I never thought I’d be working in social media.
I grew up thinking I wanted to be a doctor (probably because I watched every episode of Grey’s Anatomy). Then in high school, a series of current events and intriguing debates got me interested in politics. I applied to colleges with strong international relations programs, with the goal of landing a government or foreign service job.
Three months into freshman year I realized I was not excited about the thought of spending my life working in or around D.C. While I was still interested academically in politics, it didn’t excite me as a career path. I saw other students so passionate about what they were working towards – whereas I dreaded the thought of applying for “Hillternships” or becoming tied to a government job.
What was I actually, truly passionate about?
My freshman year revealed that there was one thing above all else: riding. Being around my horses – not only time in the saddle, but hours spent caring for them and studying the sport – made me feel at home and invigorated all at the same time.
Wait, not social media? But you’re not a professional equestrian? If you’re a little confused, stay with me: because like everything else, my journey isn’t linear.
The horse world is an all-encompassing passion that doesn’t operate by “normal person hours.” I knew most traditional jobs wouldn’t allow me the time & flexibility to pursue riding as fully as I wanted to.
So, I started to ask myself: What was I excited about pursuing? And what would also enable me to chase my dreams?
I recognized a theme within those potential career paths I’d explored earlier in my life. All of them had something to do with helping people – whether it was medicine, tech, or government, I was drawn to doing something that would enable me to make an impact.
Slowly, I connected the dots in my brain and came to the realization that a career in social media & digital marketing checked all my boxes. And of course, I started with Instagram.
Instagram has long been a hobby I enjoy, from running a photography account when I was 11 (if you can remember Rebel Pops, you are an Instagram OG!), building a skincare Instagram that has amassed over 3,000 followers, or simply sharing memories with family & friends. But in recent years, it became more than that. I saw the power of the platform to generate revenue and build connections with customers, and the freedom it could give business owners who wanted to work for themselves (and no, I’m not talking about scammy network marketing companies. I’m talking about CEOs building their brand on social). From my phone/laptop, I could build a business that not only helped people but allowed me to pursue my passions at the same time. With that renewed drive towards my career path, ABC SMM was born. And a little over six months later, it’s still a “baby” in the business world, but I’m so excited to see where it takes me. And I’m stoked to have you along for the ride 🙂
