For many years, I, like many other people my age, have been obsessed with YouTubers. As it so happens, my roommate is now a YouTuber. Olivia Goldrich is a freshman at the University of Oregon passionate about creating videos. With a total of 124 subscribers so far, she is growing steadily while making weekly lifestyle videos consisting of fashion, vlogs, music, tv and movies, bullet journal tutorials, etc… Even if she wasn’t both my friend and roommate, I would still watch her videos, and I think you should too.
As a cinema studies major, Olivia’s goal after college is to produce movies or television shows. Publishing videos on YouTube is her way of gaining experience and practicing video production on a smaller scale. Olivia says, “Making film and having fun with my camera is the reason I started my channel. I think that video (Why I Love Film) really shows my passions and told my viewers what I love which also shows a little bit into who I am.” Olivia’s favorite self-produced videos help her share more about herself, which makes her audience feel less distant from her.
Making YouTube videos isn’t as easy as many viewers often assume, especially when balancing a busy school schedule as well. Some of the challenges a student YouTuber like Olivia have are coordinating a filming schedule while having a roommate and balancing school work and sorority commitments. Olivia says, “Like any assignment, it’s hard to get my videos edited on time because I do have a lot of assignments for school. But editing is a stress reliever for me, so I try to slow myself down and take breaks from my essays and readings to sit down to have time for me and for something I love doing which is important for me.”
Even with these challenges, she highlights that making videos is a good stress reliever for her, so the extra work doesn’t feel overwhelming. When asked about her goals as a YouTuber, Olivia says, “I try not to be too focused on numbers. I don’t have a number of subscribers that I want to reach. I just want to have fun, be creative and learn.” Instead of focusing on the numbers and monetary success on the platform, Olivia has the bigger goal of watching herself grow as an individual, knowing that her interests and focus will change over the years. It is important to her to “make videos that people enjoy, but to stay true [to herself] because so many creators online get lost in it.”
One YouTuber that Olivia looks up to is Kristin Johns because she “is incredibly genuine.” Kristin cares a lot about her subscribers as she makes it very clear with her audience that her YouTube channel serves as a highlight reel of her life, which many viewers tend to “become obsessed with their seemingly perfect life” as Olivia says.
As Olivia continues with her current hobby of making YouTube videos, it could turn into a possible job or a stepping stone into the career of her dreams. She says she is “very lucky to have supportive friends and sorority sisters, who watch my videos and get excited for me, so luckily I haven’t had to deal with any negative feedback so far.”
To check out Olivia’s channel, click here.