Being a finalist in FYI was a huge honor, my video was no cinematic masterpiece, but I was able to create a simple, yet sincere message about something I care about – the environment. I hardly knew how to make a video, but I included personal touch, describing how I ride my bike instead of driving everywhere, and the FYI platform allowed my voice/message to be heard. In trying to inspire others, I inspired myself to want to do more when I became invested in the exact message I wanted to share.
2007 Submission: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpwCAI5cyX8
My interest in social media was building when I discovered FYI, and it was really one of the first times I personally became an activist for something outside of the classroom. Today, access to social media and the tools to create videos, music, art, & media are available to many. FYI is a fantastic platform, and what I took away was that I do have a voice that can be heard. After the competition I dove much deeper into the media industry, I moved to New York and got a job in marketing and advertising to learn more about how to efficiently reach and inspire the masses.
My “issue” 3 years ago was the environment and climate change. There were some meaningful shifts to take climate change more seriously long before that, but it is definitely still an issue on a global level. There have been some improvements in cultural thinking, and in infrastructure, but recently it seems to have lost some momentum. If we don’t continue to demand more of ourselves, it’s hard to demand that our leaders make a similar commitment. I still try to inspire people to consider their behaviors, and with this years’ natural progression in the FYI competition to ask for ideas on solutions, I am excited to see what people come up with. I hope to see more innovative solutions to inspire, or concrete ways to sustain the environment!