This Tuesday I started officially working for Cambridge-based Better Future Project, a non-profit working to build a grassroots movement to confront the climate crisis. Having worked with the organization regularly on a volunteer basis, I had a solid idea what to expect. This week was mostly very transitional, moving from the schedule I had before this to the one I have now, and figuring out how to do that efficiently. I struggle a little with commuting, as the office can take a while to get to on public transit, and some of my work is outside of the office, meaning I spend a fair amount of time traveling. Luckily I am quickly picking up the best times and routes to travel.
I feel excited by the level of autonomy I feel my internship provides me with. I spent time Thursday night leading a conversation with a group of high schoolers from around Massachusetts, thinking of ways they wanted to bring divestment campaigns to their schools. I felt we could go anywhere with the ideas we had. There was a lot of knowledge and excitement in that room, and knowing I could support that through my work was refreshing.
I also spent a few hours this week planning with a coordinator who has been working on the State Divestment Campaign, a project I helped with over the summer. We talked about ways we could give young people more visibility and power in this campaign, which tied in with the group I had talked with on Thursday. We also thought about the idea of creating a video of young people telling their stories and why climate action was important to them.
Overall, I'm leaving this week feeling really excited about the next few months. I've also spent some time reflecting on the autonomy high schoolers are given over themselves and the things they want to do. When teenagers want to do something, adults, especially adults interested or passionate about the topic, are quick to provide help. But I think sometimes that help can turn into the opposite- it allows teenagers to rely on adult influence and ideas, instead of forcing them to step up to do incredible things. I think teenagers have a lot more potential than they are given credit for, and I wonder if adults involved in their interests took an intentional step back, what would happen? I think it's especially relevant in issues of climate change. This is an issue that has been unresolved for quite some time, and I think youth can provide a fresh perspective- if they are given the space to work on it.
Just thoughts,
Kerry
I feel excited by the level of autonomy I feel my internship provides me with. I spent time Thursday night leading a conversation with a group of high schoolers from around Massachusetts, thinking of ways they wanted to bring divestment campaigns to their schools. I felt we could go anywhere with the ideas we had. There was a lot of knowledge and excitement in that room, and knowing I could support that through my work was refreshing.
I also spent a few hours this week planning with a coordinator who has been working on the State Divestment Campaign, a project I helped with over the summer. We talked about ways we could give young people more visibility and power in this campaign, which tied in with the group I had talked with on Thursday. We also thought about the idea of creating a video of young people telling their stories and why climate action was important to them.
Overall, I'm leaving this week feeling really excited about the next few months. I've also spent some time reflecting on the autonomy high schoolers are given over themselves and the things they want to do. When teenagers want to do something, adults, especially adults interested or passionate about the topic, are quick to provide help. But I think sometimes that help can turn into the opposite- it allows teenagers to rely on adult influence and ideas, instead of forcing them to step up to do incredible things. I think teenagers have a lot more potential than they are given credit for, and I wonder if adults involved in their interests took an intentional step back, what would happen? I think it's especially relevant in issues of climate change. This is an issue that has been unresolved for quite some time, and I think youth can provide a fresh perspective- if they are given the space to work on it.
Just thoughts,
Kerry