Letter To A Young Millennial: Being your own advocate

Dear Young Millennials,

I recently had an experience where I knew going into it I was going to have to advocate for my needs or I would miss out on a vital life opportunity. I prepped myself ahead of time to be assertive and not feel intimidated because I knew advocating for myself was so crucial and beneficial in this situation. I’m sure as young millennials you all have experienced these same situations as well. Not only can it be nerve wracking, it’s scary.

I chose this topic to discuss last because it ties in everything else we’ve discussed in the previous three letters. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do for myself was self advocate. Although I’m very outspoken, in certain arenas that are unfamiliar I get nervous just like the average person. As I grow older I realize how much I relied on my mom to advocate for me at doctors appointments, school, etc. When I made my first doctors appointment in college I called my mom through the whole process because I just felt lost and I know for many of us we feel the same. It’s challenging to switch into being that self advocate, for me I was forced to because I was in college on my own.

Self Advocacy is not only needed in the doctors office, I use it in everyday situations. What is self advocacy you may ask? Self Advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, make your own decisions about your life and feel comfortable with them, learning how to get information so that you can understand how things affect you, knowing your rights and responsibilities, listening and learning, problem solving, and learning about self -determination. To start practicing Self Advocacy I started making small decisions on my own with out calling my mom for reassurance. I started with simple things like buying a few outfits or making a recipe I had been tiling over for awhile.

If you’re struggling with being your own Advocate I definitely recommend starting small. It’s all about building that trust within yourself that we so willingly give our parents or friends. I heavily depended on my mom, but as I made decisions for myself I began trusting myself more. I still struggle in doctor’s appointments, I don’t know why. But I’m doing very well in other areas. You also have to remember to be transparent and honest with yourself. We’re Young Millennials, we have plenty of time, don’t beat yourself up for not being where someone else your age is, that’s not fair to you and your progress.

I hope you all enjoyed reading these letters as much as I have, and hopefully they’ve helped you on this journey of life, Young Millennial.

With Love,

The Law According To Amber

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