In September, I made a hype video for my high school’s football team that went viral. This was shocking since I made it out of boredom. However, the night I posted it on Instagram, it felt like everyone I knew had reposted it. The next day, I was showered with compliments. Peers and teachers who I had never spoken to before were talking about the talent I didn’t know I had. Soon enough, the football coach hired me to make videos. Feeling on top of the world that night, I showed my mom every comment on the video.

“You found your passion Siya,” she said—and after struggling to find my passion all my life, yes, I finally did. 

Whilst continuing filming for football, I started a videography business for organizations that couldn’t afford to pay for videos. I made videos for youth associations, clubs, and even personal events like weddings. It felt like I was filming all the time, but I didn’t mind, because I truly loved it.                

My school doesn't offer a media class. Even though there seemed to be no opportunity, students still reached out to me saying film is something they would possibly be interested in. It made me content to see others having the same interest, because if they developed a love for it, they could make a career out of it. I would have students help me film, edit, and in a few months I’m taking a group of students to a film festival in Chicago. I hope seeing other people’s work will inspire them. 

I had one of the football players help me film on the field when he was injured and couldn’t play. A few days later he came up to me at school and said, “You know what Siya, I think this is what I wanna do in life, I enjoy it a lot.” Hearing that, I had the same feeling that I had back in September: fulfilled.