Fiona Hill

If you're 21, help somebody who's 14.

In my age now, I'm always trying to reach back and

Work with younger people, listen to younger people, help them out, make connections for them, listen to what they have to say about something, try to incorporate that in things that I'm saying as well.

The main point is that we've all got a voice, we've all got agency, and it always works better when we work together with other people.

Yeah, there always were.

I mean, there were lots of points where I was just despondent.

But then, you know, I'd meet somebody who would just suddenly turn things around.

Now, was this luck or was I out there looking for it?

You know, sometimes, you know, you just, if you're open and receptive to, you know, kind of hearing something from someone else.

I mean, you know, there were often times where I felt so despondent, you know, in such a black mood, I didn't think I'd be able to go on.

And then I'd have a chance conversation with somebody.

I mean, I once remember, you know, I was sitting on a bench.

I was probably 11 or 12, just crying my eyes out, just really upset.

And an old lady just came and sat next to me, put her arm around me, said, oh, it's all right, pet.

What's the matter?

You know, it can't be that bad, can it?

And it was just this human embrace.

It's like somebody, you know, just basically reaching out to me that snapped me out of it.

And I thought, you know, here's somebody just, you know, she didn't know who I was.

She just felt really bad that I was, you know, sitting, you know, crying.