Friday of week two could only mean one thing for our Yale participants: Graduation! The evening was dedicated to their achievements, with a ceremony and a meal in town to commemorate their feat.

The morning was dedicated to their final few lessons, as the participants wound down the session with some fairly casual classes. Everyone was so excited for the evening that their teachers dedicated the time to some more fun learning exercises. It was also a good chance for the teachers and participants to pay tribute to each other after a massively successful programme.

The participants spent the afternoon getting ready and touring New Haven for the last time – searching for the one ice cream vendor they had yet to visit! When the time finally came, everyone arrived looking their smartest and settled down for the ceremony.

Emotions were running high during the opening speeches, and there were a few early tears, but mostly everyone was filled with joy as they prepared to receive their awards. The participants have worked incredibly hard, and that made the spoils all the sweeter as they revelled in their triumph.

A post-ceremony meal in town gave everyone a chance to spend quality time with their new friends. As well as the delicious food, singing and dancing were also on the menu as an impromptu karaoke/dancing contest broke out. The session has come to a close, but the final evening captured the happy atmosphere that has made it so special, and the participants will take those memories home with them.