Recently, I started posting more on my fashion TikTok page. I did this because, one, I missed the interactions I would have with people on the app, and two, I love the idea of switching things up. I was starting to gain traction on my profile, but I stopped posting as much when school started. I went from posting three times a day to once a week. As summer rolls around and I fiddle with my fingers out of pure boredom, I return to posting once again.
Posting is a powerful tool, and I feel the urge to do right by my audience. Posting to me is never about the amount of views I get or the amount of engagement I am receiving. If my post does go over a certain threshold, I notice. I ask myself
How can I make more content like that post? What about that post is connecting with people?
Earlier this year, I told someone I was a journalism major, and he asked me how I felt about the current trajectory of “the media.” The question was attempting to gauge my political ideologies, but I took the conversation in a different direction. I explained that while I am a journalist, I don’t report on those types of issues. I will never edit a response to fit the mold of a certain political ideology. While the person asking the question wanted me to bite the bait, I swam around it instead. I know that people are going to believe what they want to believe, and it’s not my role to change that. Nor would I want to.
There are a handful of excellent creators who practice humanity well, and I try to model my content after them. They walk around the streets of NYC and capture the beauty the city has to offer. Judi Jupiter is one of my favorite creators who has perfected the craft of talking to everyday people. I love the type of content she posts. From what I have seen, she tries her best to interview all types of individuals. Plus, all the young and impressionable NYU and New School students love when they are stopped by her. Being asked your story is powerful and freeing. This is the type of content I want to know more about.
I’m also still figuring out what type of content I want to push out after school. I’ve been unimpressed by the idea of writing about politics. I am a part of the Muscatine sister city program, but I want to keep my life separate from all the noise. My ultimate goal is not to end up as a talking head on CNN, waiting for the next soundbite.
I’d much rather put out content that is truly me, and I have loved sharing my stories through my newsletter. I’ve watched bits and pieces of the new Paul Ruebens documentary, and I find a lot of what he has to say relatable. He labels himself a “vessel” for all of the greatness that Pee-Wee brought to people’s homes. I hope I can do that for people one day — become a reliable vessel for all of the emotions that come with growing up, moving on, etc.
That’s why I write this newsletter every day. I know that when I write about my experiences, my readers are engaged. Posting about fashion on TikTok is just another avenue of creative expression. Perhaps I could tell stories about my experiences in fashion on my TikTok page.
TJL