Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi, I am Arpon, a rising senior at Jashore Government City College, Bangladesh. I am a tech enthusiast with diverse interests. My core interest lies in computer science, but I have been keen to immerse myself in a variety of fields.

What Summer Programs did you participate in? 

As a high school student, I found summer programs to be intellectually rewarding and totally worth my time. That's why I continuously strived to involve myself in likewise activities. Some of the memorable summer programs I did were the Yale Young Global Scholars, LaunchX, the Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students (currently known as QSYS), and more.

Yale Young Global Scholars

Could you tell us more about the Yale Young Global Scholars program, why did you choose this program? 

I knew ahead of time that YYGS is great to explore my academic interests and have a clear understanding of what I want to do in the future. Also, I personally loved the Yale Young Global Scholars summer program because of the diverse experience the program offers. Moreover, as I wanted to immerse myself in a variety of fields, I chose to attend the Solving Global Challenges session due to the interdisciplinary aspect of this session. Another aspect of YYGS that drew me in was the vibrant community of scholars who brings together unique perspectives, which I found to be a main attraction of the program, alongside attending lectures from professors at Yale University.

What was a typical day in your program?

In simple words, a typical day at YYGS was jampacked with different activities. Most classes had some reading requirements. So, some of my time before hopping into the zoom classes were focused on going through the reading materials I was provided with by my course instructor. As the program is only 2 weeks, there's a lot they want students to learn every day. I had the chance to experience a vast amount of opportunities, such as attending discussion groups, working on my capstone project, and having fun with my peers during family time.

How would you describe your overall experience? 

It was mesmerizing and exciting to immerse myself in the tight-knit community at YYGS. I believe that the diverse students that YYGS brings together make the program simply much more interesting and worthwhile. Classes were great, but the community was naturally the best. At YYGS, I had the chance to study things as diverse as gene editing to topics like 'The Real Word of Secrets & Spies'. Another exciting part is that I got to design my own learning experience at YYGS by choosing the classes I found meaningful. So in my case, I chose as many diverse topics as I could, which exposed me to new ideas and questions. My worldview evolved continuously. Furthermore, through the discussion groups at YYGS, you not only learn about your inner voice better but also learn to appreciate the differences in people of diverse backgrounds. 

What was the most memorable part of it? 

Family time was the most memorable part of YYGS (no argument!). We not only had some serious discussions, shared our thoughts, and explored what we've learned but also involved ourselves in some exciting team bonding games.

LaunchX

Now let's talk about LaunchX program; why did you choose the LaunchX program? 

Due to my interest in entrepreneurship, I knew I wanted to participate in LaunchX from the start due. Also I knew that it is a very demanding course. So, I was ready to experience some challenges. At the same time, this is a unique opportunity that many high school kids are unable to experience, and the alumni network of LaunchX is just unparalleled. Additionally, I wanted to prepare myself for the rigor of college while also seeing firsthand what it means to be an entrepreneur. That's why I wanted to use this summer to explore the field of economics through LaunchX and hear from world-renowned scholars. Within the five weeks of LaunchX, I convinced myself that I want to work on my startup in the future and learned what to do in the seeding phase of my startup. I was also excited to meet peers eager to learn and challenge themselves. I am grateful to have chosen this program as a high school student and astonished at how much I have learned.

What was a typical day in your program?

A typical day at LaunchX is mostly filled with activities, lectures, and team meetings. Because of the aftereffects of the pandemic, the program was held online. While I would have preferred to have in-person interactions, I still enjoyed the program and appreciated that LaunchX did everything possible to swiftly switch to virtual mode and to allow me to participate. The faculty and staff worked hard to ensure that students would still enjoy their LaunchX experience online. Although this program was a big time commitment, there were classes throughout the day that allowed for study breaks. One thing to note is that at LaunchX you'll have to go through hours of lectures, discussion groups, and simulations. Thus it might get exhausting at some point, but when you put your experience into work, you will be surprised looking at how much you've grown.

How would you describe your overall experience?

LaunchX was a fantastic opportunity for me to network with other entrepreneurs and broaden my entrepreneurial experience. The program has assisted me in developing my own business and has equipped me with many valuable skills that are required to effectively launch a startup. I was also fortunate to build acquaintances with such a fun, energetic cohort that made me laugh so many times during lessons. LaunchX is an incredible community formed by thoughtful professors and interns who are easy to approach and always eager to assist us when we have a question. 

What was the most memorable part of it? 

It's difficult to pick just one from the numerous components of the program. But I recall "AHA!" moments when I was utterly stunned by newfound insights. Also, I appreciated how motivated everyone in the program was and how they continuously inspired you to pursue your ideas and take risks.

What advice would you give to students looking for summer programs?

Definitely participate in summer programs! It's a great way to spend your summer. Similar to how we seek our fit while applying to universities, I would strongly recommend looking for a summer program where you can see yourself thriving and being challenged continuously. If possible, contact former participants of the summer programs you intend to apply to and ask them what they liked most about the program.