YJA Convention Feedback from Detroit Youth
“YJA was a swell time. I met new people. I made CONNECTIONS (and yes the all caps are necessary). I met a whole variety of people that I would otherwise have never met. It broadened my horizons, and shifted my paradigm on myself and on what being a Jain means. YJA was truly life impacting I just hope I can make it to the next one.” - Neal M. Shah, 18 of Plymouth, MI as Detroit Youth Group (JOY) President.
“The 2008 Young Jains of America Convention in Lincolnshire, IL was a life-changing experience for me. I went to informative sessions, ate some great food, and ‘created’ myself as a person. However, the best part of YJA, I would have to say, was meeting new people from across the country and sharing our lives with each other. The sessions were inspiring and enhanced my connection with the Jain Way of Life and the social events were amazing to say the least. If anything, I learned new Garba/Dandiya Raas steps and Bhangra dance moves! The rest of my life will be impacted by the memories I had at YJA and the friends I met will never be forgotten. Overall, YJA 2008 was a weekend I will never forget and I am already looking forward to the next convention in 2010.” – Anshul Mehta, 16 of Ann Arbor, MI, as a speaker and JOY member.
“This was my first YJA convention and I didn’t know what to expect. I thought that it would just be a bunch of boring Jain kids at a convention where we learned about Jainism. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The people there were really cool and I attended some interesting sessions about different issues in life. Overall, it was a great experience and I hope to go to the next convention.” – Vishal Mehta, 15 of Ann Arbor, MI, as a speaker and JOY member.
“The YJA Convention 2008 was a great experience! The Chicago team and the board managed the event smoothly and efficiently. The sessions were new and engaging, the food was fantastic, and the nightly events kept everyone entertained. But by far the best part of this convention, or any convention, was the interesting people I met, and the new friends I’ve made.” – Sonali R. Shah of Novi, MI and student at the University of Michigan
“The 2008 YJA Convention in Chicago was a phenomenal experience. Although it was very different from what I imagined it to be, it was that way for the better. I met a ton of people, made a lot of friends, and learned a lot more about Jains my age. I had many memories this July, and I’m really looking forward to future conventions.” – Neil R. Shah of Sterling Heights, MI as a JOY Board Member.
“The 2008 YJA Convention in Chicago was an experience I will never forget. I met Jains from all around the country, and I was surprised at how similar they were to me and my friends. The carnival was very fun, especially the dance at the end. The very last day was the best, because it was formal and everyone was really close to each other, because it was the last day of the convention. Because of this convention, I am eager to go to the JAINA convention next year, and can hardly wait for the YJA 2010 Convention. I learned a lot of new things about Jainism that I never knew before, and I feel that YJA has helped me connect better to the Jain community here in Detroit.”
- Neal Gandhi of Sterling Heights, MI as a JOY Board Member
“YJA was such a great experience for me because I was able to gain a much better understanding of the actual purposes and methods of practicing and following Jainism. At this four day convention, I was able to attend numerous lectures, sessions, and was able to talk to and learn from very learned scholars about our way of life. While doing this, I was able to meet and have a great time with other Young Jains from across the US. I came back feeling more educated about my way of life, as well as more connected to people who feel the same.” – Paras Vakharia of Rochester Hills, MI and student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy
“This is the third time I have attended a YJA Convention, and every time, it gets even better. I learn something new about Jainism at each convention, and another perspective about the philosophy is introduced in a way I never thought of before; almost an interesting and ironic way to apply/experience Anekantvaad. The sessions are enlightening to some extent- I was able to be in the presence of Gurudev Chitrabhavnuji and the Houston Samanijis in small groups and have some questions answered. In addition, the very core of non-violence was fostered amongst the attendees, through sessions about veganism, especially by the keynote speaker, Dr. Will Tuttle. The sessions also teach ways to apply Jainism practically to our lives as students in college were explained. The effort put in by the YJA Board and volunteers was phenomenal. The food was great and even tasty vegan pizza was served! Meeting Jain people all different ages and all different backgrounds was a great learning experience since it was eye-opening and motivating to be able to share life experiences. If maintained, some of the friendly relationships developed can turn into life-long friendships. For instance, I met my best friend 4 years ago at the YJA 2004 Convention.” – Sonali Vakharia of Rochester, MI and student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy
“Before YJA, I expected the planning and sessions to be really good, but I thought that most of the attendees would not really be interested in Jainism. My prediction about the planning was correct: there weren’t any major problems and the food was fine. Most of the sessions were interesting, and I liked that we were not forced to go to the sessions on our name tags. I liked the Garba Night and the Mela, although the Dance Fusion Competition would have been better if we were allowed to see the fireworks. My prediction about the attendees was partially correct, but even the attendees who were not really interested were not disruption and still participated, leading to some interesting debates. Except for a few virtually unavoidable problems, everything in the convention went well.” – Shan Kothari of Ann Arbor, MI
“This was my first YJA Convention, so I did not entirely know what to expect aside from comments about previous year’s conventions. It was a good social experience and I really bonded with my roommates. Unfortunately, many of the groups there were very ‘cliquey’ and would only stick with those they knew. Many of the sessions were informative, but others were redundant with information I already knew. Otherwise, it was a good time. Please order more small t-shirts next time!” – Monika Kothari of Ann Arbor, MI
About Jain Diaries
Jain Diaries is a blog by YJA about Peace, Compassion, and having a good time. Written and edited by youth just like you. Enjoy!