Yale Young Global Scholars, track Politics, Law, and Economics, to be precise, is where I spent two awe-inspiring weeks that felt like a second and an eternity all together!
I am German and live in Germany, and I had never been to Yale before, but oh, what a dream it had become! I had the opportunity to participate in a summer program at such a great school!
When I arrived at Yale campus, I noticed the old, beautiful buildings, full of history, fabulous alumni, and the delicious knowledge that I craved so deeply.
Now, it is time to step away for a moment from a romanticized version because academia at Yale is so much more than gothic architecture, extensive libraries, and Victorian courtyards; all this is truly appealing to the eye, yet we should not disregard nor lose focus on what YYGS has to offer to the soul!
The lectures taught by Yale professors left me truly inspired, with more questions scribbled on my notepad than I imagined when I entered the room.
Small-scale seminars led by Yale undergraduate and graduate students took my mind on a journey that, in retrospect, made me feel as though I had spent the time with my head dipped in a pool of diverse insight, and now, in daylight and with fresh air, I can process and reassess my own opinions, considering the input I was given and the discussions I took part in!
Critical thought is at the center of our work; whether it is a seminar or a breakout discussion, all is there to help you form, revisit, and reevaluate your own opinion and how to improve your skills, filled with a plethora of perspectives.
The academics, as well as living in Yale dormitories and eating in Yale dining halls, will make the college experience tangible and let you peak and excel in what might be your near future.
Elements such as Symposium and Capstone teach us proper research, and the Student’s Showcase and Speaker Series, in which I took part, are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!
Perform your poetry, sing, dance, or speak about a topic that is close to your heart.
Wherever you go, your experience will be shaped by the people around you. The leadership and staff at YYGS were very passionate, caring, and inspiring! The bonds I formed with participants are promising and strong. Both the memories made during family time and free time with my friends will stay with me forever. We were exploring the campus, the shops and famous restaurants around, going to the bookshop and the art gallery, talking in the courtyards and common rooms, and going on walks through New Heaven.
A friend I met at YYGS and I are now Executive Editors of an international science and social science journal with a team in the double digits and a plethora of publications.
I am also in the midst of working on an international project as a Co-Founder connected to the UN and UNICEF with a girl I met at YYGS.
YYGS planted these seeds in me, and now I am growing them mindfully.
I could keep writing for pages, but now I would like to thank everyone who made this experience happen and, with it, a dream come true for me. I want to express my immense gratitude for having been granted this opportunity!
If you are thinking about applying, please take my words as a sign of encouragement to become part of the YYGS family!
Author Details:
Emily Helena Brieske
Politics, Law & Economics
Germany