If People Don’t Fight Then We Run Into Trouble
Today we got the opportunity to talk with two very intelligent leaders, Tracie Potts and Susannah Welford. In speaking to these amazing women, who do so much for their communities, I learned many things about myself and the world around me. When we spoke to Tracie Potts, she shared a very deep understanding of herself and the way she lives her life. She lives with purpose and structure. However, within that structure she is open to change and unexpected opportunities. Similarly, Susannah has a very clear understanding of herself and her purpose, going with the flow of life and taking each opportunity given to her. Living according to these core beliefs has allowed these women to go far, and they are truly helping to change the world.
Ms. Potts spoke to us not only as if she were talking to the future of this country but to us as young people in general. She shared with us that after being a reporter for over twelve years, she had just recently changed her career to working at the Eisenhower Institute. She stated that you may think you have it all figured out only to discover that you suddenly want something different, and you may end up loving it even more.
When we spoke to Ms. Welford, she told us the story of how she was always interested in politics, and went to law school, and then worked at a law firm. When the firm ran into financial trouble, she was laid off. However, she explained to us that she now sees that getting laid off gave her the opportunity to run and organize a group with her coworker, which eventually developed into Running Start, her nonprofit organization.
Looking back on both of the interviews with these two women, I feel very inspired by myself and my peers, because even though we are young, and even though we don’t have it all figured out yet, we should meet the future with an open mind and open heart. In opening ourselves to new opportunities and people, we may just find the diamond in the rough—the thing we need to find that we didn’t even know was there. Ms. Potts told us to find our guiding light and to hold it deep within us and let that be the guide through all of our life’s endeavors. Ms. Welford told us to find our confidence and keep it close, and even in times of crisis and discouragement we as young women cannot be discouraged. We must continue to fight for what we believe in because, “If people don’t fight then we run into trouble.”
I got a lot out of both of these interviews, and both of these amazing women inspire me not only to be more interested in politics but to keep an interest in politics in the future. Strong women in all walks of life can be leaders. Why not lead our nation?
There Is More Agreement Than Disagreement
Today we interviewed Tracie Potts and Susannah Wellford. They were both very inspiring, and there was one thing that really stuck out to me that they both said. Everyone has reasons behind their actions. In order to find this reason you have to assume that they have good will, and be prepared to listen to them to understand where they are coming from. Ms. Potts gave a few words of advice on how better to hear people out: be in control of your emotions, listen to everything everyone says, don’t assume you know everything, learn by talking to people, and give people the benefit of the doubt. This is especially important to people who find themselves angry about what’s happening around them, and frustrated by the people around them. To this point, Ms. Potts advised to find a way to let go of the anger, because she knows people who have carried that indignation. She said, “It’s harder to connect to an angry person.” We need connection in our society, notably in our government, especially given the rise of political violence. Similarly, Ms. Wellford spoke to the rise of fear, specifically in women, when running for office.
The way to get past this anger is discourse. Ms. Potts suggests that if everyone is real about how they feel, then people will find mutual understanding. Similarly, Ms. Wellford said, “When people sit down together, they find common ground.” In order for this to happen though, you have to provide a safe space for civil, non-partisan disclosure.
This concept extends beyond common conversation. Ms. Potts says that right now, Congress is so divided that people think of the other side as evil and think of themselves as engaged in an existential battle. There is a swing between belief systems, and every four years all progress by one side is torn down by the other side. She thinks the way to fix this is to find commonality. Ms. Wellford offers some hope, as she believes, “There is more agreement than disagreement in our country.” So even though we see a lot of violence and anger now, hopefully there is also a conversation, that people are trying to understand why the opposite side thinks that way, and why they act the way they do.
Violence in Politics
Today we interviewed a smart woman named Susannah Welford, who advocates for women, regardless of their political party, to run for office. One main theme that stood out to me is how violence in politics is becoming a serious problem.
For women especially, the fear of not being safe can make running for office very stressful. Generally, when people think about politics, they think about the surface level or what’s on TV, like debates, speeches, and elections. Behind the scenes, however, there are often threats, harassment, and sometimes even physical danger. For women, the situation is very intense. Women in politics are often judged more harshly than men, and they are more likely to be targeted with personal attacks. Instead of focusing on what their actual beliefs are, critics may focus on their appearance or personal lives. Nearly 45% of female elected officials have faced threats of death, rape, or abduction, and over 65% have been subjected to humiliating sexual or sexist remarks. This kind of disgusting behavior leads to a lack of women running for office.
Despite these challenges, some brave women, with the help of Susannah Welford’s support, continue to run for office. Their courage shows how important it is to have diverse voices in politics. When women are involved, they bring new ideas and perspectives that can help create better and fairer policies for everyone. Susannah Welford’s interview gave me hope, especially for my generation, because she inspires bravery in young women, including myself, who have always been fearful of being a public female figure of any kind.
From Passion to Action
Today, we interviewed Susannah Wellford. She made a lot of good points, including that growth can come from setbacks, and the importance of local and grassroots change. One point that really stood out to me was how she talked about passion turning into action. This really piqued my interest because it made me think that passion alone isn’t enough. You also need community, courage, and action. When I think about it, change does not come from one person or from money alone, but from a passionate community acting together. She said: “There were all these organizations that were the ‘next big thing,’ and I would be sort of jealous. And then the next big thing dies, but Running Start is still here.” This quotation shows how her passion for Running Start has pushed her through the hardest of times. It shows me how, if I start really caring about things, I can help make change.
Another thing she talked about is that small actions can lead to a big impact. Something she said that really made me think and set it in stone is, “Maybe you’re not going to change the enormous things, but maybe you’re going to make something in your community better.” I feel like this is super important for me because it makes me realize that even if I do something small in my community, there’s a bigger impact than I thought, which makes me feel better and more willing to do more small things for my community.
Her message showed me that lasting change isn’t about being the “next big thing,” but about consistently taking action and making a difference where you can. Even if those actions seem small or insignificant at first, they still truly matter.
