Testimonials

2009 Scholars

"A lot of programs bill themselves as life changing, but few live up to it…You can't help but be a different person when you return home. I have come out of YTI knowing what makes a meaningful, honest community, and how to promote that type of relationship in my groups of friends. I am better able to challenge societal norms and have truly deep experiences and conversations with people I barely know. Not to mention that YTI helped me finally decide that I want to go to Divinity School. :)" ~ Kristian (Chattanooga, TN)

"I think the most important aspect of YTI is the community. The mentors, exploratory groups leaders, and other staffers made me feel at home from Day 1. Not only have I gained life-long friends, but I feel like I've gained a family as well. Also, YTI has led me to think about theological and social issues in ways I never considered before. I was excited to go to class and plenary every morning; YTI made me excited about learning. I can honestly say that YTI was the most enriching three weeks of my life."
~ Danube (Peachtree City, GA)

"The three weeks I spent at YTI shaped my life in a way that nothing else has…YTI rekindled my faith, helped me to find a passion, and helped me to find a family…At YTI and now that I am home, I have a passion and fire about my faith that I have never had before; furthermore, I am doing things like praying and reading the Bible that I simply didn't do before. This has been fantastic. Secondly, YTI helped me find my passion: interfaith and interracial issues. I have always been interested in these issues, but YTI showed me that it is something that I truly want to pursue. Also, YTI put me around kids who have a similar passion. It is so nice not to have to do this on my own. Finally, and most importantly to me, YTI helped me to build friendships and relationships that will last through time and space…In short, YTI put people around me that challenged me but loved me so much at the same time…YTI was the best experience of my life…" ~ Ashton (Atlanta, GA)

"YTI was one of the best experiences of my life. The classes challenged me, the field trips enlightened me, and the activities were amazingly fun. But more importantly than any of that, for me at least, was the community we built at YTI. I have never had the opportunity to live and learn with a faith community of other people my age. In doing so, I saw God through others, through their hope, their dance, their poetry, their sermons, their singing, and just the way they lived their lives. Never have I seen people with such enthusiasm for faith and for life. And never have I met people who I felt loved me for me and would support me through anything, having only known me a matter of weeks. I didn't just make friends; I made a family. It was the first camp I have ever been to that I was truly sad to leave on the last day. I cannot say how glad I am that I chose to go to YTI. God was in everyone there, and thus He became a greater part of me." ~ Caitlin (Braintree, MA)

"YTI gave me the opportunity to explore not only my particular faith and position as a part of the Episcopal church, but also the faiths of other Christians and other religions. It instilled a passion for making people realize the similarities between us all and showing the power we hold when we work together. It also gave me the intellectual power to express my own theological standpoints and vocabulary to explain to others how I feel and why it's important that they hear me." ~ Erin (Sanger, TX)

"YTI is the best experience of my life…At YTI, you are allowed to be yourself and allowed to have your own opinions and experience things completely out of your comfort zone but still feel safe. It challenges you and makes you grow and you'll never be the same." ~ Bailee (Atlanta, GA)

Are you a YTI Alum? We would love to hear what you have to say! Please drop us a line at yti@emory.edu. Please include your name, the year you attended, and how we can get in touch with you.