On a college campus with an unofficial uniform of sweatpants and down jackets, one young man stood out to me because of his attire. He was not on his way to an interview and was not giving a class presentation, but he was wearing a suit. He entered my office to ask for my help.
The young man wearing a suit, not just that first day, but every day, was Justin J. Pearson, the Democratic House representative from the 86th District of Tennessee. We met in my first year as Director of Writing and Rhetoric at Bowdoin College, as he neared graduation. He wanted to be a better writer and a stronger speaker, he said. He wanted to hone his voice. So we made a plan. We met each week for a year, discussing current issues, and reading news articles. He wrote reactions and I responded with feedback and questions. But mostly, I held space for him. I affirmed that his ideas were worth reading and that his voice was worth hearing.
