İpek Ongun's Life and Career
- İpek Ongun graduated from Arnavutköy American Girls College (now Robert College) in 1900 but was discouraged from attending university due to her bilingual skills' practicality.
- She worked as a secretary in Istanbul while taking French classes and pursuing personal development through reading.
- After marrying a scientist invited to the University of California, she moved to the US for two years before returning to Turkey.
- Upon their return, her husband joined Hacettepe University but later transitioned to farming in Mersin.
İpek Ongun's Writing Career
- Driven by her passion for language, İpek began translating foreign novels into Turkish despite limited opportunities.
- She diligently visited publishing houses until she gained recognition and published her first translated book.
- İpek continued translating while raising two daughters and was encouraged to write her own books.
- She wrote her first children's book, "Mektup Arkadaşları," in 1980, followed by several more.
- Recognizing the lack of books for adolescents, she wrote "Yaş 17" but faced challenges categorizing it.
- After a few years, the publishing house found a place for the book in a mixed section.
- Inspired by young people discussing her first book, she published "Bir Genç Kızın Gizli Defteri" in 1990.
- She embarked on writing a youth series to provide enjoyable and thought-provoking stories that imparted life lessons and encouraged critical thinking.
- Before writing each book, she spent 6 to 8 months researching and consulting experts to ensure accuracy and relevance.
İpek Ongun's Journey to Writing
- İpek's childhood dream was to become a veterinarian, and she cherished memories of playing with diverse friends and creating adventures based on book characters.
- After studying tourism and having a successful career, she faced a dilemma when she became pregnant and couldn't leave her child with someone else.
- She sought alternative work arrangements but found them unfeasible due to the prevailing work culture.
- As a stay-at-home mom, she felt unfulfilled despite the joys of motherhood.
- Determined to pursue her passion for writing, she started a blog called "0 Kilometre Bızdıklar" to share her experiences and connect with like-minded individuals.
- Her writing gained recognition, leading to collaborations, event organization, and opportunities to write for magazines and publish books.
İpek Ongun's Impact and Gratitude
- Today, İpek engages with children through her books, organizes social responsibility projects, and works with organizations to support disadvantaged communities.
- She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, determination, and hard work in finding one's path and achieving personal fulfillment.
- The video is in Turkish, and the speaker expresses gratitude, inviting others to join in expressing appreciation.
