Alumni
Damla Zeynep Bayraktar – Class of 2017
The period from the very first day I chose the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Bilgi University until my graduation was not only an educational journey for me, but also a time when I discovered myself, developed a deep passion for my profession, and shaped my dreams. Every piece of knowledge I gained and every skill I acquired in this department gradually formed the foundation of my professional identity.
Looking back today, I realize that my most valuable gains were not limited to theoretical knowledge, but also included critical thinking, an analytical perspective, and an understanding of professional ethics. The approach of our instructors, with their supportive and guiding attitudes, helped us learn what was difficult while also equipping us with a perspective that prepared us for life.
After graduation, beginning my academic career at the same institution became a separate source of pride and happiness for me. Since 2022, as a member of this family, I have now guided my students in the very corridors where I once walked as a student. Being part of this cycle is a highly valuable experience that nourishes me both professionally and personally.
For me, being a BİLGİ graduate means more than simply graduating from a university; it means being part of a community that shares, produces, questions, and remains open to growth. Still being under this roof today with the same sense of belonging is the most beautiful reflection of this strong bond.
Büşra Şen Uyar – Class of 2018
I clearly remember the day I chose the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Bilgi University. In fact, I was not only choosing a profession; I was choosing a path through which I could touch people’s lives.
My university years became a process that confirmed, more clearly each day, how right that decision was, while transforming me both academically and personally.
The knowledge I gained throughout my education did not merely provide me with a theoretical foundation; it also taught me to view issues more holistically, question scientific evidence, and, most importantly, practice my profession within the framework of ethical values. The approach of my instructors was not based solely on teaching, but on encouraging us to think, to question, and to reach the truth through our own critical lens. This perspective still forms the basis of my professional practice today.
After graduation, I began actively following up with clients and experienced firsthand how instructive fieldwork can be for seeing the real-life application of theoretical knowledge.
Each individual’s lifestyle, needs, and story are different; therefore, developing personalized and sustainable approaches rather than standard solutions has become an indispensable principle for me.
Today, while practicing my profession, I do not merely answer the question of “what should be eaten”; I also take into account individuals’ behaviors, habits, and emotional processes, approaching the question from a deeper perspective. This approach is a natural outcome of both my education and the experiences I have gained.
For me, being a BİLGİ graduate means more than holding a diploma; it means being part of a mindset that is open to learning, questioning, and lifelong development. Still carrying this approach today and building my profession on these foundations is one of my greatest achievements.
Begüm Güntürkün – Class of 2023
My journey, which began in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Bilgi University, gradually evolved from a process of acquiring a profession into a search for understanding and making sense of human experience. During these years, I discovered that nutrition is much more than the body’s needs; it is deeply intertwined with our thoughts, emotions, and life experiences.
Being able to advance in the field of psychology during my education was a true turning point for me. Thanks to the interdisciplinary approach offered by the university, I learned to look at eating behavior not only through the lens of “what we eat” but also through the lens of “why we eat.” This perspective forms the foundation of every client relationship I establish today.
My years at BİLGİ gave me not only knowledge but also the courage to question, the ability to bring different disciplines together, and, most importantly, an individual-centered approach. During this process, the bond I developed with my instructors went beyond a purely academic relationship and became a space where I truly felt seen, supported, and valued in my development. This bond became one of the strongest building blocks in the construction of my professional identity. At the same time, being able to share the knowledge and perspectives I gained with different audiences through training and presentations has become an integral part of my profession.
Today, as I shape my sustainable, functional, and holistic approach to nutrition, I can clearly see within myself the traces of the foundations laid during those years. Continuing my graduate education at the same institution after graduation reminds me every day that this relationship is an ongoing, evolving, and deepening journey.
For me, being from BİLGİ means not believing in a single truth, but learning again every day, questioning, and taking one step closer to understanding people. I chose this profession not only to practice it, but also to truly understand and transform the relationship people have with eating, and I discovered this precisely at BİLGİ.
Özge Akın – Class of 2024
The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Bilgi University has been one of the greatest “I’m so glad” moments of my life, from my university preference period to graduation and even now in my active professional life. Each passing day, I clearly observe the contributions of this process in both my professional and social life.
The greatest architects of this process were, above all, our highly valuable instructors in the field and the educational journey offered by our strong academic staff. In addition, thanks to our university’s vibrant social environment, student club opportunities, the networks we built, and all the valuable opportunities it provided, I continue to understand and experience again and again the meaning of the motto I encountered every time I entered the university: “Learning not for school, but for life.”
Today, as a graduate, I began practicing my profession immediately after graduation and have made progress in a specialized, challenging field such as sports nutrition. Throughout this demanding process, I would especially like to emphasize that I have always felt the strength of the education I received at BİLGİ. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my esteemed instructor, Hande Seven Avuk, a valued figure in our field, who contributed greatly to this process.
Furthermore, being part of the BİLGİ family and continuing to benefit from the valuable opportunities offered by my university even after graduation have always been very precious to me. Maintaining communication with my instructors and actively continuing my research and development process by making use of BİLGİ’s valuable academic resources have always been a great advantage.
Being a BİLGİ graduate has provided me not only with professional and academic success in working life but also with a strong network, social engagement, and many valuable lifelong gains.
That is why I say again and again: “I am so glad to be from BİLGİ.”