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.
Family Time is the light that we walked towards knowing ourselves with the help of the best instructor and friend Anna Bernstein. The most memorable moment was when we all openly talked about the fears that stop us from our goals, after which we realized how connected we are. I remember each member saying nice words to each other, which I’m sure helped us feel better and show empathy for others. It was complicated for me to read the farewell speech in the last session and the letter written by our instructor.
After the whole school year, I was a bit skeptical about the concept of “summer school”- just because I never went to one prior and lacked experience. Since attending YYGS I met incredible like-minded peers and connected on a much more personal surface (since I can relate to their experiences). It was not a school, but a glimpse of the “real” adult life, where experience is so valued. I learned so many skills, one of which is to always engage in lectures, not be afraid of asking seemingly stupid questions, and most valuable- appreciate how far a person can come with the right tools.
The program always motivated us to meet new people, research, and have fun since that is what summer and life are for. YYGS spiked my intellectual curiosity while having an experience different from my regular activities. To everybody that asks me about YYGS, I’ve always given them the same answer; please let yourself be surprised and take the opportunity to apply, since words cannot fully explain how unique that program was for me.
My favorite lecture by far was “The Good Life After Growth” by Daniel Markovits. I had previously mentioned reading Mr. Markovits’ book “The Meritocracy Trap” in my application to YYGS, so imagine my surprise when I had the opportunity to meet and learn from him. The Good Life After Growth opened my eyes to the existence of economic greed and the significance of exchange value. I was amazed by Markovits’ futuristic insight on what the future of work looks like and consistently engaged in grasping a greater understanding of how much value material objects hold in our society.
YYGS gave a platform to not only learn and discuss with other students, but also talk about our life outside of school/academics and learn more about the students from 150+ countries. I learned a lot of interesting topics during this time period.
YYGS motivated me to explore my interests and develop my personal goals. Even though the various seminars and lectures challenged me academically, it was the enriching discussions that I was able to be a part of that ultimately defined my YYGS experience, pivotal in shaping me to be a better leader.
Everything started with a goal-setting session led by Maddy Megal, our Family Time instructor. Among my goals was winning the simulation project and expanding my pool of knowledge. I was also excited about interacting with people from across the globe and having a taste of Yale. Looking back, I’m so proud of the person I have grown to become because I achieved it all!!
In the words of my best lecturer, Onyeka Obiocha, “Life is short, live happy and pass it on.”
Coming to YYGS as a Vietnamese immigrant in Hungary, I found the “Translating the Untranslatable” seminar incredibly engaging as we were able to share our own experiences and opinions on how languages have shaped our thinking and society, which hinders us from ever producing direct translations.
YYGS has made me a more responsible individual by enlightening me about the global challenges faced by the humans round the globe. This also made me increase my participation in enhancing the community by giving service in various ways.
