Before YYGS, I thought I knew exactly who I was, what I liked, and how I saw the world. But, from the moment I stepped into Davenport College on a warm, humid Sunday morning to check into the program, I felt those certainties begin to shift. Over the next two weeks, I found myself learning more than I could ever expect–not only about Politics, Law or Economics–but about how I operate as a student, friend, and most importantly, a person.
The academic structure of YYGS felt a little unfamiliar at first. Having a big-hall, college style lecture taught by a renowned professor in the mornings and a small, close-knit seminar led by our own discussions in the afternoons was as interesting as it was intimidating. But, soon enough, I saw myself leaning into the challenge. During the lectures, I began to actively pay attention and formulate my own thoughts, theories and doubts from the information being given to me. In my seminars, I stopped searching for the ‘perfect’ point to make and learned to listen, process and build upon my colleagues’ ideas. By the end of YYGS, I understood that learning, for me, is all about truly engaging with conversations, letting ideas evolve, and allowing curiosity to take over the entire process.
Outside the classroom, YYGS taught me a lot about how I socialise and foster meaningful connections with others. Surrounded by so many different, interesting, cool people from all over the world, I quickly realised that friendships at YYGS were built on so much more than only shared experience, which is what I believed to be the sole foundation of human connection prior to arriving on campus. Here, bonds were formed through curiosity, empathy and a true willingness to listen. Conversations flowed from pop culture to politics, to comments about that day’s lecture, to fun facts about our hometowns and beyond, and it was never too early or too late to make a new friend. YYGS showed me that the exchange in different perspectives is the best thing to look for in all human relations.
Finally, YYGS prompted a lot of reflection and self realisation, especially on how I operate in the face of new challenges. Learning to navigate my independence and responsibilities was exhilarating, but also very challenging. When days felt too long or overwhelming with pre-readings for seminars, capstone deadlines and the bubbly social scenario of the program, I found myself adapting in ways I didn’t expect. I learned to set boundaries, designate moments for myself and prioritise the most important items on my to-do list (all while constantly calling my parents back home!). In this process, I learned that self-care can have many different facets, and that those walk hand-in-hand with academic and personal growth. Now back at home, I continue to apply the strategies I learned at YYGS to approach challenges with confidence and clarity.
Thus, I can now confidently say that YYGS changed my life in many ways, especially by helping me truly meet the best version of myself.
Isabela, Brazil & Portugal, YYGS 2025