I just had my annual pilgrimage spending several days teaching a class of young, incredibly smart people who represent the future and, as usual, I learned more from them than they did from me and I left energized and hopeful. These were graduate and PhD students from several nations normally revving up to join high profile NGOs, cutting edge companies and, very often, federal agencies to further the greater good.

As you might expect, this year I found a certain amount of anxiety about the job market, but still a surprising level of optimistic enthusiasm. Younger folks are facing a very different world than you and I faced just starting out. They’ll need support and mentors, and you’ll find some suggestions here to help you help them navigate the uncertainty.