UH Student News

To most students, university life has been a juggling process of deadlines, lectures, and personal commitments. In the case of Baymee, a University of Hertfordshire student, there is one more thing in that balance, running a YouTube channel. What started three years back as an uplift by close friends has now become a creative outlet, a place of confidence, as well as a means of communicating with people, not to mention that she must find her way through the stressors of academic life. My friends supported me, “they knew I liked storytelling and writing, and YouTube seemed the right place to share myself and acquire new skills such as filming and editing.” But there was no decision made without fear. Definitely judgment, she says. “The thought of people observing me and making judgments without even learning anything about me in a real situation is horrifying. I always have the fear of what if it is cringe? Then there is the need to balance regular uploads and being a uni student.”

Such anxieties have not been completely eliminated. She says, “I would say being misunderstood and also thought that my ideas are not good enough and that nobody cares about my work.” However, constantly posting has made her become confident. Frankly speaking, the more I posted, the more confident I became. I am sure experience makes it, in my case. Balancing coursework and writing content is a permanent problem. Baymee uses batch filming and late-night editing regularly. I edit at certain moments, such as evenings, late nights, and after work on weekends. I similarly attempt to post my videos in weeks where I have due assignments. She attaches more importance to her degree when conflicting with schedules. “My YouTube channel is probably the one that suffers the most. I am paying money to get a degree, and I am not getting the money on YouTube yet, so one of them is better than the other. But really, they both can be the victims of the same time since I am a human being and I get tired.”

The two worlds collide at some points. “Yes, there were too many occasions that I had to change to editing right after lectures. I deal with music, snacks, and simply reminding myself why I am doing it.” She modifies content to ensure she has uploads at the time of high traffic. “I either take a break and inform my subscribers beforehand, or I vlog what I am currently doing, uni vlogs, a day in my life, or library days. I also reduce the pressure, not all videos are to be movie super-cinematic.”

Her artistic work is a combination of planning and spontaneity in her creative process. “A mix of both. I tend to have a general concept of the videos I would like to produce, but I am a person who prefers to go with the flow. I do not want it to sound like a product of coercion.” A single video can take up to 1 and a half weeks, and it would have to be filmed, edited, and include thumbnails and titles. The simple tools bring about organisation. “Mostly my Notes app. To be productive and on time, I make weekly to-do lists, and writing them down makes me more productive.” Baymee also establishes her limits. ‘When I feel out of energy or am burnt out, I do not film. I do not shoot and edit in disorganised locations, and on weekends, I spend most of my time planning or editing.” She retreats when she is burned out. “I just rest. I sleep more, observe other artists, and write down. The creativity returns naturally when I have gotten back on the right track or when I have been inspired by someone.”

In the future, Baymee wants to make a profit out of her channel and create a good community. “Monetisation is a big goal. I would like to earn money out of my creativity, hone my storytelling, and become a legitimate digital producer. In the long run, I would have my channel to supplement my media career. In the meantime, she has been taking YouTube as a hobby, but she considers the prospect of it being her full-time job.

The story of Baymee is a story of bravery, imaginative ability, and determination. It demonstrates that despite deadlines and scepticism, students may find their time and place their interests, and in this way, motivate others to do the same.