The program created an environment where every student possessed an entirely unique background. I was able to make a lifelong friend through discussing the NBA finals with a student from Nigeria, while also reflecting on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine with a student from Russia, getting to learn about how the war was affecting her and her family. During our Family Time hour we spent together each day, I made lasting friendships from around the globe.
YYGS motivated me to believe in myself and to stay intellectually curious. It left me with great knowledge and skills for the future; one being to not be afraid to engage in sessions. Many people are intimidated to share their ideas or remarks about something, but I consider that each and every one of us can create a change by using our voice.
I would have never imagined meeting so many amazing people, not only amongst the other students but also the instructors. Each person I had the opportunity to interact with was so genuine, friendly, and open-minded. Seeing how motivated everyone was, was my favourite part, anybody could talk passionately about diverse subjects that were heartfelt to them. It was so inspiring seeing all these people my age being so thirsty to learn and share their knowledge with others.
The YYGS environment was incredibly inclusive and respectful, and immediately made me feel at ease. Students always had the chance to interact and participate actively in any session. During breakout sessions, we could engage in debates concerning lectures of distinguished personnel regarding the latest breakthroughs in their areas of study; throughout seminars, I engaged in detailed conversations and could exchange ideas with like-minded students.
My favorite seminar was “What is in a song? Thinking Critically about music in society”. That lecture was vital to me in speaking up more in a group setting to express my opinions and ideas. Bel Zufferey, the one in charge of the seminar, really helped me feel comfortable, encouraged me to speak up, and made the seminar an enjoyable learning experience.
My favorite seminar was about the Cultural Intersections in Popular Music, taught by Jacqueline Georgis. I really love how we talked about cultural appropriation and how each of my classmates gave their opinion. Each class we navigated and analyzed, for example, songs that we believed were from an artist, but were not, as happened with Elvis Presley. Besides, I really appreciated it when we talked about Spanish songs, such as Rosalia, since it demonstrates cultural variations and the inclusiveness that existed in the program.
At YYGS, I learned about other people, their countries, and myself. A memorable experience was a seminar about permaculture. We learned what permaculture is and why it is important. In the end, we even had the chance to create our own version and share it. The seminar involved the interconnection between humans and nature and how that can benefit communities and our planet. I connected the term permaculture directly to an indigenous farm I have previously worked on.
The part that I will never forget about YYGS is the interesting people that taught me so much. I learned about other cultures and parts of the world that I have never explored before, and we exchanged thoughts and opinions on the lectures and social things. I find it limiting at times to live in the same city that I was born in since I get limited to people in my country. When attending YYGS, I got the chance to interact with people from all over the world in the same place which was extremely educational and fun for me.
If I could describe YYGS with just one word it would be: unpredictable. You just have to know that nothing will be as you think; in fact, it will be even better. YYGS was for me an opportunity to explore, learn and share. I left YYGS with a much broader mindset compared to the one I entered. Now I was not only more aware of what was happening in my community, but in the world.
YYGS was a gratifying and insightful experience as it allowed me to meet like-minded students from around the world, learn about new cultures and perspectives and nurture my passion for learning. I loved interacting with professors and the seminar leaders to learn more about different STEM fields and I really appreciated how much energy they brought to the lectures/seminars.
