Scholar Experience

“Spending a week in the Chautauqua community gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I came in unsure of what to expect, but left with confidence, clarity, and connections that made me feel like I truly belonged.”

“I come away from the trip with amazing connections with wonderful people and a clearer view of what I want and how to get it.”

“I’m especially grateful for the new friendships I made with people from different states and for how quickly we bonded.”

“I did not expect to make real connections but I learned a lot and my perspective is completely changed for the best.”

“The wisdom and love I received this week was invaluable.”

“I came away from each conversation feeling more and more ready for my future.”

“I can't put into words how greatly this experience has impacted my life and how grateful I am to have experienced such a place and such people.”

“The impact of this program was life changing. I’m particularly grateful for the people I met and the opportunities that followed me home.”

“It was like I was poured into, until my cup overflowed. I feel like I can do anything despite the odds!”

“I can't put into words how greatly Chautauqua has impacted my life and how grateful I am to have experienced such a place and such people.”

I walked where porches whispered stories,
old houses leaning like wise friends.

The lake held the sky like a promise, and lectures lit fires behind my eyes.

In the hush of the amphitheater,
and Hall of Philosophy,
I learned that silence listens too.

Ideas soared, unafraid
and so did I.

Among strangers, I shed my armor.
Vulnerability felt like opening a window.
Even the breeze carried culture,
even the stillness, meaning.

I woke early to walk the quiet shore,
footsteps soft against the sleeping earth,
watching the mist curl above the water
like a secret only morning knows.

Scholar Experience

I walked where porches whispered stories,
old houses leaning like wise friends.

The lake held the sky like a promise, and lectures lit fires behind my eyes.

In the hush of the amphitheater,
and Hall of Philosophy,
I learned that silence listens too.

Ideas soared, unafraid
and so did I.

Among strangers, I shed my armor.
Vulnerability felt like opening a window.
Even the breeze carried culture,
even the stillness, meaning.

I woke early to walk the quiet shore,
footsteps soft against the sleeping earth,
watching the mist curl above the water
like a secret only morning knows.

Then came the rhythm of days
events that stretched the mind,
speeches that stitched thought to feeling,
music and meaning in every corner.

And in the in between,
laughter over meals,
long talks under hanging lights,
the warmth of people who felt
like they’d always known me.

We became a found family
not by blood, but by belief,
that learning matters,
that kindness speaks loud,
that being open is brave.

Now the week folds into memory but something stays,
a thought, a feeling,
a self newly seen,
and loved,
by the edge of the lake.

Thank you, Chautauqua!

~ Bawi Thawng, 2025 Summer Scholar at Chautauqua

Scholar Experience

I walked where porches whispered stories, old houses leaning like wise friends.

The lake held the sky like a promise, and lectures lit fires behind my eyes.

In the hush of the amphitheater, and Hall of Philosophy, I learned that silence listens too.

Ideas soared, unafraid and so did I.

Among strangers, I shed my armor. Vulnerability felt like opening a window. Even the breeze carried culture, even the stillness, meaning.

I woke early to walk the quiet shore, footsteps soft against the sleeping earth, watching the mist curl above the water like a secret only morning knows.

Then came the rhythm of days events that stretched the mind, speeches that stitched thought to feeling, music and meaning in every corner.

And in the in between, laughter over meals, long talks under hanging lights, the warmth of people who felt like they’d always known me.

We became a found family not by blood, but by belief, that learning matters, that kindness speaks loud, that being open is brave.

Now the week folds into memory but something stays, a thought, a feeling, a self newly seen, and loved, by the edge of the lake.

Thank you, Chautauqua!

~ Bawi Thawng, 2025 Summer Scholar at Chautauqua

I walked where porches whispered stories,
old houses leaning like wise friends.

In the hush of the amphitheater,
and Hall of Philosophy,
I learned that silence listens too.

Ideas soared, unafraid
and so did I.

Among strangers, I shed my armor.
Vulnerability felt like opening a window.
Even the breeze carried culture,
even the stillness, meaning.

I woke early to walk the quiet shore,
footsteps soft against the sleeping earth,
watching the mist curl above the water
like a secret only morning knows.

Then came the rhythm of days
events that stretched the mind,
speeches that stitched thought to feeling,
music and meaning in every corner.

And in the in between,
laughter over meals,
long talks under hanging lights,
the warmth of people who felt
like they’d always known me.

We became a found family
not by blood, but by belief,
that learning matters,
that kindness speaks loud,
that being open is brave.

Now the week folds into memory but something stays,
a thought, a feeling,
a self newly seen,
and loved,
by the edge of the lake.