What I Learned as UW's "TikTok Girl"

 

It’s hard for me to imagine a job more fun than content creation for my university. Free entry to events, working with students and organizations across campus, and hanging out with live mascots were just a few of the perks. Being the “UW TikTok Girl” for two and a half years had a huge impact on my college experience, and although I wouldn’t trade it for the world, it’s definitely a role that came with some unique challenges. Through learning about myself, my university, and the people around me, these are a few nuggets of wisdom that have stuck with me.

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1. Embrace the Awkward 

Putting yourself out there is scary. Putting your face online in front of hundreds of thousands of people… is terrifying. But a big part of my job is being willing to do whatever the brief asks, even if it’s outside of my comfort zone. Just as an example, a recent video project involved filming me dancing with headphones on in a silent library for almost half an hour. Part of having an online presence is being vulnerable with your audience, and sometimes it means accepting that things will get awkward. A popular series on our platform, Tiny Mic Interviews, hinges on me approaching strangers on campus to invite them to participate in our video. You can only imagine how many times I’ve been rejected in that scenario. And yes – it gets awkward. But then… life moves on! I ask the next person. We complete our video. The world continues to turn. Awkwardness and embarrassment are things we all experience, and these feelings are often good indicators that you’re moving outside of your comfort zone and growing as a person. Learning to embrace feeling uncomfortable and deciding to go for things that scare me has resulted in some of my favorite memories in college. 

 

2. Say Yes to Everything 

Beginning my freshman year of college in the fall of 2020, I had far from the typical first year experience. Classes were online, campus events were cancelled, and I was quarantined to my dorm floor for the better part of the year. Things began to return to normal the following year, and as I returned to college as a sophomore, I had a deep sense of needing to make up for lost time. As a result, I started saying yes to everything that came my way: first meetings of organizations on campus, sporting events and workout classes, dinners and game nights and last-minute road trips with my friends. I was determined to make the most out of my years at UW, and I recommend spending every semester with a similar mindset. 4 years truly does go by so fast. You will forever be grateful for saying yes to more, and giving yourself the chance to make all the memories you could during the short time you spend here. 

 

 

3. Get Outside 

On our social media pages, we spend a lot of time joking about the infamous Wyoming weather. The cold. The snow. The WIND. But all jokes aside, we are so lucky to be able to experience college in a place like Laramie. So many college students across the country will never experience the beauty Wyoming has to offer, including the truly wild places here that are so rare in the modern day. So go enjoy it! Get up early one morning and hike Turtle Rock, bike through Happy Jack, go climbing at Vedauwoo or camp out at Medicine Bow. Take advantage of the long winter months to go skiing or snowboarding at Snowy Range or embrace your inner child and help your friends build a snowman on Prexy’s Pasture. No matter how you spend your time outdoors, take the time to get out of the classroom and unwind. There’s so much waiting for you! 

 

 

4. It Takes a Village 

If there’s one takeaway I have from my internship with UW, it’s the fact that there are incredible people changing the world all around me. Our student body is made up of some of the most inspiring people I have ever met. I’ve had the opportunity to use our platform to showcase a small portion of these students, from scientists to athletes to Miss Wyoming herself. Through this experience I’ve made so many new friends and formed connections that my shy freshman self could never have dreamed of. Another thing my internship has taught me is the importance of community. I’ve found so many different sources of community throughout college, and I could not have made it through without them. Never underestimate the impact of your support group – it truly does take a village. Luckily, people in Wyoming are known to be incredibly friendly, and there are opportunities to make new friends everywhere you go. I recommend starting up a conversation with a stranger next to you at a football game, during lecture, or in the Panda Express line. They’re more than likely happy to chat! And if not, I kindly refer you back to bullet point number one.  

 

 

5. Explore Your College Town 

Hear me out on this one – no matter how well you think you know your college town, there will always be more you haven’t seen yet. Laramie is not a big place by any standards. But our downtown holds so many hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall locations that you’re bound to find something new every time you visit. Through my internship we’ve highlighted an array of local businesses and family-owned restaurants that are alive and well in Laramie, and as a graduated senior, I’m still finding places I’ve never noticed before. One of my best recommendations is to head downtown on a weekend without a destination in mind and just start exploring! Walk into places you have no business being in. Enter random storefronts that you’ve never seen before. Odds are you’ll score a fun trinket, someone will strike up a conversation with you, or you’ll find a new favorite restaurant. Even a place as small as Laramie is full of diverse people and places to explore. 

 

 

6. Never Underestimate/Undersell Yourself 

Content creation is a really fun job. Sometimes it looks like an easy job. Some people might say it’s not even a real job at all. For all of these reasons, I’ve experienced a whole lot of imposter syndrome working in social media. Imposter syndrome is such a silent killer of confidence and success – because no one has any reason to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself first. As much as I may try to undersell myself, I’ve helped create a platform for students where they can feel seen and heard, and that’s no easy feat! Some work may feel easy to you, and your first reaction might be to tell yourself that’s because “anyone could do it”. It’s much more likely that it feels easy to you because you’ve found something you’re good at. Listen to those instincts and trust your own abilities. You should always be your own biggest cheerleader. 

 

 

7. We Should All Want to Be Cowboys 

At the University of Wyoming, the cowboy spirit is real. Being the only 4-year institution in Wyoming means you feel a whole lot of pressure. But it also means you have an entire state of support. That’s something no other school can say. The school spirit and cowboy pride at UW is something I have never experienced before my time here. The best part of becoming a cowboy is that there is no definition of the right way to be a cowboy. Being a cowboy means chasing down your dreams at any cost. It means creating a life for yourself that you love. Most importantly, being a cowboy will not look the same for any two people. At the University of Wyoming, faculty and staff members are here to help you forge your path in life – no matter what it looks like. The cowboy spirit is apparent to anyone visiting our community and is one of the biggest reasons I’m proud to be a UW alum. 

 

 

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Spending my college years filming TikToks about squirrels and editing Cowboy Joe onto a snowboard is a unique experience, to say the least. Through my time here I’ve connected with so many students and faculty on our campus, spent hours exploring our school’s history and message, and learned more than I can say about college and life beyond. It’s an experience I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to future students. I hope something here resonates with you.

I’m gonna go watch some TikToks now.