As platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch become more prevalent, DVHS students are taking up content creation. For many, creating videos, art or music is more than a hobby — it’s a way to express themselves and build a personal identity. Yet, balancing the demands of school, social life and creative pursuits presents unique challenges.
Sophomore Melody Li, a student TikTok editor with 24,000 followers, admitted, “ I actually do both at once, which is probably not healthy. I usually start editing, then switch to homework and then go back and forth until both are done.”
Managing school, content creation and a social life can feel like a juggling act. Homework, extracurriculars and exams often disrupt the best-planned schedules, forcing our creators to adapt.
Sophomore Kayal Balaji, another TikTok editor with over 5,000 followers, said, “School makes it hard for me to edit or upload in a consistent manner, and because I am forced to prioritize my school, I’m kind of forced to upload maybe once a week and plan ahead for that.”
As for Li, as a student creator, it’s the same— time management requires sacrifice. She said she may stay up late to finish a project, all the while squeezing in edits between breaks or while finishing up work. Wanting to edit made the adjustments to her schedule often necessary and exhausting, especially when deadlines for both school and the content clash.
“I enjoy editing as it makes me feel good, so it makes it worth it. [Editing] usually takes a minimum of one hour, but can also go up to 14 hours, and balancing long editing sessions with academic demands can sometimes make it challenging to stay motivated, especially during busy times in the semester,” Li said.
Yet, school can also be a source of inspiration. Li mentions that although DVHS itself doesn’t spark specific editing ideas, friends and peers at school have given her ideas, be it through other friends who edit like her, or just listening to music in general. The coexistence of inspiration and exhaustion that results from being a student content creator reflects the reality of school life, both fueling and draining creative energy.
Balaji expanded on this, saying, “Talking to my friends and peers does give me a lot of creativity and ideas for my ideas, it’s like bonding with friends and their interests or current shows or people they give me ideas to make edits, but sometimes I wish there was, maybe a club of sorts so people could come together, share ideas and also just socialize.”
But content creation is no longer just a hobby. There are many opportunities for it to become a well-paying career, and Li views her editing skills as a valuable asset in the future.
Li explained, “Although I don’t see myself being a content creator full-time, I think editing is a cool skill to have, especially in a world where influencers rely heavily on editing, with the era of influencers also rising. And even if it’s not my primary career goal, I know my editing skills will benefit me in other contexts.”
Balancing content creation with academic expectations and college preparation still remains a challenge. While some students might want to pursue content full-time, they face pressure to prioritise academic achievements and college admissions.
Through everything, DVHS content creators are building skills, learning resilience and finding ways to express themselves beyond the school and classroom.
As Li and Balaji have said, the key is persistence. Not giving up helped them get to their current position. Navigating school and content creation isn’t always easy for student creators, but they remain driven by their passion and motivated to share their unique voices with the world.
