“From ever-enlarging volleyball circles in the courtyard to hanging out in the basement with a tight-knit group of friends to tear-inducing laughter with capstone teammates, this YYGS experience made the vast world suddenly seem smaller and less intimidating.”
“YYGS has helped me develop a global outlook to view the world’s problems as my own.”
“If someone told me that I would give a speech for speaker series in the Yale Law Auditorium, I wouldn’t believe it. But that’s one of the amazing things about YYGS: the unexpected becomes a reality.”
“YYGS had a great impact on my life: It made me more responsible; I learned to take care of myself and to live with a budget. I’m now more outgoing, I learned to take the first step, to work in a group and to do research.”
I am a youth representative for the Women and Children’s Alliance of Boise. This is a nonprofit that provides services for anyone who has been the victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse/assault. My junior year I volunteered both here and on the Mayor’s Council for Children and Yout, and I did see some overlapping issues where the system could be better in providing services for our community.
Literature and biology are both very important to me. I am currently publishing a fantasy book, “Arden,” which I started writing two years ago. Now I’m also working on a new project, a contemporary story about a female bio-technology entrepreneur; this story is inspired partly by my experience at YYGS and I look forward to publishing it before I graduate from high school. Feminism has been a big part of my life as well.
I had a splendid time at YYGS this summer. I learned about collective history, dialogue in democracy, neon-liberalism, and a myriad of subjects that intrigued me academically. I also met like-minded peers from all over the world. I learned just as much from them—their culture, believes, and values. As the photographer of PLE II, I got to see the program not only through my eyes but also through others. The memories I made at YYGS will be forever cherished.
Later this month, I will participate in a program at Monash University called “Commerce Connect” which gives students the opportunity to learn more about business and commerce in university, as well as speak with current university students. I am very excited to take workshops from current professors and listen to alumni. Overall I am sure it will be a very valuable experience.
“YYGS gave me life-long friends from all the continents, and my dearest memories from YYGS involve the time I spent with them.”
I am an Outreach Coordinator for Connecticut’s 2019 PERIOD Movement Rally. In August, one of my friends introduced me to this issue and ask if I would like to be a part of the team. Every month, many women struggle with obtaining menstrual products due to the inequitable taxation placed on these products. Often times, these women also experience homelessness and poverty. With these widespread issues at hand, the PERIOD campaign fights to raise national awareness, support, and legislative change in order to alleviate the struggles that these women face.
