Social Lives

Meet four Utica College students who are living, learning, and inspiring others on social media.

It’s been said that Generation Z lives on social media. But with hundreds of thousands of views and followers between them, these four Utica College students are doing more than posting party pics. They’re sharing their passions, developing career aspirations, and connecting with others in meaningful—and sometimes unexpected—ways.

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Hometown: Story City, Iowa Major: Animal Behavior @a.kats.life on TikTok DEAR DIARY “I originally started my account last summer to be kind of like a video diary, but mostly to scroll [other users’ videos]. From there, I started uploading about my quarantine experience in Burrstone House in August 2020, both as a food diary as I was tracking down new allergens, and to help other college students know what to expect as they began their quarantines to go back to school in person. Now I’m back to posting video diaries and am trying to develop content around science communication.”

MY BIG (LUNCH) BREAK “My most-viewed video achieved 1.5 million views and 239,600 likes as of March 2021. This video was of one of my lunches in quarantine. A lot of people were asking questions about what to bring, how the school handled dietary restrictions, what was

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provided in the room, and other details of the quarantine process. This was at a time when a lot of college students were preparing to go back to their campuses, and I think a lot of folks were scared or anxious about what their two weeks would look like.”

WEIRD SCIENCE “It’s amazing seeing how my mutuals on TikTok are growing as science communicators. A lot of them have taken on the task of myth-busting COVID misinformation, and they get a lot of questions and a lot of hate for it. I am so inspired by their ability to simplify really big, scary concepts to a point where it is easy for the average person to digest. The community in STEM TikTok is strong and I will forever value the connections and friendships I’ve made because of this app.”

DAY IN THE LIFE “My content is just me! I’m always late to trends, and I only upload what makes me happy or excited. Sometimes I do OOTD [outfit of the day], sometimes I talk about science, sometimes I talk about social justice, and sometimes I talk about what it’s like being a student! It’s really all over the place, but it very much reflects me and my experience in life.”

COMMUNITY VIBES “There is a lot of toxicity that creators deal with, but through TikTok I have been able to connect with some amazing scientists who have mentored me not only through social media stress, but through classes, career concerns, and college.” BIG DREAMS “I want to pursue my Ph.D. and continue working in higher education as a professor of biology and ethology, and help mentor students through college.”

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For the uninitiated, the lingo on social media can feel like a foreign language. We turned to YouTuber Patrick Holt ’22 for a beginner’s guide.

Hometown: Whitesboro, NY Major: Communications, Concentration in Creativity Studies Circle Stick on YouTube @circle_stick on TikTok

IN IT FOR LAUGHS “My friends Jake Spears, Ryan Shanley, and I started our YouTube channel on July 23, 2020, and uploaded our first video the day after. Our goal then was to make videos and have a great time. However, as our channel has grown, we have changed our goals to make consistent content while making people laugh and feel safe in our community. We are a comedy “Let’s-Play” duo. We make videos where we play video games and make comedic commentary. Minecraft, Pokemon, and Mario are a few examples. Jake and I are the hosts of the show, and Ryan is our editor.” RARE FIND “One of our most popular videos, at 125,000 views, features us finding something incredibly rare in Pokémon. This was our first major blow-up where most of our current fans found us. They connected with us because it was a game they liked and they enjoyed our commentary.” GOOD TO GROW “We have been growing at a constant rate, with more than 4,000 subscribers on YouTube and 10,000 followers on TikTok. It feels great knowing people enjoy our content. Hundreds of people have reached out and told us how much our content has made them laugh and get them through hard times. We use this positivity to drive us forward.”

BIGGEST SOCIAL MEDIA PET PEEVE “Nothing drives me more insane than lazy content that is just pushed out to be pushed out. Ignorance also bothers me because people think they know everything and wonder why they aren’t growing. “

TALKING BACK “The interaction with our followers is my favorite part of social media. I love reading comments and talking with fans on a daily basis. A nice comment can make my entire day. We have a very close relationship with our followers. They love our weekly live streams and being able to interact with us. Many people have said our content has helped their mental health through being a part of our accepting community and light-hearted humor.” CAREER GOALS “Nothing would make me happier than making content for people to enjoy and watch as a career. Though unrealistic, it is still possible. It feels amazing to have fans and friends watch our content and genuinely enjoy that. The feeling of having a video do well is like no other.”

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Hometown: Utica, NY Major: Cybersecurity @nomadic_voices on Instagram Nomadic Voices on Facebook

POETRY IN MOTION “In January 2020, one of my childhood friends passed away due to gun violence, and I kept asking myself why? When quarantine happened, I thought more about the violence happening in my city, and I started writing poetry to express my frustration. I just wanted to share what I wrote. Because there was no other platform in the area, I decided to start one. I invited some friends who are musicians and artists, and we started going to parks hosting open mic nights. I established our social media presence, and it grew from there. Nomadic Voices is a way for people to start listening to each other and finding a middle ground through art.”

BRINGING IT HOME “Over the summer, Nomadic Voices events in Utica regularly drew around 35 people, both performers and spectators. This semester, I’ve been working with the Utica College Programming Board to organize the first Nomadic Voices event on campus, scheduled for late April. I’m hoping to draw a good-sized crowd, and that students will feel inspired to get on stage and express themselves.” FINDING MY VOICE “Before I was born, my family fled Myanmar for the Tham Hin Refugee Camp in Thailand, where I was born. We came to Utica in 2004, just before I turned five. When I was younger, I felt shame about being a refugee and my identity as a Karen person [a refugee from Myanmar]. As I grew, I became more proud of that. I realized my identity is important, and everyone else’s identity is important. I want to help other people realize who they are and to appreciate our differences. That’s really the goal of Nomadic Voices.”

GREATEST HIT “The most engagement we have had was a Facebook video of me doing a spoken-word piece in Handshake City in Utica about my identity as a Karen refugee in a Western society. We had thousands of views in just a matter of days, and currently the video is at 40,000 views with more than 400 shares. I believe it reached a lot of people because of the authenticity of the piece. There are a lot of refugees all over the world, and people can relate to it.”

LISTEN UP “I want to be a business leader and a social advocate. I love listening to others and learning about their cultures, their identities, and their stories, so I hope to grow the Nomadic Voices platform into something I could do as a career.” “I REALIZED MY IDENTITY IS IMPORTANT, AND EVERYONE ELSE’S IDENTITY IS IMPORTANT. I WANT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE REALIZE WHO THEY ARE AND TO APPRECIATE OUR DIFFERENCES. THAT’S REALLY THE GOAL OF NOMADIC VOICES.”

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Hometown: Utica, NY Major: Criminal Intelligence Analysis @brookeriscicafit on Instagram BALANCING ACT “I would describe my content as a blueprint for a balanced lifestyle. I post easy-to-follow workouts (both at the gym and at home), as well as healthy recipes, and photos or side-by-sides of me with motivational quotes.”

KEEPING IT REAL “I started my account in June 2019 to inspire others to start their own fitness journeys. I hoped that sharing my experiences would provide a realistic look at what having a balanced lifestyle could look like. I do feel like these core goals are the same today, but I would say my approach in communicating these goals has changed over the last two years. For example, I find that it’s extremely important to not only share what I do to get to a certain point, but also what goes on behind the scenes that is not always pleasant or ‘Insta-worthy.’ In a sense, my goal has evolved into inspiring and guiding others to make lifestyle changes that help them feel like the happiest and healthiest version of themselves.”

BEFORE AND AFTER “The photo that earned the most likes on my page was a before and after of my progress over the last several years accompanied by a real, raw, and honest caption. Any time there is a drastic change in side-by-side photos, I think viewers are drawn in immediately. After reading about the actual experiences of someone—a real person who is putting it all out on the table—I think followers tend to form a bond with the person in the pictures. It’s almost like they can relate to the caption, and at the same time, they are moved by the progress and inspired to make their own changes.”

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BIGGEST SOCIAL MEDIA PET PEEVE “There are a lot of nitpicky things that drive me insane on social media. However, one major pet peeve of mine is when someone blatantly copies someone else’s content without giving credit to that person. Not only is it disrespectful, it also ruins the opportunity for you to build connections with new people.”

TRUE FRIENDS “I have had the honor and privilege of connecting with so many people from all walks of life. I have had people be honest and vulnerable with me about their fears, putting their trust and confidence in me to help them start their own journey. What inspires me the most is knowing that I have helped even a small number of people choose health and happiness. I feel like I owe it to my followers to be there for them, even if it is only through a screen in their hand.”

FITNESS FAM “I consider my followers to be a part of my fitness family. Whether it’s a quick suggestion, or a long conversation that requires me to create a potential workout split or meal-prep blueprint for someone, I am always willing to do what I can to make the smallest difference in someone’s journey. My page holds me accountable and I do it for me, but I also like to think that every one of my followers is a part of my journey, too.” LEGAL DREAMS “My dream is to be a lawyer. I would love to work as a human rights lawyer or an immigration lawyer, especially after learning about the current state of our immigration system in the United States. I want to fight for justice and I want to advocate for those whose voices are not being heard. However, helping people in the health and wellness community has become a central part of my life, and I do not plan to close this part of my life off in the future.”

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What’s the key to social media stardom? Our savvy students weigh in.

“BE YOURSELF! Sorry to yell, but the emphasis is necessary! In a world full of imitation, be unique. On an app that is predictable, be unpredictable.

feed full of filters that everyone expects. No one can ever take away your authenticity. Embrace it, love it, celebrate it. — Brooke Riscica

keeping to a schedule. Whether it’s once a week, once a month or even every day, stick to the schedule. We upload every Monday and Friday at 1 p.m.” —Patrick Holt

“Honestly? Luck. Especially with TikTok, the algorithm changes so frequently and is so unpredictable it really just comes down to what happens to get on to people’s For You pages [TikTok’s personalized feed]. Once you get your first big video though, it’s all about building community. Even though the videos I make now don’t get

— Kat Hawley

“Be authentic. Your brand can

— Tabo Bo