A freshman at Elon University majoring in Strategic Communications with an Entrepreneurship minor, Amy Rauch is a YouTube star with over 12,000 subscribers and 550,000 views (and counting)! WayUp sat down with Amy to discuss not only how she found her passion but also how she manages it all during her first year in college.
Tell us how you first got into social media.
The first social media platform I became super involved in was my YouTube channel. I started it my freshman year of high school because I wanted a creative outlet to express myself. I was super interested in beauty and video production at the time, so what better way to combine them than making a YouTube channel? Once my channel started to grow I fell in love with the entire creative process from start to finish, and it grew from there into other social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
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What is your favorite part about college?
There’s no one telling you where to be or what you have to do. It forces you to take full control of the life you want to live and the person you want to become, it’s essentially a fresh start. I also really love the spontaneous moments of college. Some of my favorite memories so far come from the late night runs for Oreo milkshakes at 3 a.m. with the new friends I’ve made this year.
What is the hardest part about managing your YouTube while being a full-time student?
Finding the time and space to film and maintain a consistent uploading schedule while being a full-time student with an on-campus job working for a nonprofit called H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat)!
What is your favorite post or video that you’ve ever done?
My favorite video I have ever done was titled “RAIN JACKETS & BRUNCH”. It was a short film style video I made with the help of one of my best friends, Emily. We took the day to explore a cute downtown neighborhood not too far from where we live. I had the chance to work with one of my absolute favorite brands, Charles River Apparel, and really wanted to make a high-quality video to reflect how passionate I was about the company. I filmed my day, which consisted of a cute brunch and the rain jacket they gifted me for the video. I was really happy with the way the video turned out and the overall vibe the video gave off.
What has been the coolest experience you’ve had through your site?
Last year I traveled, for the first time completely by myself, to Orlando, Florida for Playlist Live. Playlist Live is a 4-day convention for YouTubers to gain insight about the field, meet new friends, and enjoy the Florida sun in the typically brisk February. I stayed with three of my other YouTube friends and spent the week laughing, exploring, and enjoying the convention. I was able to meet so many people and experience so many new things I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do without my channel.
Who has been your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor was in a humanities class this past semester. The class was centered around the concept of laughter, satires and comedy, and how it has evolved over time. He was so passionate about what he was teaching and always cracked typical “dad jokes” that I thought were hilarious. He was such a genuine person and made his class something that I looked forward to every day. For our final he made us fresh chocolate-chip pancakes that were absolutely delicious – a perfect way to end the class.
What advice would you give students who are looking to pursue their dreams?
My advice for students that are looking to pursue their dreams would be to be passionate and determined, and to never let someone tell them they aren’t worthy, or good enough, for their dreams. I think that if you work hard enough and emit good vibes, that you are capable of anything, and no one can take that away from you.
For those of you who are fans of Amy’s, check out one of our favorite videos where she gives a special shout out to WayUp!
