He graduated from high school at the age of 54: His grandchildren attended his graduation

54-year-old chef Muhittin Akkuş, who felt ashamed to say ‘I am a primary school graduate’ when asked about his education status and therefore decided to continue his education, experienced the joy of graduating from high school after years. Expressing his goal of attending university, Akkuş said, ‘Usually, grandfathers give their diplomas to their grandchildren, attend graduation ceremonies, but my grandchildren came to my graduation. My grandchildren presented me with flowers and gave me my graduation certificate. It was a very different feeling.’ After graduating from elementary school in Bolu and starting to work as a shepherd to contribute to the family economy and continuing his education, Muhittin Akkuş worked as a waiter, assistant cook, dishwasher in Antalya and Istanbul. In 1997, he opened a restaurant in Bolu in partnership with his brother Durmuş Akkuş and could not find the opportunity to continue his education in the hustle and bustle of life. With the passing of his brother Durmuş Akkuş in 2020, Muhittin Akkuş’s life changed. Deciding to hand over the restaurant where every corner carries memories of his brother, Muhittin Akkuş continued his duty as the vice president in the Bolu Restaurant Cooks and Pastry Chefs Craftsmen’s Association. During this time, finding time for himself, Akkuş first graduated from middle school. Then, preparing for exams, he started high school life at Bolu İzzet Baysal Vocational Training Center. Akkuş, a father of 3 children and grandfather of 3, completed his 2-year high school education and experienced the joy of graduating.
“We started the school of life” Muhittin Akkuş, who stated that he graduated from elementary school in 1983, said, ‘I always had the desire to study. I wanted to complete secondary, high school, and university education, but opportunities were limited during my childhood. I completed elementary school and worked as a shepherd for 3-4 years. After being a shepherd, I realized that I needed to go abroad. We went abroad, and I started washing dishes first. At that time, we couldn’t even reach the ground, we put a crate under us and washed the dishes. So, in a way, we did not start secondary education, but started the school of life. We washed dishes at the school of life. Then, Antalya, Istanbul, and in 1997, I opened a business with my beloved late brother Durmuş. We ran a restaurant for 23 years until the corona disease that shook Turkey. November 10, 2020, was a very painful day for me because I lost my brother. After losing my brother, I became disenchanted with the profession. I got bored of work. I entered the shop, there is a memory everywhere. I realized that I could not live with these memories anymore and handed over the shop.”
“I was ashamed to say ‘I am a primary school graduate'” Akkuş, who felt ashamed to say ‘I am a primary school graduate’ when asked about his education status and decided to continue his education for this reason, said, ‘I told Murat Abak, the President of the Bolu Restaurant and Pastry Chefs Association, ‘President, I want to study.’ I had the desire to study since childhood. When someone asked, ‘What is your graduation?’ I felt ashamed to say ‘I am a primary school graduate.’ May God bless the president, too, he said, ‘With this determination in you, you can finish high school and even go to university.’ God bless him, with that support, I started middle school. I completed middle school. Then it was time for high school, we enrolled in high school. We had a very successful period in high school. I did not expect this much. I also thank our teachers at the Vocational Training Center. It is a bit difficult for us to learn at this age. They explained without getting tired, without getting bored. We did not understand the first, the second, they explained the third, the fourth, and so on, it stuck in our minds. I thank Murat Abak, my dear wife Hacer Akkuş, my secret hero behind me.”
“I am 54 years old and preparing for university” Stating that his goal is the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), Akkuş said, ‘Now my goal is university. I want to say to the young people; I am 54 years old and preparing for university. The opportunities that were not available in our time are now available. Instead of sitting outside, on the street, in cafes for a long time, young people should study for at least 1 hour a day. They will succeed in the best places. I want young people to study, if I am studying at this age, I want young people to study too.’
“That feeling was very different” Akkuş, stating that his grandchildren came to his graduation, said, ‘That feeling was very different. Usually, grandfathers give their diplomas to their grandchildren, attend graduation ceremonies, but my grandchildren came to my graduation. My grandchildren presented me with flowers and gave me my graduation certificate. It was a different feeling. May God grant this to everyone who desires it.’