“[YYGS was] more than just a chance to meet other prominent high school students from around the world, it was the time that I could share my thoughts and communicate with people who understand me. As a student highly passionate about music, I was struck by the second lecture, which ties human biology with music. When I saw how these subjects interact and bring about different perspectives on life, I was once again assured of my aspirations for a liberal arts education.
“I was impressed by the diversity of thought in these sessions, making the learning possibilities endless. I really enjoyed engaging with students who approached problems and topics differently than I do. We took part in simulations. This was one of the most complicated yet fulfilling projects I have ever taken part in. We pretended to be a team of mathematicians helping astronauts in trouble on Mars. I really enjoyed the feeling of being able to apply what I learned in class to a real-world (or, rather, out-of-this-world!) situation.”
“My experience at YYGS Connect exceeded all my expectations and proved both unique and intellectually fulfilling. I cherished the opportunity to explore topics that do not often set foot in classrooms, doing so alongside students from across the world with a shared desire to learn. What I saw in YYGS Connect was a dedicated community of inquisitive learners, all logging onto their computers at different times of the day and setting aside the hustle and bustle of every-day life to commit to a learning experience like no other.”
“It was incredible coming together with people from very different parts of the world (i.e. Palestine, China, Nepal, and the US) for a cause that we all care about equally. And even though we were not able to meet and interact in person, I still feel that we bonded in a great way that allowed us to learn more about others and reflect more on aspects of our lives that others might find extremely interesting or bizarre.
“I had the best discussions with people from all over the globe, where everyone talked and respected each other. This high intensity discussion of topics we do not normally see at school are definitely the most memorable moment I had in YYGS.”
“I discovered my passion for Environmental Economics and Politics through different courses I took in respect to my session. The seminars encompassed my passion for statistical analysis, policies, and initiative for the betterment of the environment, especially during this pandemic. Learning about the process of thinking and analysis, while having an engaging cluster of unbelievable cooperative cultures in a single Zoom call was only attainable through my experience at YYGS.”
“YYGS Connect to me, was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. I had the most interesting and challenging time during Professor Shelly’s philosophy lecture. He lectured about the trolley problem and determining moral principles. His questions blew my mind away, and I realized that I could sometimes miss a choice but this taught me that not all choices in life are easy to make, sometimes we have to make sacrifices.”
“My YYGS experience was unforgettable even though it was virtual. I loved getting to speak to other participants about their hobbies, countries, sharing information about ourselves. What struck me the most was the fact that we were all from different countries but had similar views. My favourite lecture would probably be the one with Professor Duffy. His work was mind blowing, by combining art and medicine he made the course fun. I would like to believe using musical instruments to examine the human body will greatly impact many lives.”
“My family-time group, with individuals from Azerbaijan, India, China, and more, became my family the more we collaborated and laughed together. Our differing backgrounds exposed me to new cultures and perspectives. In one of the most influential lectures of my YYGS session - the lecture on right-wing populism - students from completely different countries banded together to criticize the mishandling of the pandemic and corruption within their distinct governments. I think that’s what made me realize that however diverse we are, the younger generation is united.
“When YYGS announced that the program was going to be online, I was a little nervous as I wasn’t sure how seminars, lectures and family time could be thoroughly translated to an online setting. However, YYGS Connect couldn’t have been further from my rather low expectations. The YYGS approach has prompted me to think more deeply on the concepts taught to us over the course of a week than I have over the course of my high school curriculum.”
