Archive for the 'Megan E.' category

There is nothing permanent except CHANGE

Mar 29 2012 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

Iʼve always been someone thatʼs pretty confident in my life and career choices.  Iʼve always been very sure about what Iʼd be doing in the next few years. But hereʼs the thing, Iʼm never right. Despite my self assurance, things are never quite what I expect.  And thatʼs a good thing.

Hereʼs the deal.

change

flickr photo by Sean MacEntee

We live in a world thatʼs constantly changing. Whatʼs true for today isnʼt true for tomorrow. Thereʼs no guarantees and no such thing as a “sure thing”. Iʼve gone from wanting to be a rock star (circa Kindergarten) to the president (3rd grade) to an environmental scientist (7th grade) to a journalist (10th grade) to a social worker (12 grade).

And what do I want to be now? Whatever will continue to bring me joy. Thatʼs it. Something relatively simple, yet not always so easy. The key is discovering what the thing is that brings you joy. For me, itʼs a lot of things. Itʼs learning. Itʼs fun. Itʼs passion. Itʼs friendship. Itʼs community. Itʼs knowledge. Itʼs human connection. Itʼs making a difference. Thatʼs what I want out of a life, out of a career. So I pursue interests that do just that.

I have the pleasure of working for two incredible non-profits that bring me a whole lot of joy. I organize the efforts of Revolution Hunger in San Francisco, teaching students in the community about root causes of hunger and encouraging them to get involved with the campaign. I run a blogging program at Mobilize.org, teaching young Millennials how to advocate for the issues effecting our generation via social media. Not to mention writing for the wonderful community here at the Millennial Chat.
As I go through my next stages of life, I want to be able to continue a path that continues to bring me joy. And it might not turn out exactly how I imagine it. In fact, Iʼm sure that things will indeed be very different in the next few years. But so long as I can roll with the punches and continue to learn, explore, grow, build community, and make a difference, Iʼll be happy.

Imagine who you were 5 years ago.
Are you that same person today?
Do you have the same friends?
The same exact goals?
The same job?

Iʼd guess that for most people, things have changed a whole lot in 5 years. While itʼs important to plan for the future, itʼs equally important to be open to change. Change is what makes us grow and helps us learn. If things stayed the same, you wouldnʼt be who you are today.

And I think somewhere in these ramblings, thereʼs a very important lesson to be had for Millennials. Be flexible. Life is not linear. Youʼre going to get thrown curveballs. You have to adjust.

For me, I can already feel things changing again. Iʼm debating changing my major, Iʼll be living in a new place next year, and Iʼm starting to think more seriously about what life will look like after graduation. And instead of being scared for these changes, and apprehensive to make those adjustments, Iʼm excited. I want to shake things up a little. I canʼt wait for the next set of challenges. I plan to meet them with determination and grace.

And I recommend you do the same. Things will look very different in the future, they always do. Our generation will have to adjust. Our lives will change. And itʼs going to be just fine.

One response so far

Millennial Meetup for Edu2Tech

Mar 22 2012 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

There’s no doubt that times are tough for students in California. Deep budget cuts have been bad news for the public education system, resulting in less classes, less financial aid, less support services and higher tuition. As a current student at a California State University, I can personally attest to the mess our higher education system has become. Believe me, it isn’t pretty.

But the story doesn’t end at CSUs and UCs. Perhaps the system hit hardest by this whole debacle is the Community College System. Often seen as a safety net for students unable to go directly to a four year university, the community college system is becoming increasingly difficult to both afford and attend. In fact, it’s estimated that 670,000 students will be turned away from California Community Colleges this year alone.

And while it’s common knowledge amongst Californians that these problems exist in the educational system, the personal stories of students dealing with these issues seem to be missing. We see the facts and we know the figures, but without knowing how these facts and figures effect people, these numbers mean little. People respond to emotion, struggle, and triumph; information that is difficult to garner from simple statistics.

It’s that fact that led Mobilize.org’s Millennial Meetup for Edu2Tech in Berkeley last Friday. Designed to provide Community College Students with the skills and knowledge to utilize technology to tell their stories, students across Northern California got a chance to meet and discuss many of the issues surrounding engagement in community college education.

As a trainer at the event, I got the chance to help students understand how Social Media can be leveraged to improve student involvement on campus. It was truly incredible to see so many passionate, driven, intelligent, young people working together on the same goal.

Millennial Meetup

Millennials at a round table discussing the future of Community College in California

Social Media and improved student engagement.

By improving student engagement, the student body becomes a powerful force. By uniting community college students, they can become more effective in making their stories and their voices heard.

By making their stories heard, those statistics become real. Those facts and figures aren’t just numbers anymore, they become people doing the best they can to educate themselves despite facing incredible adversity and extreme barriers.

While the media doesn’t always show it, we truly have some amazing young people working very hard to advocate for both themselves, and their fellow students.

And while the future may seem uncertain, I am so inspired by all the passion, drive, and determination exhibited by the young Millennials I’ve had the privilege to work with.

We may not have an immediate solution to the problems facing the education system in California. And we may not have one for a while. But I’m more than confident that with the skills this generation has, we can and will work together to make accessible education a reality in California once again.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
To learn more from and connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme.
You can also follow the entire Millennial Chat team here.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

What issues are you seeing college students face in YOUR state or city?
How do you think social media can help alleviate these problems?

6 responses so far

A Lesson in Self Reflection

Feb 20 2012 Published by under Megan E., Uncategorized 

by Megan E.

I donʼt know about you guys, but for me it can be really easy to fall into a technology rut. I get so wrapped up in school, work, and friends that I forget to appreciate the nicer things in life. I neglect to explore all the incredible things in my city that lie just outside my apartment door. So I decided to do something about it.

A beautiful weekend and some much needed free time led me to check out San Franciscoʼs coast line. Armed with a favorite book, some serious snacks, and my trusty backpack, I spent a glorious two and a half hours relaxing, reading, and taking in the
scenery. And it was nice.

Immediately I felt my mind clear and my muscles relax. It felt great to do something so simple, just walk. I explored the caves and ruins of Sutro Baths and then continued on along the coast to a spot overlooking Golden Gate Bridge. The afternoon light gave the water a magical glow and I watched the sun begin to set past the oceanʼs horizon.

As I got back on the bus to head home, I thought back on the experience I had. I realized that no matter how busy we get, its so important to set time aside for self reflection. If you never take a moment to appreciate what you already have in life, you end up just going through the motions without considering the importance of your actions.

Beyond reports, research papers, meetings, and deadlines, we have to remember to enjoy the time we have right now. Without doing that, youʼre just allowing those reports, research papers, meetings, and deadlines take over your life.

While itʼs no doubt important to pursue your goals, we must do so without compromising what matters. As our generation matures we must understand that the little things are important too. That thereʼs a world that lies beyond technological innovation and
success, that life exists without Facebook, and that sometimes all you need is a nice walk.

Keeping this in mind, Iʼve decided to devote at least a few hours a week to getting outside and exploring the city Iʼve grown to love. No matter how hectic life gets, Iʼm pledging to make time for myself.

And I suggest you do the same.

Weʼre a generation made up of some incredible young people. Millennials have proven time and time again that weʼre focused, engaged, and committed to finding solutions to the ills that pervade society. But as I have stated previously, all work and no play can make a Millennial lose the very inspiration that incited the work in the first place.

So take a break. Disconnect. Go outside. Live your life.

When you return to your goals, youʼll remember what made you set them in the first place. Youʼll find that inspiration that drove you to where you are today. Most importantly, youʼll gain the strength to keep fighting for the things you believe in.

And believe me, its worth it.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
To learn more from or connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme.
You can also follow the entire Millennial Chat team here.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

What do you do in order to make some time for yourself?
In what ways do you try to disconnect and make sure you ‘smell the breeze’ every now and again?
Comment below, join the discussion on Facebook, or tweet us!
(Kind of ironic we asked you this after this post, huh?)

Comments are off for this post

Battling Burnout!

Feb 03 2012 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

Thereʼs no denying that we are part of an incredible generation. Every day Iʼm more assured of this fact as I see young people innovating, taking a stand, and making a difference in all sorts of communities.

But thereʼs also no denying that the work we do is hard. Weʼre combatting a system that makes attaining education a huge challenge, and finding a good job once we graduate even more difficult.

Between navigating higher education, gaining work experience, finding meaningful employment, and everything else life throws at us, itʼs not difficult to see how young people can begin to feel overwhelmed and succumb to burnout.

While working so hard to meet all the demands life throws at them, it can be easy for Millennials to begin to feel uninspired and lose sight of their goals.

Keeping this in mind, Iʼve come up with a list of strategies you can use to re-energize
and stay motivated.

1. Make time for yourself

Itʼs not hard to get sucked into working constantly. But if you donʼt make time for yourself, youʼre more likely to burn out quickly.

Even if itʼs just for an hour (or less) a day, do something that you enjoy. Read a book, watch a TV show, take a walk, etc. But make it a  consistent part of your day. Besides being essential for your mental health, itʼll actually improve the quality of your work. Taking time for yourself reduces stress levels, and reduced stress levels makes it more likely that youʼll do your work well.

2. Write Your Goals Down

Studies show that those who write their goals down, are far more likely to achieve them. Creating a clear plan will make you both more efficient and more focused. Youʼll be far less likely to feel lost and lose your motivation.

3. Focus on Your Inspiration

You should constantly be asking yourself why your putting in so much work and reminding yourself of the goals you hope to achieve. Stressing about all the details can make it easy to forget about the big picture.

If youʼre feeling unmotivated, take a minute to write down what brought you to this project/career/college in the first place and continues to inspire you today. If you canʼt think anything, that may be a sign that this is no longer something you want to pursue.

4. Learn to Say No

Seriously evaluate every commitment you consider taking on. Ask yourself what you can gain from taking on this commitment. Map out how your schedule will change if you take this on, and make sure you have the time to do it.

Remember, Itʼs better to do a few things really well than a lot of things terribly. Itʼs more beneficial for everyone to just say no initially than to discover later on that itʼs not something you actually have time for.

5. Donʼt Be Afraid to Ask for Help!

If you feel like youʼre drowning in work, donʼt forget that there are people available to assist you! Fellow coworkers, classmates, professors, and supervisors can all be valuable assets in fulfilling your goals. So long as youʼre not overburdening someone else, thereʼs no harm in asking for help on a project, assignment, etc.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
To learn more from and connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the entire Millennial Chat team here.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

How do YOU avoid burnout?

Comments are off for this post

I AM SOMEBODY!

Jan 17 2012 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

These were the words that most stood out to me from the double feature movie event I attended last night at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

This event, showcasing one film about the Watts Music Festival and another about the Black Power Movement, served to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. by educating others about how the movement changed following his assassination.

It’s events like this one that truly celebrate the impact that MLK had. It seems to me like a lot of people think of yesterday as just another day off and don’t think about why we get that day off.

Instead of taking the opportunity to go on a mini vacation or lounge around all day, Millennials should take time to think critically about King, his impact, and the state of the movement today.

To be blunt, King’s work is by no means over. Racism is not a thing of the past, as much as we’d like to believe it. And until every child of color grows up with the same chance of succeeding as a white child, we must continue Dr. King’s fight. Racism stems from so many factors, it’s impossible to go through them all here. But the quote “I am somebody”, suggests an exceedingly important one.

It has always been my belief that the key to ending racism both personally and on a larger scale lies in understanding the person behind the label. It’s incredibly easy to judge someone based off their appearance instead of taking the effort to see them as something more. Underneath it all, we are all people.

Regardless of our pasts, our socio-economic status, the choices we make (or don’t make), the clothes we wear, the way we style our hair, our politics, and our skin color, we are all people. We have fears, dreams, anxieties, successes, and failures. We are all somebody.

And we all deserve the freedom to be ourselves without judgement nor condemnation. A person’s skin color should never affect the jobs they are offered, the neighborhoods they live in, the schools they attend, and the way they are treated everyday. Every child should grow up, proud of who they are, proud to be somebody incredible.

At the end of the day, that’s what Dr. King hoped for. Once that concept is embraced by all, everything else will begin to fall into place. Once we all understand and appreciate the humanity within the individual, we can begin to truly make Dr. King’s vision a reality.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
To learn more from or connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Comments are off for this post

Millennials Mentoring Millennials

Jan 10 2012 Published by under Megan E.

Our generation is one that I’m incredibly proud of. I feel so connected to the other young people making a difference in their community, striving to make positive societal change, and devoting their time to improving our future. I am so excited to see what comes of the next few decades and how our age group will change the world.

However for us to really make an impact, we must remember to continue a tradition of innovativeness and inspire our youngest members to do the same.

In my opinion, an integral part of what will determine our success is how effective we are at mentorship. Right now our youngest Millennials are 15 years old, likely only in their freshman year of High School. And they are just as important.

Think about what you were like in your freshman year…..

Inspiration Week (2/7)

flickr photo by jnyemb

It’s an uncertain, sometimes even scary time.  Our youngest members are still at a very impressionable age, and its up to us to acclimate them to a country in transition.

As the New Media Coordinator at Mobilize.org, it’s readily obvious to me the importance of providing that mentorship to these young people. The same characteristics that define our age group are present in our high schoolers. Today’s teenagers still desire to make a difference and be civically engaged, they just don’t necessarily know how or have the confidence to carry out their goals.

I’ve led the incredible group of young bloggers at Mobilize.org for close to a year now, and through that experience I’ve learned a few things about how to mentor engaged young people. 

Working with teenagers can be uncharted territory for those who don’t have a lot of experience. Here’s a couple of tips that I would suggest for anyone who wishes to become a more effective supporter of Young Millennials.

1. Don’t tell them, show them.

Remember your parents lecturing you about the importance of x, y, and z? That’s exactly who you don’t want to be. You’re a mentor not a parent, and if you act like a parent that young person will treat you like a parent. They’ll be more likely to shut you out and do the exact opposite of what you tell them to do.

Show them and led them in the right direction. They’re much more likely to follow through if they feel like it’s their decision. And they’ll feel empowered enough to continue making that decision.

2. Ask questions and Listen

It’s easy to feel like you’re not being heard at that age. I certainly remember having that feeling. You don’t want to be another person who doesn’t care what they think and feel. Pay attention to what they’re saying and show interest.  You’ll learn more about them and they will think of you as someone they trust. 

3. Don’t force it.

Just like with any relationship, don’t force a connection. They’ll get defensive and shut you out. 

4. Speak their language.

While you shouldn’t force slang (that can only end badly) or try and dumb something down (they’ll notice and resent it ), you should remember who your audience is. They are not a peer and you shouldn’t treat them as such. Ask them about their life instead of talking about yours and don’t discuss topics they won’t understand or be able to contribute to (the pains of paying bills, your stock portfolio etc) 

5. Build their Confidence

As I’m sure we can all remember, confidence is especially shaky at that age. Show that you trust them by providing opportunities and giving responsibilities. By showing them that you think they are trustworthy, they’ll feel better about themselves and show more creativity and take greater risks. 

Young people are incredibly passionate and creative. It’s your job to harness that energy. By helping them believe in themselves, you’ll do just that.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
To learn more from or connect with Megan, follow her on Twtitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

How would YOU mentor your old high school self?
What is one thing that mentors constantly do wrong?
Interested in helping the younger of our generation?

Join the discussion on Twitter or our Facebook page!

4 responses so far

Millennials: Consider Giving Back this Holiday Season

Dec 22 2011 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

The holidays are supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”. And they are for many reasons. I love spending time with my family, the food, the music, etc.

But here’s the shocker. I could care less about the presents. Crazy, I know. But here’s why.

As I get older presents become less about what I want and more about things that I “need” but can’t afford (fellow college students will understand). There’s no more child like wonder about what treasures lie beyond the packaged exterior of a gift.


So I started to think about the things I really want. I figured that there has to be some sort of gift that would make me feel the same way I did as a child, something that would instill the spirit of the Holidays in me once again. So I thought about what makes me happy, what makes me excited, and what inspires me.

It took me a while but I came up with 3 gifts
that would really make my Holidays special.

These gifts aren’t things that can be wrapped in a box, they’re more than that. They’re solutions to the issues that I’m most passionate about. They’re answers to the world’s most pressing problems. They go beyond ribbon and paper and dig down deep into what really matters.

For me, the most integral themes of the Holidays are generosity, love, and companionship. All of those themes can be found in the gifts listed below, making them the most perfect presents I could possibly dream of.

Please take a look, and consider making a donation to the organizations that make these gifts possible.

1. No Person Ever Goes Hungry.

Feeding America (@FeedingAmerica) hopes to combat that pain of hunger. Through their website, you can shop their catalogue for gifts that can be made in a friend or family member’s name. You can also search their database for the food bank nearest you to donate to. And guess what, every dollar you donate equals 8 meals for those who need it.

2. No Person Discriminated Against for Any Reason.

Have you ever felt judged for who you are? Perhaps for your religious denomination (or lack of), your political beliefs, or the color of your skin?

The Human Rights Watch (@HRW) combats that discrimination by giving “voice to the oppressed and hold[ing] oppressors accountable for their crimes”

3. Every Woman Feels Safe

Every woman has the right to be in control of her own body, end of story. RAINN (@RAINN01)helps make that possible.

This is what the Holidays are about. Not ipods or big screen TVs, but making a difference for the powerless and creating change for the voiceless. Be that power, be that voice, and donate today.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
To learn more from and connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

As you have become older, how have you kept the Holiday spirit alive?  Comment below or join the discussion on our Facebook page.

We also want to invite you to our #MCHolidayBash that is going on ALL NEXT WEEK! We will have plenty of special events going on throughout week online.  No plane tickets need to be purchased, just a quick login to Twitter, Facebook, or subscription to this blog should work!

2 responses so far

What is the character of the Millennial Generation? Depends on who you ask…

Dec 14 2011 Published by under Megan E. 

by Megan E.

Our generation can be characterized two ways, depending on who you talk to. Some people know us as self absorbed, technology addicted slobs. Others see us as innovators and activists, leaders who use the benefits of technology to create a better tomorrow.

When I’m faced with this dichotomy, two thoughts come to mind. First I wonder if the negative stereotypes acurately portray a significant percentage of our generation. And then, if it is true, what can be done to inspire those who appear apathetic about the world’s problems?

It’s certainly true that the negative depictions have a strong hold on the American public. Just try googling “Are millennials…” and see what top searches pop up. The top three for me are lazy, cursed, and losing faith.

How inspiring.

In truth, we’re probably a bit of both. The world isn’t black and white and neither is our generation.

What I’m really concerned about is what we can do to inspire Millennials who have lost faith in their abilities to create positive change and make their voices heard.

How can we engage those who feel like there’s no point in advocating for a cause they believe in?

The problem is not that Millennials inherently don’t care about anything. After years of working with supposedly “apathetic” youth, I know that’s not true. The problem is what’s making them apathetic.

Corruption in politics and business, ineffective mainstream media, and a slacking economy all result in the feeling that no matter how hard you try, nothing can be done to create change. The government is too corrupt, the media too focused on profits, and the economy is too monopolized for us to make any sort of difference.

So we do nothing. So it seems like we don’t care. But that couldn’t be farther than the truth. Young people do care, they just don’t know how they can actually change anything.

Cue the Occupy Movement. Regardless of what your political beliefs are regarding the movement, the original protesters did something unprecedented. They were able to engage hundreds of thousands of Millennials through our weapon of choice, the internet. They mobilized young people to try and create a tangible change.

What this says to me, is that the internet is a valuable tool in organizing and engaging our generation. We do have the power to unite people from all over the world in creating positive change in education, the economy, and politics.

It’s online communities like The Millennial Chat and online movements like Occupy, that are making a difference for the unengaged.

If we want to inspire others, we need to think creatively about how we can use the internet to do so.

We need to come up with new innovations and creative initiatives that will work to combat our negative stereotypes.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
To learn more from and connect with Megan, follow her on Twitter – @MeganEmme
You can also follow the rest of The Millennial Chat Team here.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

So I’ll end this with a call to action. In the comment section below, let’s discuss how we can engage others through online initiatives. Riddle me this. How can we use the internet to encourage civic participation?

Ready, set, go.

Comments are off for this post