her children completed their university and high school education, took the YKS (Higher Education Institutions Exam) last year. Yılmaz, who was placed in the Culinary Arts Program of the Department of Hotel Restaurant and Catering Services at Yozgat Bozok University Vocational School, which she really wanted, fulfilled her dream years later. Continuing her education in both theoretical and practical kitchen areas, Yılmaz shares her experiences of 30 years of housekeeping with her classmates of the same age. Yılmaz, who is seen as a mother by the students, skillfully prepares dishes from both Turkish and World cuisine with great dedication and skill. Yılmaz’s passion for learning is appreciated by her classmates. After graduating, Yılmaz plans to open a business with her daughter, who is studying in the culinary arts department in another city, to contribute to employment.

“Going to university was my dream”
Fatma Yılmaz, who has been wanting to study the culinary arts program for years and succeeded with the support of her family, said, “I have 4 children, 2 of my children graduated from university, one is currently studying, and my youngest child continues high school education. Going to university was my childhood dream. I loved the culinary arts department, I have been in the kitchen as a housewife for 30 years anyway. That’s why I chose this department, I am very happy, it is a very enjoyable department. I took the university entrance exam, made a single choice, and won the culinary arts program. Everyone should realize their dreams, nothing should remain a dream. You need to take a step and succeed, studying is a very nice feeling,” she said.

“My student friends see me as their mothers”
Yılmaz, who also talks about how the experience gained from housekeeping is very useful in the kitchen area at school, said, “Since I have been in the kitchen for 30 years, our practical kitchen training lessons are very enjoyable. I am also learning new information about kitchen techniques in theory. We learn many dishes from both World and Turkish cuisine. We go down to Ottoman dishes, see what is done. This is also a very nice experience for me. Friends also see me as their mothers, we work together in the kitchen, and produce beautiful works together. One of my daughters is studying culinary arts in another city, I am thinking of opening a business with her. We want to contribute to employment, we have projects, I have one more year to finish this department, and then we are considering such a business,” she said.

“Students guide and help each other”
Uğur Eren Taşkesen, Culinary Arts Program Instructor at the Department of Hotel Restaurant and Catering Services, stated that they are studying with 44 students in the first year of the program, and said, “Within our program, we have lessons such as Turkish and World cuisines, cooking techniques, dessert making techniques. First-year student Fatma Yılmaz also acts as both a mother and a sister to our students. When necessary, she guides and helps them. Being a housewife, she is very good at cooking, both holding a knife and knowing cooking techniques, she demonstrates her experience compared to other friends”.

“We appreciate her passion for learning”
First-year Culinary Arts Program student Nur Soysal also said that their classmate Yılmaz shares her experiences and helps them, saying, “We are always together in the kitchen group, she treats us like our mother. We love her very much, she shares her experiences with us. We also show her what she does not know. She sets an example for us with her experiences at the age of 49, and we appreciate her passion for learning,” she said.