Since foundation of GYLA, all participants are encouraged to make contributions to GYLA growth in terms of actively joining different teams such as social media, multimedia production and GYLA Daily. Most of the GYLAers voluntarily collaborate with GYLA Dream Team to produce a lot of news, articles for GYLA Daily and social media, video and audio products in order to share knowledge and information with those young people who cannot participate in GYLA programs. Some of the GYLAers also share their great ideas and thoughts learned from GYLA activities with their peers. This is one of the great ideas shared by Ms Yue Lu, GYLAer from Shandong University. She attended eGYLA 2020 Summer Program.
Ms. Yue Lu, outstanding GYLA participant from Shandong University, August 2020
The words of Dr. Liangrong Zu at the opening ceremony seemed to be just yesterday, but today we have arrived at the last stop of the journey of GYLA. During the three weeks, I got on the train named GYLA, which helped me see the scenery I had never seen before and took me forward on the road of my life. To sum up the changes GYLA brought to me, I think they can be summarized as “three BIGS and one SMALL” “three HIGHS and one LOW”.
Bigger view. At the end of the first week, I wrote in my diary: “GYLA allows me to know what I have never known before, to think about what I have never thought before and to meet people who I have never met before. Thus, my horizon is broadened and many truths are clear to me.” And now I am more convinced about that. A series of lectures, from the youth employment after the COVID-19 pandemic to the UN historical events, from the VUCA era to emotionally intelligent leadership—my knowledge boundary was extended and extended; a bunch of new concepts—“systems thinking” “T-shaped talents” “social enterprise” “decent work” “financial inclusion”—were not only pieces complementing the blank area of my knowledge jigsaw puzzle, but also keys to open the gates of new worlds, helping me think out of the box and step into new fields; and a group of professors composed of academic scholars and political elites allowed us to see the world with the help of their eyes...In the past three weeks, the reach of my sight expanded from my surroundings to the globe, from the present to the history and the future. I felt as if I was lifted by GYLA from the ground to the sky, with the whole world visible in a full view.
Bigger dream. A word from Dr. Zu left a deep impression on me: “Young people should dream big and dream more.” Last summer, I still flinched from dreaming big—after researching the Grand Canal across 5 cities in 4 provinces for over a month and forming a report of nearly 50 thousand words, I put all the plans and achievements on the shelf, just because of the idea that “I am only a student and too young to change something”. However, this summer, GYLA enabled me to encounter the idea of establishing a social enterprise, with which I can put our investigation results into practice and make a practical contribution to the preservation, inheritance, and utilization of the Grand Canal. I started to understand what is the meaning of “empower youth”, the purpose of GYLA—to make young people believe that they can change the world, and know how to change the world.
Bigger heart. During the three weeks, we were constantly educated with a thought: “To be a giver, but not a taker.” In other words, we should not only care about ourselves, but also people in need of our help. I was once told by a professor of mine studying American literature whom I respect very much: “We should always listen to the voice of ‘the other’ under the context of mainstream discourse.” She led us to restore the true image of Native American people through the Indian Captivity Narrative in white American literature; to listen to the retelling of American history from the perspective of African American women in Toni Morrison’s novels; to read The House on Mango Street and get a better view of the Hispanic immigrant community’s life...All these coincide with what GYLA has shown to me about the UN. While we are accepting knowledge at home comfortably, more than 20 million people in the world are suffering from the torture of COVID-19 epidemic, and 68 million young people are under unemployment, not to mention people who are in hunger, poverty and war. And they are exactly the certain groups of people that the UN focuses on. In my eyes, the UN is composed of a group of capable and lucky people who are determined to help those who are incapable and not lucky enough to change their fate. And this, is where the UN attracts me.
Smaller concerns. GYLA helps me to discover endless possibilities of my future, and know more clearly about my development direction. For me, the path to the future is broader and clearer, and I become more tolerant for the mistakes in my life. I begin to be less obsessed with the gain and loss, and less limited to the evaluations and expectations of others. I believe that the road of life ahead is mine and I can surely do well.
Higher platform. Dr. Zu once mentioned the three steps to work in the UN would be: participating in GYLA, internship in international organizations and working in the UN. Even though participating in GYLA is not the only way to go, it is as if a ladder, bringing us closer to the dreams high above.
Higher capacities. In the opening ceremony video, I said that one of my purposes of participating in GYLA is “to improve my all-sided capacities”. And now I think it has helped me completely achieve this goal—being the team leader of Shandong University, taking charge of eGYLA short video contest, arranging the operation of SDU GYLA public account and the work of news team, organizing the production of the course review video, playing an active role in class...Everything I did in GYLA allowed my capacities to get improved in all aspects.
Higher confidence. GYLA provided me with a broad and tolerant platform, enabling me to explore many undiscovered potentials and more strengths of mine, which further improved my self-confidence.
Lower profile. GYLA made me see not only my own merits, but also those of others. The students from various top universities, fellows and teaching faculty—these shining people rendered me more modest and prudent, and urged me to learn from others in a lower profile.
The three-week summer camp is coming to an end, and the 2020 GYLA train driving from reality to dream is about to arrive at the terminus. Thanks to the excellent passengers who traveled with me all the way, to the crew consisting of conscientious fellows and the lecturers, and of course to our conductor Dr. Zu Liangrong. After the train arrives at the station, we will take the courage, mindset and vision it has given us, leave our youthful enthusiasm and beautiful memories, and go on the road to dreams. Thank you, GYLA train, goodbye!
