Sekou, on right, with friends at YYAS-2016 in Ghana
Yale Young African Scholars Program (YYAS) has been the most
indelible experience of my life. It was my first time to have left Liberia to
visit another country for an educational program. I admired so much my
interaction with young, talented and like-minded high school students from the
length and breadth of Africa. Everyone came from different backgrounds with
different experiences and lifestyles, which contributed to the overall diverse nature
of my YYAS experience.
YYAS was in one way a major eye opener for me on global
matters, and on the other hand, a robust introduction to U.S. university preparations.
There were several admissions representatives from some of the most prestigious
universities giving insights on U.S. admissions procedures. As though that was
not enough, the fun associated with all the YYAS activities made it a truly
enjoyable and stress-free experience. I always feel nostalgic whenever I
remember playing the slippers games and running around with people from over 25
African nations, as though they were all my family, like brothers and sisters.
The cultural night on the last evening of YYAS-- where we watched the many
beautiful talents and cultures of every single country represented-- made me
want to refuse returning to my country so soon!
My YYAS experience was the only time I realized that hearing
different opinions from different perspectives can all be right in given
circumstances. The discussion sections were an awesome time to exercise my
intellectual muscles. Everyone offered different views about issues, each one
providing a specific suggestion to addressing a particular challenge. When all
combined together, this method can be a powerful solution to solve any problem
on earth.
The workshop sections were a unique experience where I
drafted for the first time my statement of purpose and shared it with my
colleagues from South Africa, Ethiopia, Botswana, and Tanzania. I also learned
a lot about the U.S. Common Application, letters of recommendation, interviews
and other university application procedures. Though I left YYAS more than five
months ago, I feel like I’m still at YYAS every single day because of the
network of amazing, everlasting friends I made during the program, whom I now
interact with on the Alumni Network Facebook group and on various social media
platforms.
Finally, the YYAS mentorship program connected me to
inspirational figures who are guiding me on a daily basis and will continue to
serve as my mentors throughout my life. In total, I would describe YYAS as a one-week
transformative journey-- a journey that marked my transition from intellectual
childhood to an adult understanding of global mindsets, an appreciation of
diversity and to a powerful network for my educational advancement.
Sekou Jabateh, Liberia
