by Selina Lee, Spring Community Ambassador, The Andrew Goodman Foundation
Congratulations to the Class of 2013! You graduated (yes!) and boom - hit with endless doom-and-gloom predictions about your future. At least on the surface, real-world conditions seem pretty discouraging. However, we know attitudes change far faster than numbers and statistics.
The Andrew Goodman Foundation works to foster the spark of initiative and the flame of progress in young adults and veteran social change agents, alike. So, Class of 2013, if you have dreams of creating a more just, peaceful and sustainable world - we’re here to support you. Over the month of June, we’ll introduce recent college and high school graduates to new ideas, concepts and tactics for affecting change and living that social good dream, wherever you land!
Civic Engagement:
A few weeks ago, Grist published a post called “Millennial Medium Chill” (http://grist.org/living/millennial-medium-chill/), discussing the various challenges Millennials face but also pointing to a viable alternative: giving up the rat race in favor of the Medium Chill—the pursuit of more authentic and lasting happiness. Essentially, this entails focusing on relationships and experiences over material goods and financial rewards. Millennials are uniquely adapted to the Medium Chill; much has been written about our optimism (find link), and the conditions that defined our coming-of-age, such as hyper-interconnectedness and 24/7 access to instant information, are truly unprecedented. We’re not talking about a run-of-the-mill generation gap; like the 1960s, this is a full-on ideological shift.
Civic engagement is a great way to meaningfully interact with like-minded peers and community leaders. The AGF defines civic engagement as more than voting (though that’s obviously hugely important to us!)—it’s also being aware of what’s happening and, equally important, sharing that information with others. Whether it’s registering voters, canvassing for a candidate or a cause, or simply reading the newspaper, civic engagement is the cornerstone of democracy. And for recent graduates who might not have attained employment, civic engagement, particularly through volunteering, can be hugely beneficial.
So NOW WHAT? Volunteer, Volunteer, VOLUNTEER!
image: collegeclasses.com
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Volunteer = Master Networker. In any job market, for any field, connections are invaluable and volunteering is a great way to build them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 43 percent of all volunteers in 2009 had a bachelor’s degree or higher, which means that volunteers are more likely to meet working professionals, which makes forging that connection all the more worthwhile.
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Volunteering fills employment gaps. They say that looking for a job is a full-time job in itself, but volunteering counts as professional experience. You’ll be learning new skills, helping your community, and taking initiative, showing potential employers your dedication while fleshing out your resume.
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Volunteer your way to social good fulfillment. Social do-gooders who hope to work for non-profits and community-minded companies can’t go wrong with some volunteer experience. It’s a relatively low-stakes way to practice adapting to different company cultures, whether it’s at a local councilman’s office or with a public television station.
Volunteering is a prime example of how to live by the “medium chill” ethos. By prioritizing your work over your paycheck, Millennials can adapt to the stagnant job market in a way that benefits both themselves, and their communities.
Follow our “You Graduated… Now What?” Series across our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, and here! #makeitright #co2013
