Why millennials value volunteering

Photo credit: Indevjobs.org

Despite stereotypes of being self-absorbed and apathetic, millennials actually care more about volunteering than older generations — at least according to a poll that the Associated Press and GfK conducted. This poll finds that people under 30 are more likely to say that citizens have a “very important” obligation to volunteer.

Why is volunteering so important to millennials? Perhaps because so many of them grew up in a culture that encouraged and even required volunteer work. For 24-year-old Morgan Gress, community service was required at her high school, and there were numerous opportunities to volunteer at her college.

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What successful people were doing at 25

Oprah in her 20s (Photo credit: YouTube/OWN TV)

Last week’s guest post discussed how, in this age of technology where everything’s fast and instant, we expect professional success to come instantly as well.

And it doesn’t help that we’re constantly seeing and hearing about exceptional young athletes, musicians, and actors who have all achieved high levels of success before their mid-20s.

But not everyone who became successful had their careers figured out by their mid-20s, as this Business Insider article proves:

What 18 Extremely Successful People Were Doing At Age 25 (businessinsider.com)

20something profile: Christian

This post was written by Christian, who shares her strategy guide for being in your twenties:

Start in a Position of Power

Congratulations! You’re poised for some self-discovery. Maybe you got the right grades. You probably got into a great school. Maybe you’ve embarked on starting your own business or beginning your dream career. Yay, accomplishments!

No one’s capable of messing up without something to ruin. Rev your engines at the starting line. Right now it’s all sunshine and a course paved in translucent rainbows. Be equipped with optimism, energy, and a competitive spirit. You’ll need it.

“Beeeeeep…beeeeeeeep…beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!”

And so, your journey to the podium starts.

My trip to Israel

I just returned home from Israel, and it was an extraordinary experience. I learned about Israeli history and culture, explored beautiful places, and met amazing people. Among the highlights of my trip: riding camels in the desert, rafting in the Jordan River, visiting the Western Wall, and witnessing a flood in the desert.

On the plane home, I watched a movie called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The main character starts off as being meek and bland. He never does anything interesting with his life but constantly fantasizes about being a man of action and adventure. When his job is placed in jeopardy, though, he’s forced to take an adventure that ultimately turns him into the man he fantasizes about being.

Destination: Israel

Photo credit: Wikipedia

I won’t be updating my blog for the next 2-3 weeks because I’ll be going on vacation. I’m participating in the Birthright Israel program, which gives Jewish young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 a free 10-day trip to Israel.

This will be quite the new experience for me: the only country I’ve ever been to (outside of the US) is Canada. It’s also the first time that I’m vacationing without friends or family, though I’ll be traveling with a group of young adults.

I’ve had several young adults write on this blog about their experiences traveling around the world. They discuss how their travels have broadened their perspectives by opening their minds to new ideas and cultures.

Millennials: Changing the world

Some of the extraordinary millennials spotlighted in the Huffington Post’s article (Photo credit: Huffington Post)

At 20somethings in 2014, I like to spotlight millennials who are making difference and disproving the stereotype that millennials are selfish and narcissistic.

So I was glad to find this Huffington Post article spotlighting seven millennials whose innovations are changing the world:

7 Millennials Who Are Too Busy Changing The World To Take Selfies  (huffingtonpost.com)

20something profile: Shirine

This post was written by Shirine, a twenty-year-old gal currently cycling around the world:

I am a twenty-year-old gal currently cycling around the world. I am from a well-educated family full of PhD’s — mostly psychologists and professors — yet I have opted for something a little different, a form of education that won’t leave me with a (pointless) degree, but rather a wealth of contacts, experiences, and happiness.

I have decided to live simply, for just five dollars a day, while I explore and live around the world, doing everything from cycling over the highest mountain passes to living in an Indian slum.

In the real world, it isn’t your grades that matter;

Finding a fulfilling career

Richard Branson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Unsatisfied in your job? Then you might want to read this LinkedIn article written by Sir Richard Branson, billionaire and founder of Virgin Group.

In the article, Branson describes how fear prevents people from leaving their jobs, but how that fear can be overcome by believing in yourself, perceiving your career change as a positive opportunity, and never giving up on your dreams.

Accompanying Branson’s article is an short film titled “Becoming Me,” which features the stories of four adults who had successful careers but were miserable because they were unable to find fulfillment in their jobs. 

If at first you don’t succeed…

Tom Brady (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This inspirational entry for the Together We Make Football contest tells the story of Heidi, a young artist who overcame a great setback to achieve her dream of becoming a professional animator:

This is why Heidi loves football (togetherwemakefootball.com)

Heidi caught her big break when Disney accepted her into a training program. At the end of the program, Disney would hire the animators they believed in the most.

20something profile: Jasmine

This post was written by Jasmine, a college senior who is majoring in Journalism:

Hey guys! My name is Jasmine Eclipse, and I am currently a senior at the University of Oregon. I left Hawaii (a.k.a. paradise) to attend college in the great Northwest. Growing up in Hawaii, I knew I wanted to leave the islands to attend college so I could experience the seasons and allow myself to grow as an individual. I guess you could say I left so I could “find myself,” as the hip kids say it.