Millennial Women: A Driving Force for Change

Millennials have definitely sparked controversy in national news, and while many claim we are a “doomed” generation because of the recession and student debt, the majority of us on the front still remain positive.  Furthermore, being a Millennial woman, I strongly believe that there is a brighter future ahead for us.

Laura Calandrella, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) writes, “Generation Y is shaping the future,” and that we’re “redefining success by impact (not money earned).” She continues to share that “women catalyze change.” It has been proven time and time again,  that businesses and nations benefit more, grow more, and have more success when women are not only involved, but an integral part of the process.

Our voices need to be heard. Plain and simple. As women, we need to understand what we are truly capable of, tap into our instinctive leadership skills, and act on them to make forcible change. Like Calandrella points out, “the generation of women before us just ‘did what had to be done,’” but as Millennials we need to push beyond those boundaries and excel even further.

Women’s voice, value, and vision align with what is needed to build something meaningful and sustainable.

As Millennial women we have a mission: to let our values dictate our lives, to let them help shape our identities, define our goals, and purpose in life. According to Forbes, Millennial women are “burning out” at just 30 years old! An incredible generalization based upon the fact that some of us tend to follow an empty path versus one with deeper meaning.

My advice to all my fellow Millennials is to find a cause you’re passionate about, to do something that motivates you. Engage, create alliances, and raise your voice because what’s the point in having a vision for the future if nothing is being done to achieve it? Failure and struggle are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean that the time spent wasn’t worthwhile. We must seek to revolutionize “philanthropic conversation.”

It’s difficult to eliminate stereotypes, especially when one is constantly being undermined. Women can contribute to every topic a man can, be it the economic status of our country, the government and politics, education, LGBT rights, and especially, when it comes to birth control and abortion, for we too have jobs, own houses, vote, and have families to support etc. The female point of view is simply not being heard to the degree that it should be.

It’s time to end the silence and speak out. I consider it not only a challenge, but a duty as a Millennial woman to make sure my opinion counts. The question is, will you?

Nikole Cabrera
Nikole Cabrera is a Featured Blogger for Mobilize.org’s The Millennial Report. She is currently pursuing a Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Syracuse University. Cabrera is a proud advocate of providing equal opportunities to every human being, volunteering for a number of causes related to education, Latinos, refugees, and poverty. In the future, Cabrera’s ultimate goal is to establish a philanthropic firm that provides communities in need, both in the US and developing countries, with low-income housing, schools, and community centers.