I felt even more inspired to launch my own education project in Tajikistan after joining YYGS and getting to know so many talented people. YYGS were therefore a crucial component of my summer. It was not only instructive but also, in a way, empowering. I’m motivated to keep growing as a person and support the aspirations of young Tajik students.
YYGS focused on communication, problem-solving, and endeavoring. Instead of another brain-consuming studying session in summer, it was more like an invitation for my brain to play, to let me soak into a moment and see the richness in the minute subtlety philosophy offers.
At the same time, I took full advantage of Opportunities across Yale (OAY), which exposed me to the innovative ideas at Yale, a top choice university for me. The workshops, webinars, discussions, and panels of OAY highlighted a vast array of resources and departments at Yale, and were a wonderful way for me to get a better sense of the larger campus community.
My favorite seminar was conducted by Eric Tu about economics “Show Me Proof: Modeling Theories of Growth”. After attending this seminar, I found it so compelling that this year I decided to enroll in an economics class at school, and I am now considering pursuing an economics major in college. After attending this seminar, I was able to clearly see what I wanted to do in life because I had no idea who I wanted to become before enrolling in YYGS.
When I received an acceptance letter from YYGS I felt different: both shocked and upset. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Yet upset because I was admitted for my 3rd choice (LPC) having a scientific background. However, I have seen it as an opportunity to expand my knowledge in the area where I was weak and try something new. And this was one of the best decisions in my life that made me ME.
At the beginning of any particular place, I use to feel discouraged and get really afraid to open myself. Thankfully, during Family Time and Breakout Discussions, I could feel welcome being surrounded by kind “relatives”. I really appreciate how YYGS is able to unite students around the globe that can not only share different perspectives but also get the opportunity to spread supportive connectivity.
As humans, we are like clay, molded by the hands of our environment and cultural background. Each of us holds a unique perspective on how we see the world. In YYGS, I learned about these different perspectives through the people I met from across the globe during break-out rooms and Family Time discussions. The diverse backgrounds of each member made the overall experience very interesting.
This summer I was provided with one of the most memorable and important experiences so far. To be able to listen to lectures and seminars by amazing speakers was awesome, and I was able to gain knowledge that to this day, helps me in my high school education.
All kinds of perspectives, cultures, and behaviors were surprisingly considered and respected. Just unlike the educational system, I am used to, “There is only one pattern for being a good student.” Seminars were the best part of my experience. The instructors were kind and considerate and did their best to create a warm atmosphere in the classrooms
My favorite lecture was on star formation by professor Héctor Arce. The process by which celestial objects are created from molecular clouds was beautiful and the use of data collected by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array was fascinating. It sparked my interest in space telescopes which led me to research and write an article about the Hubble Space Telescope and the spectroscopy technology used for astrophysical observations.
