"What a wonderful pit stop. Kicking off a new year, the YYP retreat is an opportune time to reflect on the past year or years, and investigate into how the next years of your life can be lived to their fullest potential. For me, these experiences are an opportune time for discovery, observation, resolution and also collective rest."

"The last Young Professionals Week I was on in 2011 opened yet more vistas of realisation and opportunity to me. I found greater acceptance of all things and a sense of the limitlessness within myself. The material for group discussions was relevant, engaging and just the right amount. The facilitators and fellow participants were fun and exciting to be with. Every young person should taste the fruits of these Weeks and this will enrich and bring out everything unique about them."

"The young professional retreat was one of the more defining events of my life during the past five years. I went to the retreat uncertain about my role in the world. This question has since been clarified and the retreat was a key factor in this. It feels great to wake up each day knowing what it is you need to do; and since having discovered this a whole lot of fantastic and talented people (wishing to be involved in the vision that was revealed) have come into my life. Together we are making things happen - by each contributing that which is unique in us. There is deep satisfaction in this. The retreat takes you out on a limb, but that is where the best fruit is."

“For about the first half, I wanted to leave. It was too challenging, too confronting and I thought how much easier it would have been to walk out of Mahratta’s gates and hide behind all the things which I so easily hide behind in the ‘real world’. But I opened my eyes to the invaluable insights reflection can bring and I decided to stay. I found strength in myself and I saw the unconditional support of the perpetual human spirit within everyone around me.

Did it change my world, as the marketing material suggested it would? I can’t say it radically changed my life but it gave me a glimpse into what I was capable of. It gave me the tools to walk away and embrace those things behind the curtain – insecurities which seem to often permeate my life at the most inopportune moments. It gave me the ammo to get on with it; to have faith that what I’m doing with my life is right as long as I’m true to myself. And good news is, I have been true to myself for the past few months - I am near close to finishing the first draft of a novel. I’m still mostly stuck in my ways but I’m closer than I’ve ever been to finding true happiness and I know the retreat had something to do with that.

So, I say thanks for giving me the opportunity and I look forward to seeing you all again. To those I’m yet to meet, I look forward to getting you to know you in January 2012.”

"The YYP retreat provided me with further confidence and clarity of who I am and what I want to do with my life. I must add- uniquely valuable was the opportunity to explore my profession/passion with a great circle of people and lead by a prominent mentor in the field. This grounding has been assuring and a great aid to helping me make a difference in an area I'm excited about."