The weekend saw ORA’s Yale campus wave its final participants of Summer 2019 goodbye, at the end of a brilliant second session of the season. It was with heavy hearts that the participants left New Haven, after two sun-kissed weeks in Connecticut. Despite a few tears, the experience has been wonderful for them as well as the staff, and lasting friendships and memories have been made.
A real mix of lessons have been taught during the session, as the participants have delved deep into a range of topics. From their first introductory classes, all the way through to detailed theory and hands-on practical sessions, the change in their understanding is remarkable, especially in such a short space of time. That is thanks, largely, to their unrelenting work ethic, as they plugged away both in and out of class to make sure that they stayed on top of their projects.
The participants have also been able to pick up insights into all sorts of other interesting fields, through a series of enlightening talks and masterclasses. These have included a lecture on Neuroscience, a guided tour of Yale’s Peabody Museum, and a talk from some of the staff about their experience in higher education. These activities have enabled the participants to explore areas outside of those which they are studying, and have proved fascinating.
A number of exciting excursions have also taken place, as the participants were able to build on their academic work by seeing some of the amazing places around campus. On the middle weekend, they visited New York City and spent a day in awe of ‘The Big Apple’. Other outings have included visits to art galleries, escape rooms and bowling alleys, ensuring that everyone had fun and absorbed some of the culture as well as their academic work.
These trips have all helped to enhance what was already a great vibe on campus, with everyone smiling and laughing almost non-stop. This was the case from day one, as the participants began making friends right from the moment they arrived. Socialising most evenings has helped as well, with students playing card games or basketball, doing homework together, or even just chatting. Whatever the activity, everyone has come together brilliantly and it has made for a very happy session!
The fortnight ended with a fantastic graduation celebration, as the participants basked in the joy of having successfully navigated their way through the programme. Everyone dressed up smart and the participants were all showered in applause as they collected their awards. The party which followed was another joyous occasion, as an impromptu karaoke session broke out!
As they travelled from New Haven back to their homes all over the world, the participants may have been feeling a little sorrowful that the experience is over. But overall, they will look back fondly and enjoy not only the friendships and the memories they have gained, but also the incredible experiences they had and the lessons that they learned. A fantastic time on campus has given them so much, and they will doubtless call on it in the future.