R.E.A.L. IRL: How Our Gen-Z Interns Plan to Approach Discussion This School Year
This summer, we were delighted to welcome another amazing group of interns to the R.E.A.L.® team. As the summer draws to a close, our interns are heading back to college campuses – and after eight weeks spent thinking, breathing, and living discussion, they have new approaches to in-person conversation.
We asked four of our interns – Anisha Phade, Ally Chiang, Nadine Tang, and Layla Hurwitz – about the role discussion plays in their own lives, and how working at R.E.A.L.® has given them new ideas or challenged them to think differently about discussion or conversation in the coming school year.
Here’s what they had to say.
Anisha Phade, Marketing and Communications Intern
Rising Sophomore, Northwestern University
How do you think of discussions in your real life/classes/work environment?
Discussions are the basis of all problem-solving and collaboration, since we discuss to learn from each other, work to find common ground, and resolve conflict. I think discussions in and out of the classroom can be really exciting if we all know how to engage with one another and effectively communicate what we are thinking.
I think discussions in and out of the classroom can be really exciting if we all know how to engage with one another and effectively communicate what we are thinking.
Anisha Phade
How, if at all, has working at R.E.A.L. ® this summer given you new ideas or challenged you to think differently about discussion or conversation? Will you approach discussion differently this fall?
In the past, I’ve always made an effort to try to include people who are hesitant to speak up, but R.E.A.L.® has helped me think of new ways to do this, while simultaneously finding ways to show I’m listening. I’ve also started thinking a lot more about the importance of asking questions to push the other person and myself to consider new perspectives.
Ally Chiang, Data Analytics Intern
Rising Junior, UC Berkeley
How do you think of discussions in your real life/classes/work environment?
I think it’s so important to hold good discussions so that people can better understand each other, because we all have such unique thought processes, ideas, and reasons for believing different things. Fruitful discussions can really broaden our perspectives and teach us to be more empathetic.
How, if at all, has working at R.E.A.L.® this summer given you new ideas or challenged you to think differently about discussion or conversation? Will you approach discussion differently this fall?
From working at R.E.A.L.® this summer, I learned that it’s normal to not feel confident at first when holding discussions, but it’s a skill that can be taught over time. I will approach discussion differently by encouraging others to practice skills like asking questions and kindly disagreeing!
I learned that it’s normal not to feel confident at first when holding discussions, but it’s a skill that can be taught over time.
Ally Chiang
Nadine Tang, Client Engagement Intern
Rising Sophomore, Haverford College
How do you think of discussions in your real life/classes/work environment?
I love how discussion is able to connect people both in and out of academic settings. Discussions help us see others’ perspectives and learn about their backgrounds, which broadens our understanding of the world – which is so important!
How, if at all, has working at R.E.A.L.® this summer given you new ideas or challenged you to think differently about discussion or conversation? Will you approach discussion differently this fall?
Working at R.E.A.L.® made me think more about how necessary it is to create a space where people feel comfortable being vulnerable. So many people are afraid to share in discussion because of their own uncertainty or fear of judgment from others. My takeaway from R.E.A.L.® is that I want to be more conscious of affirming that it’s okay to not have a perfect answer. Imperfection and disagreement is what creates a beautiful conversation, and everyone should feel welcome to participate.
Working at R.E.A.L.® made me think more about how necessary it is to create a space where people feel comfortable being vulnerable…I want to be more conscious of affirming that it’s okay to not have a perfect answer. Imperfection and disagreement is what creates a beautiful conversation, and everyone should feel welcome to participate.
Nadine Tang
Layla Hurwitz, Special Projects Intern
Rising Junior, Carnegie Mellon University
How do you think of discussions in your real life/classes/work environment?
I think good discussions are vital for everyday communication, not only in work or class settings. Whether it’s being open to new perspectives and ideas or learning how to express yourself, it is one of the most important skills for people to learn!
How, if at all, has working at R.E.A.L.® this summer given you new ideas or challenged you to think differently about discussion or conversation? Will you approach discussion differently this fall?
I have realized the importance of discussion. As an introvert, it can sometimes be intimidating to open up and express my thoughts. But studying the students’ progress and how they learned to do this over the course of R.E.A.L.® really inspired me. I saw the importance of listening and asking thoughtful questions, which I will be doing more in my future discussions.
As an introvert, it can sometimes be intimidating to open up and express my thoughts. But studying the students’ progress and how they learned to do this over the course of R.E.A.L.® really inspired me.
Layla Hurwitz
Thank you Anisha, Ally, Nadine, and Layla for your thoughtful responses and for all your hard work at R.E.A.L.® this summer!
