Apart from learning about economics, slavery, totaliarism and artificial intelligence in law, I also learned about global situations with the help of my peers. We were really conscious and explained several situations either from what we saw or what we lived in different parts of the world. It brought part of realism into this summer program.
YYGS is certainly academically challenging with its profound topics, and thus renders novel insights into politics, law, and economics to me. For example, I remember the lecture on the topic of terrorism. One thing that impressed me most was the theory about the relationship between terrorist attacks and territory division. Original ideas and novel theories like this are offered throughout YYGS, which I believe provided students with a profound understanding of their interested fields.
One aspect of the program that seemed very interesting to me were the seminars, because in the first place, I thought it was a good idea that we could choose the ones we wanted to participate in. I decided to participate in one about the aspects that are in a song, and also in one seminar about two Taylor Swift albums, seminars that I found very interesting and very entertaining, since I learned how these well-known artists write their lyrics, and the meaning they give to them.
What I enjoyed the most about Yale Young Global Scholars was that I was able to meet people around the whole world. Thanks to this program now I know what I want to study in a future.
YYGS taught me to consider all the perspectives present in one issue, and that we are all a part of a greater whole. I approach problems in a new way thanks to the amazing seminars and lectures I was able to be a part of.
The seminar topics exposed me to the multifaceted nature of STEM, where numerous fields overlap to answer a single research question. One of my favorite seminars “IST11APal: Particle or Wave? How the duality of light helps probe the depths of cellular processes Instructor: Atreyo Pal”, combined physics and biology. Similarly, Dr. Brian Scassellati’s lecture on Socially Assistive Robotics and “robots that teach” demonstrated the widescale implications of technology on our society. In its entirety, YYGS displayed the endless possibilities of the future and the cruciality of cooperation.
One thing has definitely changed since I attended YYGS. I am eager to contribute to my community, to help out the ones in need, to put a smile on someone’s face, even more than I already was. All that space exploration stuff is fun and everything, yet YYGS taught me that nothing brings a smile to my face like seeing someone else happy because of something I have done. This to me is my newly found identity, a principle that I will carry with me, forever and always.
I didn’t expect to be enthralled with the history of Dubai’s Architecture this July, but there I was, dumbfounded. It seems crazy, but YYGS quite literally launched me into a new burning trait: curiosity. Whether it be from the strange friends I stumbled across ranging from a quaint girl in London to a spitfire boy in Pasadena, I knew I found a place where my difference made me belong.
I thoroughly enjoyed the “Adapting Burning: From Faulkner to Murakami to Lee Chang-dong” seminar. This seminar taught me about the critical and often overlooked nuances of translation and interpretation of subjective literature. The format was styled, allowing room for debate and creativity as we delved deep into the subject matter. This allowed me to be seamlessly engaged while learning more about the meaning of storytelling. By hearing the diverse perspectives of my instructors and peers I was able to broaden my own.
I found it really tough to watch my classmates back home struggle to realize their aspirations as an eighteen-year-old Tajik girl who is lucky to study in an IB school and pursue a high-quality education. I was fortunate to be given the chance to go abroad at such a young age. I am aware, though, that for many people around the world, this may not be the case. I am accountable for acting as a catalyst for good change as a change-maker and engaged community member.
