Shaped by the Past, Guided by My Own Values

Who I am and what shaped me?

I’ve been thinking about this question lately. What started as a little curiosity about my family history, a DNA test and even a personality test (which described me as an “Advocate”) turned into a reflection on my own values and the person I want to become.

I grew up in a diplomatic family, living in different countries and surrounded by conversations about politics, cultures, education and international development. But another part of my upbringing was hearing stories about the generations before me.

On my father’s side, my ancestors include Namık Kemal, the poet and advocate of freedom, and my great-grandfather Şükrü Kaya, who served as Minister of the Interior under Atatürk. On my mother’s side, my great-grandfather Lütfi Kırdar served as Governor of Istanbul and Minister of Health. My grandfather Üner Kırdar’s cousins include İhsan Doğramacı, founder of Bilkent University, and Nemir Kırdar, founder of Investcorp, which helped turn Gucci around.

I never had the chance to meet these earlier generations, but their stories stayed with me.

Of course, I recognise the privilege that comes with this background, and I don’t necessarily agree with every decision or belief of previous generations. I think it’s important to appreciate history while also questioning it.

What I have taken from my upbringing is a belief in education, secularism, human rights, inclusion and international cooperation. These values have also shaped my own path, from studying Economics and International Development at McGill University to completing my Master’s in Digital Cultures at Maastricht University.

I don’t think our family history determines who we become. What matters more is what we choose to do with the opportunities we’ve been given.

For me, that means building my own path and hopefully contributing to a more inclusive, connected and progressive world. 🌍