Going into YYGS, I expected stimulating academic experiences and exciting lectures. What I didn’t expect, however, was how much I would learn from my peers, and how much it would impact my understanding of the world. The incredible diversity of the student body at YYGS provided endless learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
As soon as I arrived on the Yale campus, I was shocked by the amount of international students. As an international student myself, I sometimes feel isolated during summer programs like this, but YYGS was a melting pot of different cultures. Each student I met from a different part of the world brought their own unique perspectives, experiences, and traditions, making Yale a hotspot for cultural education.
My dorm room is a perfect illustration of this. I had roomates from Mexico, Mongolia, India, Israel and Iceland. One night I stayed up late with Regina, who lives in Mexico, and she taught me all about Mexican politics. Misheel, from Mongolia, taught us fun facts about Mongolia, like that whistling is considered a bad word. My roommate from India, Pranavaa, even brought us snacks from India to try! I learned so much about all different cultures without even leaving my dorm room.
During seminars, the benefits of this diversity was even more apparent. The discussions were greatly enriched by the large range of different cultural backgrounds and perspectives. For example, during a discussion about the Brazilian literature lecture, a student from Brazil offered insights on the importance of the literary pieces to life in Brazil. He also explained cultural contexts for these literary pieces. First hand perspectives such as these provided invaluable information that couldn’t be found in textbooks or online.
In conclusion, the YYGS program was an eye-opening experience, not just because of the amazing academic opportunities, but because of the exceptional people who shared their cultures with me. The conversations I had here were transformative. They expanded my horizons, challenged my thinking, and enriched my understanding of the world. And that, is why the world ‘global’ is a part of YYGS’s name.
Sophia, YYGS 2024, Singapore & USA