Today we’d like to introduce you to Avanthika Reddy.
Hi Avanthika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Sometime life has its way of making you feel like you are not enough. no matter how much you try, there’s always this void of you not being enough. Even when my parents or friends did make me feel worthy, it was me who wasn’t giving myself the validation I needed, and that was both good and bad for me. There isn’t any particular milestone I’ve reached yet that I’d like to shout out to the world, but I have definitely become a better version of myself than I was yesterday, and that to me, is a big win. Ever since school, I was an ambivert. I always wanted to try new things but also would shy away at times. During my school years, I was usually considered the “misfit” who wouldn’t study or get good grades. You could see me more in the basketball court or the art class. I was indeed mischievous, too. throughout school, I never for once was interested in getting good grades or having an ambition. But it all changed once I got to college; College changed the way I looked at myself. It made me realize my potential and what my purpose is. I started acing my grades, getting good with extra curricular, and eventually being a star student. Despite doing all of it, I still was hungry for more. I didn’t feel content with what I was doing. Before I knew it, the void of not being enough kept growing on me. One of the very reasons it had a hold on me was trying to prove to the world that despite choosings arts, I can have a stable career. One of my closests friend once told to me, ” You don’t have a plan, Avanthika; you don’t know what you’re going to do in life, The subject you chose (journalism and political science) won’t take you anywhere.” It hit hard. Yes, I didn’t have a plan or a bachelors in law or engineering, but that had nothing to do with my elf worth. My degree had no power to make me a nobody. Their words took me to a dark place, and instead of being happy with myself, I started living to get validation from those who never supported my dreams. Trust me, this is the worst thing you can do to yourself. I clearly remember it was 2020, right when covid started. everything was shut out, and I need a source to keep myself sane. That’s when I started content creation on Instagram. What started as a hobby slowly became something I was recognized with. I kept making videos, and they did have a good response. I started with 200 followers, and now I stand with 16k. I know it’s not a massive amount, but I did have burnout breaks in between and almost quit creating content for about a year. Yet again, I was influenced with others. I forgot this made me happy, and I was so much focused on the numbers, the graphs, and the like count. That took a toll on me really bad. It took me a while to bounce back and realize I started this as a creative outlet, and because I love it, this isn’t something that can be determined if others like it or not; I do, and that all that mattered to me. Trust me, once I made up my mind and bounced back, this little hobby of mine paved my ways to greater opportunities. I was living back in Hyderabad, India, during this time. It created opportunities for brand collaborations and also was a strong source of money for me during my college days. I met some other amazing fellow creators and made some legible connections. Strong connections, I would say. I got internships in media agencies like a popular news channel, two amazing magazines, and many more. What I thought was too much for me or not my thing created a pathway for me in life. Trust me, all of this wasn’t planned. It happened out of passion and mainly life. I never imagined I’d start YouTube or have a solid plan of doing what I did. I didn’t even know if journalism or being influencer was the right thing. It just all happened as I kept following and doing what I liked. I found my interest and love in the media industry; I didn’t have a path or a plan. I kept chasing what I love and plans kept chasing me. Even today, when I moved to America for a better life, I was nervous, anxious, and skeptical of what ill do. I just bought a plane ticket and returned to America. I didn’t have a plan. No jobs. no plan for further education. Nothing. I just came with hope. Two months later, I know I did the right thing. Everything is just falling into its place. What I learnt so far from my experience in life is that, for some people, plans work; for some, they don’t. For me, life always surprised me with something better every time it took something away from me. I went with my flow, doing what I love, and things kept happening. I did have my hard ups and down, Terrible bad downs, but I didn’t give up, and I kept doing what I love. Today, I have a degree that’s my passion and a career that’s building and getting better by the day. It’s funny how one thing led to another. Life is never going to be easy; it’s always going to be messed up, hard, and easily criticized. I didn’t hold myself back because of the judgment of others, and I kept cruising forward. A hard credit goes to my parents for always having faith in me. MY journey yet might not be a blockbuster story, but to me, it is one because I am so proud of who I am today and that I never gave up on myself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wish it were a smooth road, but things have their own way of teaching you. My content creation journey has been the biggest change, or you could say plot twist of my life. When I started it, it was all well and good, but as it went along the way, it started getting to me,
1. The negative comment from people or even family friends if it was necessary for me to do it, what’s with the makeup, what is she trying to do, etc.
2. The numbers. The likes, comments, and views took a toll on me; I was always worried about getting better likes and views that I forgot the whole idea of why I started creating content
Another biggest fear was that I could never be successful. I didn’t have a plan, so I never knew what my future looked like. That was one of the biggest fear. The uncertainity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Jack of all trades is what I’d call myself; I rather see it as a compliment. I am a content creator on Instagram and usually make relatable, lifestyle, fashionable, and funny content. I also occasionally do vlogs on YouTube. I am a radio jockey in a popular Telugu radio channel called radio Surabhi. I also volunteer as a social media coordinator with a non-profit organization called the Human Survival Project. I’m currently working on publishing my first book. I also tuft rugs and am planning to relaunch my brand soon.
I’m honestly proud of how far I’ve come. Proud of realizing my potential and starting to live up to it
Honestly, I’m very ordinary trying to figure her way through life.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes. Having faith and pursuing your true passions in life is a powerful combination. When you wholeheartedly follow your dreams and do what you love, you emit a magnetic energy that draws opportunities and experiences meant specifically for you. It’s a reminder that the universe has its own way of aligning things, and when you trust in this cosmic order, you open the door to serendipity. So, have faith, follow your heart, and believe that what’s meant for you will ultimately find its way into your life, weaving a beautiful tapestry of destiny that reflects your truest desires.
More than the pictures, it would be great if you could check my Instagram out because most of my work is video format hence, I might not be able to add related pictures.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_avanthikareddy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_LvxoC_4XY&t=54s
