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Jayda
Student
Laurel, Maryland
1
Question
Updated
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As someone in the policy and advocacy field, how do you navigate creating legislation that may not be agreed upon by everybody?
I am a current senior in high school, interested in public policy and international relations. I plan to study at Georgetown University, and I often find myself having differing perspectives from those in my class. So how do I create policy important to me, when what is considered "right" is subjective?
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1 answer
Dr Lucas Txibamba
Humanitarian
19
Answers
Luanda, Luanda Province, Angola
Updated
Dr Lucas’s Answer
Hi Jayda,
Your question is fantastic and very important, especially for someone interested in policy and advocacy. It's impressive that you're thinking about this as a high school senior.
The key is to see disagreement not as a roadblock but as a natural part of the process. The goal isn't always to get everyone to agree, but to make progress and find common ground.
Here's how you can approach this in your studies at Georgetown and in your career:
1. Change Your Focus: Instead of trying to be "right," aim to solve problems. Ask yourself, "What problem are we trying to solve?" and "What common goals do we share?" This approach helps turn debates into productive discussions.
2. Learn to Negotiate and Compromise: Understand the reasons behind people's positions. Find solutions that address their concerns and build alliances with different groups to support your ideas.
3. Use Empathy and Listening: See differing opinions as a chance to learn. Ask questions to understand others' viewpoints, and recognize the valid points in their arguments. This helps build respect and opens doors for collaboration.
4. Develop Practical Skills: Use data and evidence to back up your ideas. Identify all the stakeholders involved and learn how to communicate your policy in ways that resonate with different audiences.
To get started:
1. Embrace disagreement in your classes at Georgetown. Use it as a chance to practice these skills.
2. Join activities like Debate or Model UN to learn how to argue and negotiate.
3. Read about great leaders to understand how they balanced principles with compromise.
Your question about creating important policy is spot on. Fight for your beliefs, but be open to adjustments. A policy that's mostly what you want and gets passed is better than a perfect one that doesn't. Your passion, combined with empathy and strategy, will guide you. It's a challenging but rewarding path, and your early interest shows great promise for your future.
Your question is fantastic and very important, especially for someone interested in policy and advocacy. It's impressive that you're thinking about this as a high school senior.
The key is to see disagreement not as a roadblock but as a natural part of the process. The goal isn't always to get everyone to agree, but to make progress and find common ground.
Here's how you can approach this in your studies at Georgetown and in your career:
1. Change Your Focus: Instead of trying to be "right," aim to solve problems. Ask yourself, "What problem are we trying to solve?" and "What common goals do we share?" This approach helps turn debates into productive discussions.
2. Learn to Negotiate and Compromise: Understand the reasons behind people's positions. Find solutions that address their concerns and build alliances with different groups to support your ideas.
3. Use Empathy and Listening: See differing opinions as a chance to learn. Ask questions to understand others' viewpoints, and recognize the valid points in their arguments. This helps build respect and opens doors for collaboration.
4. Develop Practical Skills: Use data and evidence to back up your ideas. Identify all the stakeholders involved and learn how to communicate your policy in ways that resonate with different audiences.
To get started:
1. Embrace disagreement in your classes at Georgetown. Use it as a chance to practice these skills.
2. Join activities like Debate or Model UN to learn how to argue and negotiate.
3. Read about great leaders to understand how they balanced principles with compromise.
Your question about creating important policy is spot on. Fight for your beliefs, but be open to adjustments. A policy that's mostly what you want and gets passed is better than a perfect one that doesn't. Your passion, combined with empathy and strategy, will guide you. It's a challenging but rewarding path, and your early interest shows great promise for your future.