This question worries a lot of mentors because they imagine themselves stranded in a room with a young person who either just stares at them or can, at best, manage only a one- or two-word response to any attempt at conversation. This scenario does arise, but it is preventable—or at the least is one you can successfully negotiate, especially with help of Michael Karcher and those who have studied the “I dunno, what do you want to do?” syndrome (Karcher, 2010; Karcher, Herrera & Hansen, 2011). Just bear three things in mind.

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