In terms of the programme itself, my favorite lecture was “Killing, Letting Die, and the Trolley Problem” with Professor Shelly Kagan. The philosophical problem was one that I had encountered before, but it was approached in a manner that was so incredibly thought-provoking. For every argument we made, Professor Kagan had a rebuttal that made us question our own stances and think more critically.
Everyone’s perspective offered a new way of seeing a situation, like how we came up with the idea of school gardens to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity in subsaharan countries. We were so diverse that I became friends with students from countries I have never heard of!”
In YYGS, everyone has the opportunity to gain unique and priceless, lifelong values and extraordinary experiences, through which we become better people. This beautiful journey provided me with a sense of belonging in an international community that strives not only for academic enrichment but also for independence and identity formation under the grounds of cultural diversity!
YYGS gave me exactly what I put in. What I mean is that the YYGS experience requires the scholar’s utmost participation and attention at all times to gain the most out of the program. For me, this was establishing an accepting presence amongst my peers during the family time and simulation sessions, and in turn, I was able to learn about the different cultures and ethnicities that make up this enriching planet.
Through meeting so many like-minded individuals from all around the world, I have been inspired and motivated to believe that I can make a difference. Having the opportunity to gain new perspectives that I would not have considered before has made me feel more empathetic about what others have to say when I might initially disagree. Having discussions with my ‘family group’ after lectures improved my confidence immensely, as it allowed me to see my ideas encouraged, seen as equally important as the rest of the group’s.
On my first day, I had all my stationary ready. I thought it would be another ordinary school day, where I take notes and listen to the teacher without being fully engrossed. Instead, I was utterly taken aback by the new style of learning. Every session was mentally stimulating, and I could engage in discussions and see different points of view.
Through the special curriculum at YYGS, I gained a lot of experience and scientific insights that are not commonly found in high school in general. YYGS instructors make teaching and learning fun, interactive, fun, relaxed, but still serious. Really, it’s like being on a real physical campus. I miss that atmosphere after the program ended.
The biggest acquisition during those weeks at YYGS would be the gain of perspective. I have grown to reflect on myself and understand other people’s points of view whether it would be discrimination in the Western world or other serious matters.
At YYGS, I stepped into a world of endless opportunities created by endless possibilities. Before YYGS, I was believing that I should be one thing; an engineer, or a sociologist, or an artist. YYGS showed me the value of the word “and”, the magic of interdisciplinary works, and the beauty of their outcomes. My favorite lecture was “Robots that Teach” by Brian Scasselatti, because it showed me the intersection of robotics and social sciences, and inspired me to be an engineer, and sociologist, and artist.
One of my most memorable experiences occurred during a YYGS family breakout session where some of us possessed very different views on a lecture, however, we were still able to share our views on the topic in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment. This experience fully embodied the essence of YYGS where people from different countries, backgrounds, and communities come together and respectfully share their unique perspectives.
