A two-week summer program at Yale University, with over 150 country representatives immersed in interactive seminars, breakout discussions and lectures, Yale Young Global Scholars is well known. But have we actually asked ourselves about the other side of YYGS? What makes YYGS really special is a question I have always pondered over.
After a three-minute walk from Davenport College, I arrived at Loria Center, a known place for family time. Nervous and unaware of what to say, I met many incredible people I had never seen before. Noise at its loudest peak, chats about the day’s interesting seminars were the focus with the people I had just seen! What eased the communication and interaction really, I started to think impatiently. It came to my notice that indeed the like mindedness of peers from all over the world was the main gear.
What makes YYGS special are not lectures or seminars, it’s the people! Rarely will you meet like-minded peers, respectful and intellectual in their conversations. This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity YYGS offers to the world. I thought I knew it all about Big Bang Theory until I had a discussion with my friend during YYGS that left me dazzled. This shifted my mind drastically, as I appreciated the different talents of my peers and need for self-growth.
From the informative lectures in halls to the hangouts at Ashley’s ice cream at York Side Pizza, a sense of socialization was instilled within me. Initially, I thought life was about working hard and achieving one’s goals, underestimating social interactions. As the saying “there is no man without another man” goes, I appreciated the need to make social networks. I made more friends in these places than ever before!
Imagine a world where everyone is punctual and strategic, accomplishing tasks more efficiently like computers! That’s the environment I lived in for the two weeks. The concept of time management was engraved on my heart as I took on various tasks, realizing its groundbreaking results in self-growth. The interaction and learning from peers was easy, as I scheduled its time. Most people think that comparison in who is better than the other is inevitable, but YYGS views this in a different angle. It’s not about getting a perfect score on a test and ranking first that matters, it’s the impact of one’s knowledge and skills that do. The YYGS community is so special. Even with many brilliant minds from all over the world, it emphasizes the need for self-intellectual growth rather than grading. I previously aimed at ranking first only to realize it was all in vain if I wasn’t valuing self-growth. This is one in a million communities, with a main focus of shaping intellectual mindedness in peers for future impact.
Cornelius, Uganda, YYGS 2025