What Do You Need?

The Point of the Question
I was curious. In light of national political developments last January, what did our 5 enterprising undergraduate interns feel like they needed? Their responses to my open-ended question included some common themes: guidance, clarity, and reassurance. The purpose of the inquiry, however, wasn’t to elicit definitive answers, but rather to introduce this as mantra for ongoing contemplation. College taught me more about the world than it did about myself and my possible place in it. There should be more support for learning about these topics. Developing the capacity to more adeptly navigate them has been fundamental to my professional development. Outside of a crisis, I’m often surprised by how difficult it can be for others and myself to identify our needs. Constant activity can divorce us from the self-reflection that can be a powerful guide, particularly during tumultuous times. Sustainability challenges are inherently complex and demanding, requiring emotional, creative and intellectual resilience. Reading the interns' responses, as well as listening to those of my Foresight colleagues, has helped me triangulate the sources of my fortitude and, hopefully, empowered me to better support my staff members' journeys.