Before arrival, Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) received a schedule mapping out their ten days in the program. Lectures, seminars, breakout discussions, capstone projects, and Family Time were the building blocks of the experience — comprising almost all of our waking hours. However, an underrated component of the YYGS schedule was the Free Time which taught me implicit lessons in value comparable to the academic immersions.
I encountered vibrant displays of culture when I least expected it. Whether that be observing my friend practice a traditional Japanese martial arts routine for the talent show or engaging in a sincere conversation with a Catholic missionary outside of Atticus Bookstore, culture was deeply ingrained in the people and places around me if I sought it out. Free Time activities were essential in facilitating cross-cultural connection. One of my fondest memories from the program was gathering around the piano with a large crowd to sing along to Shawn Mendes’ “Stitches”. Although many scholars traveled from countries where Mendes is not well-known, they Googled the song lyrics on their phones to participate as well. More talented singers were even harmonizing and riffing off of each other! By the time the song ended, everyone was out of breath but buzzing with energy from the group effort towards serenading our hearts out. No one needed to be fluent in English or understand every word of the song to appreciate the beauty of coming together to perform. Artistic expression, which surpasses linguistic barriers, is a poignant tool to build community.
Anyone who crossed through the Davenport courtyard was bound to spot a volleyball circle. Players welcomed all skill levels and cheered each other on to achieve personal bests. We took turns counting the number of successful ups in our native languages (alternating from one-two-three, to uno-dos-tres, to yī-ér-sān, and more). Another courtyard activity featured frequently was creating enormous, iridescent bubbles. The instructors were not required to lead the activity during their Free Time, but voluntarily elected to do so due to their passion for spreading joy. I tried my hand at dipping the tongs into the bubble mix but failed to do more than splatter myself with the soapy liquid when I raised them up again. The instructor chuckled and remarked, “It’s a lot harder than it looks, isn’t it?” I realized to not underestimate the feats that people accomplish every single day — usually, their lives are vastly more difficult than they let it seem. Similarly, while I have played volleyball for years, it took bravery for newcomers to join the courtyard circles and risk making a mistake in front of others. Recognizing the unspoken hurdles people overcome, especially if you do not face the same difficulties, is necessary to build empathy and encourage participation.
I urge future scholars to take full advantage of Free Time to capitalize on YYGS’ unique offerings as one of the most globally diverse high school programs. Challenge yourself to create meaningful connections that change your perspective and venture beyond your comfort zone. While YYGS’ top-notch academics sport defined guidelines and clear objectives, it is crucial that scholars do not overlook the worth of the unexpected, unconventional opportunities that unstructured free time provides.
Nikita, YYGS 2024, USA