A young leader’s take on Radio 1′s Big Conversation

On Tuesday 13th September I attended an event at City hall called the Radio 1 “big conversation”. I was keenly asked by my volunteer co-ordinator Simon Stevens to go along as after seeing my debating skills at a previous event, he insisted I would be good at it.  All I knew about this event was that it was a chance for young people to have a conversation with influential older people; I wasn’t too sure what to actually expect from it.  At the event in the marvelous building that is City hall, I was immediately given a sheet telling me I was to sit on a table with seven other young people whom I had never met before. I would also be sitting with Luc Delaney, a facebook employee and Michelle Mone, one of the most successful business women in the country. I always enjoy meeting new people so looked forward to sitting at the table.  Almost immediately after we got underway I was interviewed by Radio 1 asking my opinions and ideas; such as what would I do if I ran the country for a day. I gave my best answers to these questions and was happy that the interviewer seemed interested by my response. Talking to the rest of the table was for me the best part of the whole day. There were people on my table from majorly contrasting backgrounds talking about issues from their angle and how stuff effects them. There were some very inspirational stories coming from other people my own age and of course from Michelle Mone. Learning that a lot of other people do recognise what is going on and are keen to do things about it and coming up with methods in how to combat certain issues was unbelievably refreshing. Being with so many like-minded people who all have such different stories to tell, yet were all in complete harmony when decision making time came round. It was fantastic. I feel that everyone left that chamber with a positive buzz feeling good about themselves, and better about society. I know I did and would attend any further event in a heartbeat.