YYGS has given me a space to interact with like-minded peers and learn about topics that interest me. Through our discussions and interactions, I have learned to consider a diverse array of viewpoints in everything I do. YYGS has inspired me to initiate actionable change in my community and I am excited to use my experience to support others in developing their passions as well as to give back to my community.
If I were to describe YYGS in one word, I would say “Elevating.” Exploring thought-provoking topics, participating in enlightening programs, and interacting with the cultural melting pot that is the YYGS population combine to create an intellectually propelling environment. Each discussion felt fresh and exciting.
I remember one seminar best. It was on the nature of happiness. We discussed excerpts from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. We were able to learn about these classical perspectives of happiness and apply our own experiences and knowledge to them.
During YYGS, one of the most interesting seminars was about gerrymandering and how to measure unfairness. During our seminar, we used real-life examples in various locations in the US and compared their shapes to those of low-income and marginalized communities. It was a concept that I could directly point to where I lived locally. And the best part was being able to use math to determine how “unfair” the shape of a district was.
“My lectures were the most memorable as I often left wishing that my school taught like this. I became more articulated and careful with how I expressed myself in order for more people to understand and receive my points clearly. Becoming a better listener and connecting with different students was a highlight for me. My family session affected me strongly when mental health conversations were encouraged and taken lightly without judgement.
“My favorite seminar was ‘Mind reading with functioning brain imaging: neuroethics and artificial intelligence.’ I love the fact that a machine can actually read someone’s brain and digitalize what they are thinking and dreaming into a video.”
“YYGS was for me a short yet great period of personal growth, insights, and reflections. I can say that there I decided to change my prospective majors and I got to know passionate people from all over the world.”
“YYGS has equipped me, someone who comes from a small city in the east coast of China, with a global vision and an open mind. YYGS has changed me from an individual who mostly focuses on personal affairs to an actual builder and leader of a community, to someone who can bring about positive influences to people around. YYGS has also inspired my academic passion in literature, in reading, and in the discovery of mankind and humanity.”
“In my opinion, the lectures were the most memorable and most interesting parts of the program. The opportunity to listen actively and engage with eminent faculty from Yale University is one that I will cherish forever.”
