Voting in my First Presidential Election
Roald Dahl once said, "somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world." Being a changemaker entails standing up for what we believe in and doing everything in our power to change the world. As a teenager, there are pivotal ages in our life that you are eager to reach. When you turn fifteen and a half, you can get your permit in the state of CA. Then at sweet sixteen, you can become a licensed driver. Young and free at age seventeen, you can donate blood without parental consent. Eighteen rolls around after years of waiting, and you're a legal adult. Who can now register to vote, and as parents would warn, also go to jail. The teenage years are exciting, nerve-racking, educational, emotional, and even life-changing. The power falls in our hands to decide how and when we want to change the world.
I was so excited in my junior year to be a licensed driver and have the freedom to steer my path. At age seventeen, I was eligible to donate blood for the first time. Donating blood meant that I could save up to three lives and help my community. A small action could have such a life-saving impact. While I talk about being a changemaker on a worldly scale, it can often be daunting. We may never be able to change the world; however, you can change someone's world. Donating blood meant that I could have a positive impact on someone's world.
When I turned eighteen, I registered to vote after my fair share of high school leadership elections and watching people come in and out of office. The people who lead are public figures, and they shape our everyday lives at the local level. Voting has the power to change the culture and impact our daily lives. I received my first primaries ballot and had no idea how to vote. With my fellow peers' support, I did my research and conversed with the people around me. I mailed in my ballot with the confidence that I not only filled in the ballot correctly but represented the people around me.
Receiving my ballot for the presidential election was a whole new ball game. The 2020 election between President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden was an election for which I could be present. My vote represented the people around me and the future direction of our country. Voting was fairly easy. I educated myself on the propositions and candidates running. I marked my ballot and dropped it off at my local ballot drop off location. In a COVID-19 world, I felt safe dropping off my ballot. While I did not take advantage of the usual polling experience, dropping off my ballot was how I felt I could safely exercise my right to vote.
Over the years, individuals have voted to place age limits on many things for the younger generation. While age is a limiting factor for some to get involved directly, it does not prevent teenagers from educating and advocating for change. I encourage anyone eligible to vote to listen to those not yet eligible. Have a conversation and share your experience with voting. Engaging in a dual perspective conversation might change your perspective, and changing your perspective might just put the country one step close to a brighter future. Hopefully, in the near future, we can reach a time where the younger generation feels represented, safe, inspired, and eager to be the changemakers of tomorrow.
Hootsuite Certified!
Social media is a continually evolving medium across various platforms. As a communication strategist being able to utilize multiple platforms is essential to communicating with audiences. Being able to work with the Hootsuite Platform can enhance any brands present on social media. Using the platform is an excellent tactic for staying consistent and on-brand with an organization's message.
My biggest takeaways from the Hootsuite Platform Certification and the Social Marketing Certification is to lead brands' social media with a purpose. The Hootsuite platform makes it very easy to plan, schedule, and interact on social media. However, without a clear purpose and marketing strategy, the success of a campaign can be unclear. Recognizing the audience trying to reach is essential in content creation for each platform. Hootsuite makes it easy to create content specifically for each platform and help reach audiences through paid advertising. Being able to facilitate a brand's goal and strategically communicating a mission through social media is the overall purpose of utilizing a Hootsuite platform.
I have grown my skills in content planning, social media governance, crisis management, and general use of the Hootsuite Platform through the certifications. The great thing about these two certifications is that the knowledge gained is applicable in both the Hootsuite platform and anytime you use or plan for social media. I encourage any communication strategist to look into these certifications, as they will help build tactics to be successful in the social media field. To view my certifications checkout my LinkedIn my clicking the icon in the top right corner!
Advocacy in a Digital Age: 5 Ways to Promote Advocacy
Technology has the power to connect the masses and empower others to follow. Advocacy is defined as individuals that aim to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions by speaking up for others. The freedom social media has had for content creation gives advocacy new meaning for youth. Social media was created to connect with individuals. Steve Jobs was a leader in technological advancements for decades. Empowering individuals to communicate through accessible technology.
Steve Jobs once said, “When you grow up, you tend to get told the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money. That's a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again”
In a digital age, anyone has the power to become an advocate for change. Youth have access to social media at their fingertips and use platforms to share their opinion. Students have used social media to advocate for the environment, social inequality, women's rights, bullying, mental illness, etc. They have not waited for permission to speak. Instead, social media has been used to share stories, speak up, and stand up for what youth believe in. Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg, is an excellent example of youth taking a stance and advocating for something they believe in. Greta went viral after advocating for climate change and has impacted the climate change conversation on a national level. One person can advocate and spread a message to the masses by merely having the courage to speak up for change.
5 ways to promote advocacy
Do your research
Know what you want to advocate and find other resources to support the cause.
Take a stance
Think about why you advocating for said cause. What are you going to promote personally?
Advocate effectively
What platforms do you want use to share your message? What audience are you wanting to reach?
Be open to others opinions
Promote active conversations and encourage others to contribute to the cause!
Get active in local government
Effective change happens, when you get involved! Build local connections and start a conversation.
Being an influencer and advocate on social media is an ongoing conversation. Here is a resource to learn more about using social media for advocacy!
Resources
Communicating from Your Why
To communicate, any leader must understand their "why" before representing others. Author and speaker Simon Sinek believes that "people don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe". Understanding the why of your personal brand will help further your ability to serve others and align yourself with opportunities that best fulfill your why, when you discover value in your why you serve with your purpose.
As a communication strategist, understanding the purpose of the brand your serving is at the forefront of your work. Simon describes three stages that are important in conveying any message: why, how, and what. Why examines the purpose of the message and the importance. Why should you people care? How indicates the steps taken to fulfill the why. What, describes what they do as a result of the how and why. Communicating from the inside out is how to communicate directly with the consumer's brain that deals with behavior. Behaviors are what drives individuals to interact. I lead to help others be the change they want to see in the world. I believe I can positively impact others through communications strategies, PR, and leadership development. Personal why's are essential in developing yourself as a leader.
Leaders strive to communicate with followers every day to build relationships and trust. Brands are successful through loyalty and trust built with the consumers. We live in an age where much communication happens over social media and is instantaneous. Being a leader requires high communication standards, as words and actions have drastic effects on perception. I challenge you to reflect on your why, how you fulfill your why, and what you do as a result. Together let's explore brands and individuals who are serving from there why.
Here are some brands I support and are great examples of serving from there why!
Stay tuned to explore some of these brands in a future blog post!
A Leaders Role in Communicating
Communication is a skill that every individual should work on growing. James C. Humes, author and presidential speechwriter, describes, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” In any leadership, role communication is essential in developing relationships and carrying out various tasks. Communication is something you are never not doing and is a vital characteristic of any leader. Through communication, leaders inspire and motivate people to follow. At the same time, there are many definitions of leadership. Leadership can be anyone who inspires action and change. Great leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and numerous others, are prime examples of good communications.
Leaders communicate through various mediums, such as social media, personal interaction, mass communication, public speaking, etc. According to the Harvard Business School, there are 8 Essential Leadership Communication Skills:
Ability to Adapt Your Communication Style
Active Listening
Transparency
Clarity
Ability to Ask Open-Ended Questions
Empathy
Open Body Language
Receiving and Implementing Feedback
These communication skills are continually developing over time through intentional practice. As a public relations specialist, I find all eight communication skills to be essential. The ability to adapt communication styles across various mediums allows you to reach target audiences. Actively listening to your audience helps best serve the individuals you are trying to reach through your brand. Transparency and clarity build trust with the audience. Asking worthwhile questions keeps individuals active and involved. Empathy and body language help public relations specialists represent the brand and connect on a deeper level. Lastly, receiving and Implementing feedback is necessary for growing the brand you represent. Whether you are actively pursuing leadership or representing a brand, these communication skills will be essential in conveying your message as a changemaker.
Welcome to my first blog!
My name is Hannah Tudor, and I am a communication strategist, public relations specialist, leader, and overall changemaker. I am excited to embark on this new way of communicating and documenting what it means to be a changemaker. My heart is with serving others and helping promote change within our world. I live by Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” as it reminds me every day that my actions have the power to inspire many. This blog will educate, empower, and bring you along with what it means to be a changemaker in your field.
In a rapidly evolving society, learning to be a changemaker, communication strategist, and public relations specialist has developed into my passion. In my 19 years of life, I have defined that building relationships and cultivating change is essential to driving the world forward. Creating an environment where people are happy, connected, and united is something I strive to create every day. Nevertheless, I am not perfect, and life is complicated. After all nobody imagined we would be going through a global pandemic in 2020. Similar to past challenges, the world has persisted in showing hope in uncertain times. In an ever changing society adaptable, innovative, and risk-seeking leaders drive change in society. Uncertainty is when leaders rise to the occasion and develop plans to help people move towards. Many leaders’ actions have inspired me to lead, take action, build relationships, and help others lead.
My future career goals include working with nonprofits and education fields in PR or private-sector communications. Communications and public relations play a hand in and hand. My experience with social media and various organizations, such as #ICANHELP, GoodWorkHouse, #Digital4Good, Facebook, and Twitter, has given me the skills to be successful as a communication strategist. Communication is essential for any leader and is needed to be a successful changemaker. To me, being a changemaker can be as big as becoming president or as small as a random act of kindness. Understanding your definition of changemaking can help drive success in your field. So join me as we embark on a journey of reflection, growth, and empowerment to be the change we want to see in this world!