When Ilgin Sunar arrived in the U.S. five years ago from Turkey, gaining confidence in her new country as a non-native speaker was her top priority. Now, Ilgin is a proud high school graduate, scholarship recipient, and is pursuing a career in healthcare.
How did she do it? It all started at Benjamin Franklin High School in North Philadelphia, where she matriculated as a culinary student, part of Philadelphia Academies, Inc.’s (PAI’s) Tourism & Hospitality Management Program. It was through this program that she embraced new experiences and discovered how to connect with others in a new country and language.
In 10th grade, Ilgin was introduced to the PAI team in her culinary classroom. At the time, she felt uncertain and hesitant to speak. “I didn’t know any English,” she recalled. “I wasn’t comfortable speaking. But they told me to speak up for myself.” With encouragement and soft-skill instruction, PAI’s instructors helped Ilgin grow her confidence and sought out opportunities to make her voice heard, culminating in a speaking opportunity at City Hall.
PAI’s Interview Expo marked a turning point for Ilgin. Practicing interview scenarios in an environment where the staff and the interviewers were so kind and offered criticism helped prepare her for real-world opportunities. “Most people are scared of interviews,” she said. “But when you practice and imagine what they might ask, it becomes easier. That was a life-changer.”
While she initially joined culinary class for the love of food, she soon realized she was learning about more than cooking; she was
developing service skills. “Culinary is part of hospitality,” she explained. “It’s about communicating with people and making
them feel special.” Those values, she later discovered through interacting and empathizing with customers, led her to her true passion: healthcare.
Although she chose to pursue healthcare studies after graduation, the lessons from PAI’s Tourism & Hospitality program have
stuck with her. “Communicating with patients is similar to communicating with customers,” she shared. “You have to make people feel heard, understood, and cared for in both fields.”
She credits Stephanie Shaw and Rene Melendez of PAI for supporting her growth. Stephanie connected her to internships and encouraged her to follow her passion despite the long path ahead. “She helped me not just think about how hard it was going to be, but about how I could take the first step.”
Rene, whom Ilgin met in 10th grade, made sure she was never left behind. “He would come and explain the lesson again just for me, so I could understand. That meant everything.”
Despite language barriers and cultural adjustments, she graduated among the top students in her class and proudly earned a PAI scholarship. “Improving my English is the biggest achievement of my life,” she says. “I even gave a speech at my graduation and read the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time.”
Ilgin’s passion for reading, taking care of her plants, and helping others is a value she believes will shape her future in healthcare. A fast learner who never hesitates to ask questions, she sees communication, empathy, and professionalism as core strengths she
developed through PAI.
What stands out most in Ilgin’s story is the transformation: from a shy newcomer to a confident graduate ready to enter the
world of healthcare. She didn’t just gain academic skills. She found her voice, her strength, and her path.
“I always wanted to go into medicine,” she says. “Now, I know I can.”