The piano was always playing. Whether during lunch break or the Free Time period before curfew, there was always somebody seated at the sleek black pianos of the three residential colleges.
Each pianist contributed a distinct selection of music, trying their hand at a rendition of a pop song or classical piece. This was a true testament to the individuality fostered by Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS), and a reflection of our diverse passions and abilities.
Because although we all fit into one of the four academic tracks of YYGS, our specialized interests were much greater in number. Even within my own track alone, I was exposed to an array of opportunities in which fellow participants had partaken, from writing competitions to civic engagement programs.
I think this sense of individuality is why I have found it so difficult to write about the experience that YYGS offers, because there really is no singular, uniform experience to share. The flexibility and openness of the curriculum allowed us to individualize our schedule with the seminar topics, capstone project, and free time excursions that engaged us the most. For example, while I chose seminars on fields such as Middle Eastern nationalism and the relationship between politics and language, friends shared with me discussions they had on US-China relations and American evangelicalism. Working in small groups in the evenings to further examine issues of our own interest, my capstone members and I chose to investigate the mindset and intentions of Russia in its war with Ukraine, as other groups in my track researched floating exchange rates or the politics of Taiwan. When not in classes, I was able to grab boba, visit the Yale Art Museum, and study with friends in the libraries on campus, but we had the freedom to explore any location within boundaries.
Even more strikingly, however, was that an emphasis on community went hand-in-hand with this idea of individuality. Despite our different passions and different zip codes, it was easy to find common ground with any of the 600 other participants, and it was just as easy to invite a group of capstone members to join you for ice cream or sit with a new table at lunch. It was even easier to tell that each and every person there cared about leaving an impact on their community.
Those who chose to play the piano, for example, were sharing their own talents and abilities in order to better those around them, providing music and entertainment to the people who listened. At the end of the day, this is the greatest lesson that I have gained from my two weeks at this program: Talents are most important when they reflect individual experiences and benefit others. I left YYGS with souvenirs from countries like Brazil and Malawi, a half-empty box of chocolate pies from the convenience store nearby, and Polaroid shots of some very unsuccessful pool games in the Jonathan Edwards college basement. Above all, though, I left with a renewed passion to utilize my specific interests and experiences for the benefit of a larger audience.
Author Details:
Julianna Lee
Politics, Law & Economics
MA, USA