When I was a freshman in high school, I discovered iMovie (after a series of events). Sounds stupid, huh? It didn't have many complicated features, effects, or editing tools...but it allowed me to comprise memories in the perfect way to share with my family and friends. Here's a little backstory:
When I received my first GoPro camera, I was in awe. I quickly realized how much easier it would be for me to capture little moments, whenever and most importantly, wherever...and that's exactly what I did. I brought the GoPro with me everywhere (if I could manage). I would squeeze it in my purse or backpack, attach it to my body (if necessary), smuggle it into concerts and events, bring it on vacation, and the list goes on. I did it all for the moments-- to be able to look back and smile.
After a year or so of doing this, I had enough footage to fill an entire computer. It was definitely overwhelming. Each video was unique in its own way...long, short, funny, serious, sad, precious, you name it. I had it all. But, here's the catch-- I didn't know exactly what I was supposed to do with it all.
During a rainy weekend, I received a text from a friend of a viral video she found on YouTube. The video was a series of moments, put to music, of a girl and her friends in Europe. For some reason, although I didn't know the people in the video, it still touched me. It made me feel a certain way. Seeing their laughs, cry, and adventures in three minutes gave me chills-- literally, I had goosebumps while watching. I felt like I knew them.
That's when it hit me.
I decided to start with the basics, by basics, I mean that I opened up iMovie...nothing too advanced.
I chose a song and began compiling small videos of memories I had with my friends and family into iMovie. What started out as something that barely flowed and looked pretty choppy, quickly turned into videos that made other people feel something too, with practice.
I started by just showing the videos to people close to me-- the videos definitely weren't ready to be shared with the world. The better I got, the more people told me to share them. So, I made a YouTube channel, but I didn't really use it much. After about a year, I decided it was time. I uploaded my first video and it got buzz in my community. It felt good. It felt...encouraging. So, I kept creating.
It got to a point where I would listen to a song and think, wow...this would make for a great video. I had an obsession with collecting and sharing moments, and it's paid off. I'm able to look back and reminisce in a fun and different way than most people, and I'm thankful for that.
Since my beginning, I've created more, posted more, improved my editing skills (this is a big one) and my skills behind the camera. I'm able to see a moment to music as it's happening. It's crazy how a small GoPro gave me a compilation of memories that I can look back on and smile about forever.
