Yes!

Yes, I was a annual giving officer sophomore year where I had a script and interacted with alum to try to get a fiscal donation.

Honestly? I treat TikTok less like a platform and more like a conversation that just happens to be public. People don’t open the app to be marketed to—they open it to feel seen, entertained, or understood for thirty seconds while they avoid doing something else. So authenticity starts there. I talk to the camera, not at it. Like I’m sending a voice memo to a friend. Some days that means rambling a bit, restarting a sentence, or laughing at myself mid-thought. I leave that in. Those tiny imperfections are what make someone stop scrolling and think, wait… same. I also listen. A lot. Comments aren’t just feedback—they’re content. Replying to them (especially with video responses) turns viewers into collaborators instead of spectators. When people realize you’re actually paying attention, they lean in. Hard. Another big thing? I don’t chase trends blindly. If a sound or format doesn’t fit my voice, I skip it—or twist it until it does. Audiences can smell forced content instantly. But when a trend aligns naturally with your personality or message, it feels effortless, and that’s when engagement happens without begging for it. And maybe the most important part: I’m okay with not being polished. Not every video needs perfect lighting or a viral hook in the first two seconds. Sometimes it’s just honesty, timing, and a little humor. TikTok rewards real humans being real humans. The rest usually follows.