By Nehal Bhatia ’29 (DCI Fellow)
When I think about deliberation, I picture a circle of people earnestly trying to understand one another and learn from each other’s opinions and life experiences. Yet, one group that often sits quietly in such discussions are young people. The silence can be striking, but I’ve learned it usually stems from uncertainty and not disinterest.
In my experience, this hesitation often comes from self-doubt. Young people wonder if their ideas are obvious, repetitive, or not “smart enough.” Usually, they say things like, “It’s probably already been said…” or “Maybe this doesn’t make any sense…” before cutting themselves off. This kind of self doubt may be difficult to notice in group conversations but it shapes who speaks up in a deliberation and how valuable the deliberation ends up being.
But their perspective is essential. In deliberation, every voice adds something unique, and the voices of young people bring fresh perspectives and honesty, which is what deliberation is meant to be about in the first place. Young people often see problems from angles older adults do not, they question assumptions that older participants may hold only because of conformity or Echo-chamber thinking. Because they have not yet fallen into the usual patterns of thinking that older adults sometimes do, they often approach issues with curiosity rather than certainty. This helps them be better listeners and also brings a new perspective that sometimes challenges the status quo.
I remember feeling the same way during my own training in our mock D Team deliberations as a freshman DCI Fellow, surrounded by upperclassmen who spoke confidently and seemed to know exactly what to say. I was nervous to share my perspective; I kept thinking, “what if I misunderstood the question? Or what if this sounds obvious?” It took me a few meetings to finally speak up, after being encouraged by facilitators. But once I did, I realized my perspective added something valuable and was welcomed.
As a facilitator for a D Tam with a mix of college students and older adults, I noticed this issue again. However, I felt that trying to encourage them to speak by directly calling on them, and remaining engaged when they did speak up, helped them feel more comfortable. I noticed the college students were apprehensive about speaking, but once I called on them their options were unique and brought a new perspective to the deliberation. Additionally, thanking them for their input and smiling or nodding while they spoke also helped them stay engaged and continue to share throughout the deliberation.
In the D Team discussions I have been a part of, the older adults always mention in our reflection sections how much they valued hearing from the younger members. They often say they wish even more college students would join and share their perspectives. I have heard them express appreciation that younger people are willing to engage with difficult issues and that the next generation is interested in deliberations at all.
What I’ve learned is that creating space for young voices is about egalitarianism. Everyone deserves to feel their perspectives matter, no matter their age or experience. Taking the time to engage and ask questions is something we should all do in our daily life. This can make our conversations honest and make society feel connected.
