Queen For A Day

What would you change if you were queen for a day?

Initially, this question sounds a lot like "What would you do if you were the class president?" Free chocolate milk and candy for everyone of course! But after taking this question into careful consideration, it really made me think. What would I change?

Coming from the generation of technology lovers and social media junkies, millennials have been labeled as "lost" and "out of touch". Although I may buy into a company with an apple as the logo, I do remain current on issues in America and believe there is room for change — other than my Facebook profile picture. 

As queen for a day, I would make three major changes. 

Source | Cincinnati Museum Center/Getty Images

1. Let's eliminate the wage gap! According to NWLC, women who work full time in the United States make 79 cents for every dollar paid to a man. This gap is even larger for women of color. It's 2016 and I believe everyone is entitled to equal pay for equal work. How can we address raising minimum wage in this country when there is still a significant difference in the amount one makes 

based off of their gender? 

Source | The Huffington Post

2. Enforce the message that Black Lives MATTER. It may seem impossible, but I have hopes that one day people will realize the #BlackLivesMatter movement is real and necessary. I cringe every time I hear someone argue "Well ALL lives matter...". Yes, all lives do matter; however, in America, for as long as anyone can remember, the lives of African Americans have been treated as if they do not. This is something I encourage everyone to do more research on. I cannot blame you for growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood — my hometown is known as "The Bubble" — but there is no excuse to remain ignorant to the issue at hand. 

Source | Google

3. Truly give everyone an equal opportunity to further education. I am lucky enough to attend a university and pursue a degree that I am not only passionate about, but one that will help me gain a stable job in the future. Money is touchy subject in America, and I am fully aware that it's not as easy as it sounds to give away education for free. However, I do believe it is possible to take steps in the right direction to make education a realistic option for those who would not be able to do so otherwise. As every person who holds this belief may say, "Germany has tuition-free universities, why can't we?"

Although I am a millennial, I am not completely naive. I know there is a reason things are the way they are, but that does not mean they have to change. If I was queen for a day and had a dedicated team and unlimited resources I would work tirelessly to make these dreams a reality. Until then, I will use my voice to spread my passion.