Yale University - from an abstract noun to reality

Growing up, like many other teenagers, I watched American TV series and movies. In them, Yale often appeared as a myth—a prestigious place, a distant dream, an almost unattainable symbol of academic excellence. Even though I could not fully grasp the weight of that name at the time, something in me always stirred whenever it was mentioned. A few years later, through Yale Young Global Scholars, that myth became an experience. A reality.

Coming to the United States for the first time was a blend of excitement and quiet uncertainty. A new continent, a new system, new people. Yet after the very first conversation with my roommates, I felt a sense of reassurance. In that room, filled with different accents, stories, and dreams, I realized that this would not be just an academic program, but a safe space for growth. And it truly was.

YYGS did not end on the last day on campus. On the contrary, it continued to live on in my everyday life. Much of the knowledge gained during the seminars found its way, almost unconsciously, into my philosophy assignments this year: in the way I construct arguments, in the questions I choose to ask, and in the courage to doubt. I shared with my community the cultural and social differences I observed, but even more so the similarities that connect us as humans, regardless of geography.

One of the most powerful moments of the program was my symposium—the visit to an art gallery. Looking back, I realize that even before arriving in New Haven, I had virtually “gotten stuck” in museums, especially those dedicated to art. What I experienced there, however, cannot be replicated through a screen. Sitting in silence in front of a single artwork, trying to sense its energy and harmony, felt almost meditative. The analyses we conducted, followed by debates in which we exchanged perspectives, reminded me how essential it is for me to observe the same phenomenon from multiple angles, to add another variable to my equation.

I could write a novel about the benefits of applying to YYGS, convincing, listing, and arguing. Still, the most honest and effective way to demonstrate the value of this experience is through the change it leaves behind. I do not need to intentionally showcase the knowledge and skills I gained, they are visible precisely because Yale changed me. For me, Yale is not just a name or an institution; it is a verb. It is an act of exchange between me and all the ideas, dilemmas, and ambitions that intertwine within me.

I will remember Yale for a long time. And submitting that application remains, without a doubt, the best decision I have made in my eighteen years of life.

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By Iva Trpeski