The Game Only Works If Both Sides Are Playing By the Rules

We started today, our second full day of the trip, with our interview with Ray Suarez. This has been the interview I’ve been anticipating since we started researching for him. It started when I read his book to prepare better for this interview, and I was really inspired by it.

During our interview he gave us the hard truth, not sugar coated or lightly touched on. He went into great depth and explained everything he said. I felt like I fully understood what he said. My favorite part of what he said was about our government. As a young person, my main worry is what’s going to be left of the government when I’m older. A lot of people tell me that we are the hope, but it just feels like they don’t acknowledge what’s being left to us. However, he was serious with us, and he told us that our government no longer plays by the rules set by the Constitution, and there might not be a lot left for us. It was really refreshing to hear this kind of honesty. My favorite quote from him about the government right now is that “The game only works if both sides are playing by the rules.”

-Lennon Smith

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On the “Untruth” Business

I am very thankful for Ray Suarez’s point of view and knowledge of politics. He is very straightforward with his opinions, and he explained what is happening in our current government in such a clear way that made it possible for me to understand. 

For example, he talked about how the president has committed crimes yet still was re-elected, and he explained to us how this became possible. He said that the president can only get away with crimes because the supreme court has ruled that everything he does in office is an official action, so he can’t be charged with anything that he does in office. Mr. Suarez also explained that nobody in this country has the guts to stand up to him, which means that he can break as many rules as he wants, and nobody is going to stop him. He discussed these terrible things in such a straightforward way that I could wrap my head around it all, so that I can stop wondering about what is happening and start making moves towards helping to fix the problem.

Mr. Suarez also spoke a lot about misinformation in the news. He stated that the media is turning into a “untruth business,” and some of the large news companies are spreading lies in news stories. After he spoke about this issue, I asked him where we should get our information and what media we can trust. He said that as long as you get your information from many different sources, you will likely get something close to the truth. I really appreciate this insight, especially from an accomplished reporter and writer. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this interview and am very thankful for the opinions, insight, and knowledge that he shared with us today.

-Nikowa D’Costa Hemp

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Cheering When Your Country Is Right; Speaking Up When Your Country Is Wrong

Today we interviewed Ray Suarez. He described politics and everything that is going on in our government at the moment very clearly. It amazes and frightens me what is going on right now. He talked about what our greatest threat to democracy is and said, “Our greatest threat to our democracy is strong men who think that when you’re high up in office the rules don’t apply to you.” This is relevant to our administration today, because the president has used his power to do what he wants, and nobody in government has the guts to confront him and do something about it. 

Our current administration knows this and does what it pleases simply because it can. Mr. Suarez said, “The rules of the game only apply if all the people on the field recognize the rules.” When these rules are not recognized, the system falls apart, and no one really knows what to do about it. That’s how the current administration is getting away with crimes and unconstitutional acts. I’m glad he talked about these things. It has opened my mind and made me more aware of the dire situation in our country right now.

Another important thing that he said is that many people no longer know how to exhibit patriotism, which according to Mr. Suarez involves “cheering for your country when it is right, and speaking up when your country is wrong.” I think we need this concept of patriotism today, since our country is not doing well, and we don’t have enough people speaking up about what is wrong. I thank Ray Suarez for enlightening me and for being so “real” with us.

-Mateo Borrego

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If We Forget What They Stood For, We Risk Losing What They Built

Ray Suarez shared some honest thoughts about where we are now as a country. He spoke about how people act and what has changed regarding the law, the truth, and how we treat each other.

He said that today when someone says, “I think you’re wrong,” they often conclude that “because you are wrong, you are bad.” Political discussion is no longer about ideas but about who you are as a person, which makes it harder to talk, learn, or change. Mr. Suarez also spoke about how more people now say they don’t need to follow the rules, because “the rules are what got us into this mess.” They often think that the old ways have failed us, so why follow them? However, he warned that this kind of thinking is risky and a big shift from the tradition of “following the rules.” He also stated that people no longer trust what news media report. Clear facts are questioned, and lies are louder. The “untruth business,” as he calls it, is growing fast and strong. Mr. Suarez also pointed out that some people now treat rules as if they’re just habits and not something that holds us together. While voters once picked their leaders, leaders now try to pick their voters, flipping democracy on its head. To really know someone, he said, you must listen to people who are made to feel safe and calm. In this loud and tense time, that’s a lesson we need more than ever. Mr. Suarez reminds us that when we turn from truth, ignore the rules, and stop trusting each other, we’re not just changing the present, but we’re turning our backs on the past. We betray the history of those who worked, hoped, and fought for a better way. 

If we forget what they stood for, we risk losing what they built.

-Gage Saul

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A Moment of Supreme Danger

I think we interviewed Ray Suarez at the perfect time. He is a wealth of information, without affiliation to any news organization. He was very candid about what he thinks is happening in politics during this unique time.

He described the U.S. government today as like a game where not all the players feel the need to play by the rules. Using frightening examples, he described at length how the president and his administration continually push the limits to what they can get away with. Deciding that they don’t need to play by the rules has unfortunately shown that “you can prosper without playing by the rules.” He did not sugarcoat his opinions, but candidly stated that although he is not prone to hyperbole, he thinks we are in “a moment of supreme danger.” 

When asked about what he thinks patriotism is, he responded by saying that patriotism involves recognizing the importance of disagreement and compromise. However, we no longer simply have disagreements, but have shifted from saying “I think you’re wrong” to “I think you’re wrong, and therefore you are bad.” This shift leads to a “winner takes all” kind of government: “Our muscles of civic engagement are atrophying because of a ‘winner takes all attitude’ … Anointing a strongman, and letting him do whatever he wants, [is] flirting with a ‘winner takes all’ kind of government.’” We are moving dangerously close to an authoritarian government, and we have become “flippant about walking into it.” 

I appreciate how candid he is and that he did not patronize us by saying things like “You all are the future” or “Just vote!” He acknowledged there are bigger issues at hand, and there isn’t an obvious solution to our problems yet. It is a refreshing way to discuss politics, and it is more productive than hopeful commentary or hopeless despair, neither of which offers a solution or a direction forward.

-Lucy Yen

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We Don’t Have Political Problems; We Have Spiritual Problems with Political Consequences

Wow. The only word I can use is “wow.” Reginald Hubbard gave both the craziest and most beautiful interview I have ever experienced. When doing research on Reginald, I was a little confused about his main focus.

This changed when I found his Instagram, where he posts his ideas and stories about how he found mindfulness and how he shares it with others. I was really curious to see how he is in person. When he arrived, I was surprised at how honest he was with us right from the start. We openly stated that he had had a stroke, and I think his openness motivated me to be honest and real with my questions.

 Reggie talked a lot about how heartbreak should be “normalized,” and I couldn’t agree more. We all place ourselves under great pressure and shame for feeling emotions, because we may not be comfortable with them, but how much better of a world would we have if we were all honest with each other and ourselves? It would be incredible. Similarly, he said that our world doesn’t have political problems; instead, we have spiritual problems with political consequences. We all have our own pain, but too often we are told to suppress it and not reveal it, which leads to social and political problems, such as hatred towards other groups of people. How would our politicians be today if they truly expressed their emotions and if it were normal for everyone to share what was happening for them? There would likely be much less hatred expressed by so many politicians if they too didn’t feel shame about their pain and their heartbreaks.

There isn’t truly a political problem; we have to look at the root cause of political problems: spiritual problems.

-Cora Kayne

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Life Is ”Both … And,” Not “Either … Or”

We have had three interviews so far, and the self-proclaimed “Bad Boy of Yoga,” Reginald Hubbard, is and likely will remain my favorite interviewee.

It was incredible to listen to such an educated, down to earth, wise, and intelligent man open my mind to information and perspectives I hadn’t even begun to consider before. It was a truly transformative experience. I can’t underscore it enough, and to think that it happened in only an hour and half is crazy. My favorite line of his: “So many people think of heartbreak as the end of the story. I see it as only the beginning.” This is a beautiful thing to say. To think that a gut-wrenching goodbye can be seen as something positive is quite foreign to me. My way of viewing things up to now has been that bad things are something that you just have to endure if you can. Maybe you come out of it, and maybe you don’t. Even if you survive, you might still be worse off for it. Reginald calls this “either … or” thinking. However, he argues, life is really “both … and.” I can experience the worst time of my life, and it is only my mindset that keeps me from having a positively transformative experience as well. I can choose not to open myself up to anyone again after having my heart broken, or I can choose to see the beauty in heartbreak as well. I do not just have to be miserable; I can be happy at the same time. I can be crying my eyes out over having lost a loved one and still take time to experience the beauty of a butterfly in flight. There can be sadness and happiness; something can be disgusting and charming.

I want never to forget this interview. With hate so prevalent in this world, I need to know that love can exist right beside it, and love can then have the final word.

-Eli Moody

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Just Because Something Is Bad Doesn’t Mean It’s Bad for You

Our interview with Reginald Hubbard is the highlight of my week so far, and I don’t think that will change. We began with a meditation practice to calm ourselves and focus in peace and not be overwhelmed by our thoughts. He talked about so many things, all of which had me on the edge of my seat, eager to hear what he was going to say next.

Reginald is a strong man who knows his worth and is willing to stand up for himself to anybody who might seek to diminish him. I asked him how he handles being in a place where people don’t want him, as he is African American, educated, and unafraid to say what he thinks and feels. He stated that “I don’t fear them,” because “fear is all they have,” and others “can only control you if you fear them.” I find this idea incredibly powerful, because it’s true. Now I believe that when you learn not to fear people who don’t value you, you are really in your own league and can‘t be hurt by them.

Reginald made so many meaningful statements that inspire me that I can’t talk about them all in this blog post. “Just because something is bad doesn’t mean it’s bad for you, and just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s good for you.” I am really inspired by this statement because even when bad things happen to you that bring you down, they can be part of a journey to something better. I think this idea will sit with me for the rest of my life. “Heartbreak isn’t the end of the story; it’s just the beginning.” This statement also hit me really hard. I have gone through heartbreak many times in my life. Hearing him talk about how even in terrible times I can still look at the good in life really spoke to me deep in my soul, and I thank Reggie so much for speaking with us today and opening my eyes to so much. Finally, “You can’t get past healing; you have to go through it.” This statement made me realize that I can’t just bottle things up and hide my feelings. I need to “go through” and live experiences so I can truly heal.

I want to say thank you to Reggie from the bottom of my soul, and I recommend checking him out online, because he’s amazing.

-Mateo Borrego

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If We Avoid the Hard Stuff, We Don’t Deserve to Grow

It is extremely difficult for me to put into words the intense energy in the room with us during our interview with Reggie Hubbard. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure wasn’t the level of vulnerability, sincerity, profoundness, relatability, and wisdom with which he greeted us. I was in awe with everything that came out of this man’s mouth. I could never do justice to any of the concepts and lessons he gifted us with, but I will do my best to put some of them into words. Practically every single sentence he spoke was quotable, and I scrambled to write it all down because I knew it was life-changing material. I will share just a few of my many takeaways from our conversation.

The first thing that became evident about Reggie is his fearlessness and his ability to know his own worth and call other people out who might belittle him. As a stroke survivor, he came back from being inches from death and realized that he wasn’t going to let anyone stand on his words or push him around. He realizes that the only power that the people who are doing terrible things in our country right now hold is fear. “If I’m not afraid of you, you have no power over me.” He also stated that truth always wins, but it has to be spoken. He stated further that we need to recognize that something sucks when it sucks, but then we must ask ourselves, “What doesn’t suck?” Alongside the bad there is almost always good. His views on what is happening in our country give me hope by helping to take power away from those people who scare me and helping me trust that the truth will win if we are unafraid to speak it.

Another important topic in the interview was heartbreak. He explained that heartbreak is the beginning of a story, not the end, and that heartbreak and emotions are what make the good parts of life beautiful: “Life is not either-or; It’s both-and … life is both joys and sorrows.” He emphasized giving yourself permission to feel what you feel, because feelings exist to be recognized. We have to feel our emotions, and we have to talk about them. “If we avoid the hard stuff, we don’t deserve to grow.” We have to make space for heartbreak and pain, and when we encounter them, we have to exercise discernment, using our wisdom to determine the best course forward. Reggie’s stroke taught him to find joy in the simplest things, like walking and breathing the fresh air outside. I will always remember something said: “Every time you feel as though nothing is going right, listen to the birds sing.” 

There are many more things from our interview with Reggie that I wish I could share, and I hope that I can carry them with me and remember the feeling in the room when we spoke with him. I will also take with me the simple and unique form of meditation using sound bowls that he guided us through. It was beautiful and unlike any “mindfulness” practice I’d encountered before, and it was a crucial part of his incredible stroke recovery. I could feel the impact of Reggie’s words on every single person in the room, and I could tell that he is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human to meet. In a time when I’ve been feeling incredibly scared, angry, confused, and unsure of the future, I am so grateful to speak with thoughtful leaders like Reggie, whose work is giving me a new feeling: hope.

-Rosemary Konviser

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On Rethinking Everything

The Reginald Hubbard interview made me rethink everything that is currently going on in my life.

The first question I asked him was about grief and how we need to help people who are going through hard times. The first example he brought up was suicide and how more than ever young people are killing themselves, and he spoke about how we can help others in times of need. That was the perfect response, since it is the exact issue I was thinking about when I wrote the question. I thought about my friend Kalden and what I could have done differently that could have maybe changed his mind and saved his life. However, there is no way we can know that things would have been different if I had said something, and this is exactly what I needed to hear. Honestly, his words are life-changing for me. 

In an answer to a different question he talked about his stroke and how having a near-death experience has changed his life and point of view. This idea made me rethink everything about my dad. Last year, my dad, who has an autoimmune disease, went to Mexico and came back with bacterial pneumonia. His body was not equipped to fight it, and he said himself that he was “inches away” from death. I haven’t talked much to my dad, or anyone else, about this event because neither of us is good at talking about emotions and what is going on in our lives. I also didn’t want to talk to him about it because ever since he recovered we have not been getting along very well at all. After listening to Reggie talk about his near-death experience, I realize both what my dad has been going through and how important it is for people around you to be accepting if you are going through something that is life-changing. Just hearing Reggie talk about his experience made me rethink my relationship with my father, and for that I am deeply grateful. 

That these two examples perfectly align with what I am going through in my life right now is one of the most magical and inspiring things that I have ever experienced. This interview has fully changed my perspective, and that is exactly what I was hoping would happen on this trip. I am so grateful that I met and spoke with Reggie. It was genuinely life changing.

-Nikowa D’Costa-Hemp

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When Everything is Urgent, Nothing Is Important

Reginald Hubbard offers a grounded and brutally honest perspective on healing, emotion, and everyday life.

His thoughts are simple but speak deeply to the heart. He begins by welcoming pain instead of pushing it away. Heartbreak, he says, belongs in the room. There is no need to hide it or feel ashamed. Pain is part of the human experience. Healing, in his view, is not something to pass like a test. It is something to move through and experience. There are no shortcuts, only steady steps forward. He also speaks about urgency and focus: when everything feels urgent, nothing stands out as truly important. Slowing down helps us see what actually matters. Reginald points to the present as the only real moment we have. Neither the past nor the future are real. The present is where life happens.

Honesty is another key part of his message. Lying to yourself will not change reality. Healing starts with truth, even when it is uncomfortable. He encourages people to accept their emotions without judgment. Feeling broken is not a failure; it is normal. Not being okay is okay. Joy, he reminds us, can be found in small and basic things. A quiet breath, a walk, or even a soft moment of peace can bring light. Life is not about choosing between joy or sorrow. Life includes both. They can and must exist together. He challenges us to look not exclusively for what is going wrong. If we only focus on the bad, the bad is all we will see. Even in hard times, something is still going well.

Reginald also speaks about fear and how it can shape our lives. If we are not afraid, the things that might control us lose their power. Fear does not have to lead the way. We can feel it, but we do not have to follow it. His words are not just ideas; they are tools. They help us slow down, breathe, and notice what is real. They remind us that we are not alone, even in the hard times. What stands out most to me is how he brings things back to the simple and true. Life is not just one thing. It is joy and sorrow. It is pain and peace. It is falling down and getting up again. His message is clear: you are allowed to feel, to break, to heal, and to hope. The world may feel heavy, but there is always something good still standing. In a time when so much feels rushed, Reginald’s voice reminds us to pause. To look around. To ask ourselves what is still good. Often the most basic truth is the one we need most: even in pain, something inside you still works. Something is still holding on, and that is enough to begin again.

-Gage Saul

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If We Avoid the Hard Stuff, Then We Can’t Grow

I didn’t know who Reginald Hubbard was the first time I heard his name, but before I went to DC, I was able to learn more about him. He is a teacher, activist, and a stroke survivor. I found this combination of life experiences interesting, but I still wasn’t completely invested yet. This was further reinforced by the fact that I am not the best at listening to people. I had learned this many times by listening to people who I knew, liked, respected, and who were very interesting, but when I listened to them speak, I ignored, slept through, or yawned at them. I was therefore worried about interviewing people in DC.

I felt better when I watched an interview with him, because the way he speaks is relaxing, and it also made sense to me when he spoke about things. However, I was still nervous, especially during our first interview this morning with Linda Ryden. I was nervous and distracted, and some of my questions were answered, but I didn’t have a chance to speak.

However, I had forgotten about one key thing about talking to people. Even if you know a lot about a person, if you have never met them before, they can present themselves differently than what you were expecting. When we finally got to talk to Reggie, I was very interested. He wasn’t particularly animated, but I was interested in what he was speaking about. He spoke in a way that made me feel that he was personally talking to me. When I got to ask my question, he responded in a way that made me feel validated and interested, and I got to learn more about him. He also told me something that will stick with me for the rest of my DC experience. I want to use the DC trip as time to grow as a person and to reflect on how I can improve myself and make me a better person. I needed motivation though, and Reginald gave me motivation with this quotation: “If we avoid the hard stuff, then we can’t grow. We will never improve as humans.”

-Kyler Nishimura

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The Power of Imperfection

This morning we had the honor of speaking with Linda Ryden, director of the Peace of Mind program and curriculum, which teaches mindfulness and conflict resolution to elementary schoolers and educators in DC. This was the interview I’d been most looking forward to because I found other interview clips of Linda’s online to be extremely interesting and relevant to my life. The interview completely met and surpassed my expectations in so many ways. Not only did she offer many new perspectives that I hadn’t encountered in her online interviews, but she led us in two different mindfulness practices and offered us advice and hope about our futures. Her deputy director Ashely also joined us for the interview, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing a second, equally fascinating perspective on all of the questions we had for Linda.

One of the first main points that we received from both Ashley and Linda is that they are seeing a rise in the expectation for perfection in young people. Linda commented on how much schools have changed and shared that when she was in school she never once had the idea that she needed to be perfect—it just never occurred to her. She spoke a lot about how it is counterproductive for schools to be so much more focused on academic success than social-emotional learning. It’s more important to become a good human being than to have perfect grades. 

I had asked our interviewees how they think we can create a space for people to feel safe because right now our world feels divided and unaccepting of imperfections and mistakes. The main insight I received from their answer was that there is no getting it wrong, and you can’t be afraid to make mistakes because everybody does, and nobody has it all figured out. They explained that we are so hard on others because we are hard on ourselves, and we can’t forgive others if we can’t forgive ourselves. So the first step to create an accepting culture is accepting ourselves. Linda and Ashley also emphasized the power of kindness: “The more you are kind to yourself, the more good you can do in the world.” I love this response because I’m very hard on myself and often feel that I don’t have time to take care of myself. Really, though, you’ll make a bigger difference if you take care of yourself too.

My main takeaways from the interview were the sheer power of love and compassion and the importance of treating both yourself and others with grace and letting go of expectations for perfection, but there is so much more I learned from these two amazing leaders that I will take with me.

-Rosemary Konviser

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People Really Can “Come Back”

This morning we interviewed Linda Ryden and an unexpected guest, her deputy director of Peace of Mind, Ashley Brown. The interview was extremely interesting. I really loved their thoughts on mindfulness and their answers to the questions we asked. When I heard that Ashley was coming to the interview, I assumed that she would mostly sit quietly with Linda, but she gave insightful answers to our questions, and she was really interesting. When asked about perfectionism, Ashley recommended that we “slow down,” because “it’s not that serious.” I really liked what she said because I often put myself down for not being perfect, and it affects how I think about myself. I want to keep in mind what Ashely said and really slow down to recognize that nobody is perfect, but you can still be a good person.

I also really liked what they said about people who do horrible crimes, that although we think they are bad people, we often don’t think about what led to them doing these crimes: “You can come back from something by being offered love.” People really can “come back” by being loved. This is a new concept for many people, but it can definitely make someone feel really good. I can apply it to my life and give people love no matter who they are, since I have no idea what they have been through. Near the end of the interview, Ashley made a similar point: “Love for me is not something you have to do to be treated a certain way.” I find this thought amazing, as it opens a door for me to apply to my life so that I and other people around me can feel loved the way that people should feel loved.

-Mateo Borrego

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You Need to Experience Mindfulness to Teach Mindfulness

This morning we interviewed Linda Ryden and Ashley Brown, the director and deputy director of. Peace of Mind, which teaches students mindfulness in school.

Going into this interview, I knew I was going to enjoy it, as we had researched their work, and Shannon and Chelsea had talked about how sweet of a person Linda is. One idea from the interview that resonated with me is the idea that “You have time.” Growing up in our culture, I am constantly hearing that I need to use my high school years to “get everything together,” apply to colleges, and hopefully get accepted. I felt reassured when Linda and Ashley said that there is more to your life than school and how you do in school. In fact, they said that it is more important that you become a good human being. It’s important that you have love for others and yourself in your heart. Ashley also said, “Slow down; it’s not that serious,” which made me feel better about the speed at which I am taking things in school. It’s important to slow down and really take everything in. 

We discussed how to teach mindfulness to kids, but we also delved into the topic of how to work on mindfulness with adults. One thing that Linda said that struck me as insightful is that “You need to experience mindfulness to teach mindfulness.” I think this is brilliant because I think that teaching mindfulness is much easier and more effective for teachers if they understand what their students are experiencing and learning.

Linda and Ashley are both super sweet and kind, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about mindfulness from them. In a short amount of time, I learned a lot of valuable lessons that I am excited to put to good use.

-Cora Kayne

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Just Like Me

Linda’s answer to one of the first questions we asked was, “the kinder you are to yourself, the more good you can do.” I chuckled quietly to myself when she said this because this is an answer to a question I intended to ask later: “Personally, I find it much easier to be kind to others than to myself. I struggle to give myself the same grace and time to make mistakes. What advice do you have for those of us who find it difficult to manage feelings of guilt or not being” “perfect”—especially when we know that some things are simply out of our control.” 

Throughout the rest of the interview, both Linda and her deputy director, Ashley Brown, kept coming back to the idea of self-love, self-compassion and personal practice as necessary to be the kind of person you want to be. By the time we got to my question, its importance had been well-established, so asking my question and admitting how difficult it is for me to practice self-compassion, made me feel all the more vulnerable. It’s a personal issue, and given the context of the interview, admitting this vulnerability out loud became quite emotional for me. I felt exposed and nervous—my legs were shaking a bit—but Linda responded beautifully and asked if we would like to take part in a “Just Like Me” meditation that she learned from Ruth B. King. I encourage everyone to look into this practice.

The idea is to think of someone you might not know well and repeat in your head some just like me statements: “This person wants to be happy, just like me. This person makes mistakes, just like me,” etc. People got different things out of the practice, but it allowed me to find compassion for myself and my own humanness by offering compassion to someone else and their humanness. This may seem a simple idea, but at the moment it feels revolutionary. For a while I’ve struggled with guilt and achieving self-compassion, but I have been unable to work on them effectively. It seems that the solution to the struggle over self-care is … self-care. Linda gave me a starting point for moving forward by giving me a way to practice self-compassion that feels both doable and comfortable. It’s a small practice that I think has the potential to create big changes in my life, and I will forever be grateful for Linda and Ashley for giving me this starting point.

-Lucy Yen

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Our Grades Do Not Make Us Who We Are

Today was our first interview of the week, with Director Linda and Deputy Director Ashley of Peace of Mind. Although it’s our first interview, I think it might turn out to be my favorite, besides our interview with Ray Saurez tomorrow.

I really “vibed” with them because of their presence in the interview. I have a very personal connection to some of the ideas that they discussed, as I struggle with ADHD in the classroom, and I often put a lot of pressure on myself as a result.

When they were asked the question, “What do you think is the most important lesson children should learn at a young age, both academically and personally?” I was surprised that they downplayed the importance of academics. I assumed that they would say something about developing strategies for staying on top of your work, but instead they said that it is more important to learn kindness towards ourselves when it comes to education and to understand that our grades do not make us who we are. Their answers forced me to face the fact that I often think that my worth as a person depends on my grades. What I love most about this interview is that they described mindfulness skills and practices to help us remain focused on what is important.

Although I have been nervous about these interviews, both Linda and Ashley gave positive and hopeful responses that make me very excited for the coming interviews. I hope all our interviews are just as interactive and fun!

-Lennon Smith

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In a time of division, the Government in Action program provides our students the opportunity to actively listen with open minds and hearts. It is our belief that we can positively impact the world by engaging in conversations of meaning, being curious, and being open to learning from people with different perspectives and lived experiences. 

Thanks to an introduction through MMS alum, Grace Timan, who is currently studying journalism at UCLA,  we were able to interview former New York Times journalist and current UCLA professor of journalism, John M Broder. On April 8, we interviewed him via Zoom as part of our trip preparation. He offered valuable insights and advice on how to approach our interviews in D.C. 

Here are some student reflections on the interview and upcoming learning journey.

This might seem obvious, but my biggest takeaway from the interview was how much I can learn from the people we are interviewing. John Broder had a much more comprehensive and insightful view of what’s currently happening in Washington, D.C. than I do. I was especially struck by how when someone is especially knowledgeable about a topic, they can apply logic and critical thinking to how they understand and react to government actions. I hope to gain enough knowledge from this trip to feel more confident in how I discuss and understand politics during these particularly unusual and unstable times. It feels like the atmosphere in D.C. is different from home—almost as if change is in the air and can literally be felt. It seems like everyone is in Washington, D.C. for a purpose. I hope to experience that same sense of purpose while there.

-Lucy Yen 

While preparing for this trip, my main goal has been trying to open myself up to other people’s ideas and opinions. Through my preparation, I have gained an understanding of how much has to be done to bring change in a country as large as the United States. The interview with John Broder gave me a better understanding of the different roles in government and how important they can be even if they are not the ones that are directly in power. Another thing I learned from the John Broder interview is how people like him are much more human than you think. When we started the interview, I was a little nervous and was thinking about how he might be different from other people I have talked to. However, he was just an individual who wanted to speak with us and teach us about the world. I have also found out that people who we see as important, and who are in positions of power, aren’t that different from the average person.  If you take the time to research and speak with people, you will find that there are many people doing a lot of good in this country.

-Nikowa D’Costa-Hemp