How to get into Harvard and life as a content creator with Caitlin!
Sep 13, 2023
auto_awesome
Special guest Caitlin, a content creator who attended Harvard, talks about choosing art over STEM, SAT scores, getting into Harvard, dealing with crazies at Harvard, and finding confidence to become a full-time content creator.
Choosing art over STEM can lead to a fulfilling creative career.
The Asian creative community has played a significant role in shaping content creation on YouTube.
The supportive Asian media community provides opportunities for aspiring content creators.
Deep dives
Kate's Background & Decision to Study Art at Harvard
Kate studied art film and visual studies at Harvard after initially considering a career in science. Her parents were supportive of her decision. She mentioned that her dad had a background in photography, which likely influenced her artistic pursuits. Kate's family values financial collaboration and sees resources as shared, which has shaped her mentality of supporting her siblings and contributing to the family. Kate and her siblings have different strengths, with Alex being incredibly witty, Kylie excelling at picking up crafty skills, and Kate herself having the confidence to pursue her creative career.
The Influence of Asian YouTubers and Creative Pursuits
Growing up, Kate and her siblings were heavily influenced by Asian YouTubers like Wong Fu Productions, Ryan Higa, and Michelle Phan. They were drawn to YouTube because it provided more content options than traditional TV. Kate mentioned that the Asian creative community played a significant role in jump-starting YouTube. Their exposure to different creators' work shaped their aspirations, and their shared background and creative pursuits have brought them closer as siblings.
The Confidence and Determination to Pursue Full-Time Content Creation
Kate has the confidence and determination to pursue full-time content creation after graduation. She believes that putting faith in herself is more secure than relying on a corporate job, as companies can lay off employees at any moment. Kate feels that the creative industry offers a good balance between work and personal life, and she is not afraid of the potential challenges that may arise. Additionally, she has a backup plan and continues to take on freelance projects to ensure financial stability.
Discovering a Supportive Community
While interning for Wong Fu Productions, the speaker had the opportunity to meet and interact with various Asian content creators, including those from BuzzFeed and Fresh Off the Boat. This experience showed her the tight-knit and supportive Asian media community, which made her realize the potential support and opportunities if she pursued a creative career.
Navigating Artistic Pursuits
The speaker discusses her passion for pursuing art and her hesitations about showcasing her work online. She contemplates sharing more about her artistic journey and the challenges of balancing a creative career with societal expectations. She also highlights the significance of creating content that resonates with others and the fulfillment that comes from helping aspiring artists pursue their passions.
Soooooo excited to bring ya'll our bestie and SPECIAL GUEST @caitshouse (and Uni) on this week's episode of the Rooftop Pod!!!!!
3:33 how we met cait
15:00 choosing art over STEM
18:30 SAT scores
21:00 how to get into Haaafuuuuu
39:52 crazies at harvard
52:00 finding confidence to become full time content creator
Cait's socials:
Youtube/IG: @caitshouse
Tiktok: @caitlinnlam
Our socials:
Rooftop Pod email: therooftoppod1@gmail.com
Rooftop Pod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@therooftoppod
Jesse's TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jessezhan
Andrew's TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@andrewjzhan
Jesse's IG: https://instagram.com/zhan_solo/
Andrew's IG: https://instagram.com/andrewjzhan
Discord: https://discord.gg/kWgV7rjMgV
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode