I think YYGS was like an exchange program. Why exchange? Because I learned from the others, but I also taught them at the same time. I raised my voice and said “Hey, I’m Latino, I’m Guatemalan, but above all, I’m human such as you.”
At YYGS Connect, I got meet a community of curious learners, all signing on at different times of the day and putting aside the hustle of everyday life to commit to a learning experience unlike any other. Not only did YYGS teach me about the global problems that we are now facing, but it also pushed us to find the solution to these problems.
One of the most surprising aspects of YYGS was that my questions were fully answered. The professors and lecturers found every idea intriguing and attentively respected my thoughts. It was the first time in which I realized the true joy and love of learning. This led me to think that it does not necessarily have to be something grand that could be a subject of study, but rather something that excites me.
I met some amazing, funny, and intelligent people from all over the world, and thanks to YYGS, I got to travel the world from the comfort of my home. I learned how to speak Mandarin and Hebrew from my peers, made some amazing friends, and we learned more about technology, toxins, and how our traditions and culture influence our emotional expression.
Academically speaking, my strengths have never been in the humanities, so I was convinced that I’d have nothing to contribute and that my YYGS experience was going to be fruitless—how wrong I was. Despite the fact that I’m set on pursuing science in the future, having dabbled in the world of literature, philosophy, and culture for two weeks has underscored the importance to me of embracing interdisciplinary learning.
“I attended 3 seminars, namely Glamorizing Suffering, We Are How We Eat, and Scientific Language. One common sentiment carried throughout the seminars and YYGS as a whole was the importance we hold as individuals in our world. Prior to YYGS, I could not grasp the concept that the simple actions we take in our daily lives impact the reality we live in.
“I was initially skeptical about the benefits of a virtual program, but YYGS Connect was extremely well executed. I loved being able to meet people from different backgrounds and gain different perspective on how they view the world.”
“I have not always thrived in a school setting. However, the process of applying to and attending YYGS taught me how curiosity for learning is what it truly takes to succeed in an educational environment.”
“My favorite lecture was the Trolley Problem by Professor Shelly Kagan, where he had talked about moral principles behind making the right decision. As an Economics enthusiast, I was intrigued even how proper decision-making can also involve making significant sacrifices in life: a core concept of Economics.”
“YYGS was like the condensed milk and sugar in this dainty cake made from ingredients from all over the world, holding everyone together in joy and harmony.”
