It might sound kind of crazy, but the first thing that really motivated me to label myself as a content creator was getting injured.
Life works in mysterious ways, and being sidelined turned into a catalyzing factor in my journey with content creation.
Having my sport taken away from me and not being able to compete and travel with my teammates, creating content became an outlet for me.
It was something I both found joy and comfort in doing.
And honestly, it was something I’ve always wanted to do.
When I was younger, I was one of those kids who’d create Video Star movies and fill in templates on iMovie, creating videos with friends and family just for fun.
You could say that I always dreamed of becoming a content creator, I just didn’t have the motivation or encouragement to get there.
And so, getting injured was, oddly enough, the kick-starting factor in my journey to becoming a content creator.
Layers to the Journey
My creator journey started back in December of 2023 when I first got injured.
It was my first major injury in sports, tearing my Achilles, which completely ended what was supposed to be my last season in college.
Outside of PT and classes, I had all the time in the world to really pour into this content creation dream.
Since then, I’ve evolved so much as a creator, trying out new platforms and seeing what sticks.
It’s truly a marathon, not a sprint, when it comes to creating content.
I’d say that Instagram has always been the main social media platform I’m trying to build up.
It’s the one I’ve had the most success with in terms of finding my audience and connecting with people.
Recently, I’ve also been having success on Snapchat, which I think is a very underrated social media platform — something I didn’t know could benefit creators until I went to AthleteCon last year.
I’m also approaching my YouTube anniversary.
That platform has become a comfort area on the internet for me because I can be vulnerable and truly be myself there.
I also feel more connected to the people on YouTube than any other platform.
It's been a really cool journey to continue to build on social media, and I’m excited to see how much further it can take me.
Made to Inspire
If I had to describe my brand, it’d be a combination of sports and lifestyle.
Most of my content surrounds my experience as a student-athlete and what it’s like to balance athletics, academics, content creation, and social life.
But I also like to share things about my hobbies, like my favorite coffee and the music I listen to.
In terms of what I want to be known for, I’d love to be that go-to creator for someone who wants to be inspired.
It’s always been my goal to use my platform in a positive way that can help uplift others, motivate them to get out and try new things, and be themselves.
I want people to harness that superpower of individuality to help them get to where they want to go.
Before I ever considered myself a content creator, I used to do this thing on my Instagram story every Monday called Motivation Mondays. I’d post a cute little graphic with a motivational quote on my story every single week.
I did this for about two years straight.
It's always been on-brand for me to be that motivating content creator on your feed, and I really hope to continue that moving forward.
Defining Moments
In terms of defining moments, the first one that comes to mind is hitting 10k on Instagram.
It was a huge turning point for me to see that number on my profile and realize that everything I’ve been putting into growing my platform was paying off.
I’ve been sharing my recovery journey and my experience as a student-athlete, and people would reach out, relate to my experiences, and ask me questions about how I got through certain things.
That was a great moment to realize that I’m meant for this.
This is something I’m good at.
People want to reach out to me and are inspired by my content.
Another defining moment was attending AthleteCon.
That was the first time I was immersed in an environment where I was surrounded by people who wanted to do the exact same thing: post content, make connections to make NIL deals, and develop a community of like-minded people who appreciate what it takes to be a content creator.
I’m really blessed to attend AthleteCon again to get even more knowledge and meet more incredible athletes and professionals in the industry.
I feel like it’s going to launch me into the next phase now that I’ll be pursuing my post-collegiate career, whatever that may entail.
NIL Deals
I want to touch on my favorite NIL deal because, as an international student, I’m not actually able to participate while I’m in the United States.
My journey with pursuing NIL deals looks slightly different than the typical collegiate athlete.
When I was home in Toronto last summer, a brand that makes portable recovery tubs for athletes approached me.
The brand is called Lumi Therapy, and they sent me a full-on ice tub.
I could blow it up with the pump, fill it with a hose, add some ice to it, and have a portable ice bath in my backyard.
It was so cool that they sent that to me, and I felt grateful to be doing something that related to my brand as an athlete and someone in that space who values recovery.
The whole deal was a huge success because so many people engaged with the video.
They thought the product was cool and actually reached out to me to see where they could get one for themselves.
Advice to Others
I hate to echo the common answer to this question, but to fellow athletes trying to become content creators, consistency is the name of the game.
And I don’t just mean you should post something every day, even if it’s not super relevant or the best content.
There are levels to consistency.
It’s essential to have some sort of routine when it comes to posting content.
For example, right now I can manage posting one main feed video every week on YouTube, and that’s been working well for me.
But it’s different for everyone.
Realistically, as a student-athlete, it’s difficult to come up with one video a week, so it’s really about finding that balance of being able to create great content that your community will resonate with and appreciate.
When it comes to other platforms, it varies.
On Instagram, I try to post as often as I can so my face is continuously popping up on people’s feeds and hopefully reaching new audiences so I can grow my community.
There’s a line between consistency and relevance because if you’re just posting nonsense all the time, it’s not going to be great for your engagement in terms of keeping people around.
It's definitely important to value the quality of your content and understand how your audience perceives it.
One last thing I’ll add is that I hope prospective creators don’t have to suffer a major injury to start posting content like it did for me.
I wish I’d started so much sooner.
Aside from capitalizing on your name, image, and likeness and making money from brand deals, it’s a great way to look back on how far you’ve come, having documented much of your journey throughout college.
Hopefully, this can be a sign for someone who might be nervous about getting started to just put themselves out there.
It’s going to be awkward and cringey at first, but something I like to remember is that your social media isn’t necessarily for your friends.
If you’re trying to build a business out of it or create NIL opportunities for yourself, you have to think about it as a digital resume or portfolio.
Showcase to brands that you’d be a great fit for promoting their product down the line.
I love sharing advice based on what I’ve learned in my journey in content creation.
I hope that, moving forward, someone will feel inspired by my journey and the content I’ve put out.
I’m super excited to continue creating content even beyond being a collegiate athlete.
There’s so much value in building up this audience and community while you’re a student-athlete and slowly transitioning your content to whatever you’ll be doing after college.
Having those same people who stuck by you during your college years follow you into the next phase of your life is a really special thing.
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📷 Hayley Manners and UCF Athletics
