It's time to question bio-engineering

Solution Fluency Presentation 

Debrief

Working on this project was quite easy and very informational. I learned a lot, and got to bond with my partner, Katherine. Personally, I feel like the project could've have more effort put-into it towards some of the research and our dilemma, but other than that I feel that we did great. As well, doing this project helped me expand my mindset on where the world is leading too and how fast it's taking humans to do something they couldn't have thought of doing not even a century ago.

For my community connections project, I got the chance to interview a content creator called Ava Smithwick. I chose to interview Ava since we both have many things in common. Ava is a creator on the known platform TikTok who has been recognized by artists such as Nicki Minaj. She creates videos that are related to Nicki Minaj and these videos are redirected to Nicki’s fans or well known as the Barbz. I’m glad that I got the chance to interview her since we both have the same interest in our favourite celebrity, and creating content.

Ava as well as her own docu-series on lyfeathome called Ava Knows Wellness. The first episode of her docu-series landed around January 2022, and it’s about health, fitness, nutrition, meditation, beauty and self-love. Personally, I think it’s a great message for all, and Ava is the perfect person to direct that message.

Minaj at the Met Gala, 2018, Google Images, Entertainment Tonight

The questions I asked Ava after getting her permission to interview her are…

Can you explain your roles and responsibilities with your current position?

Her answer was “My roles and responsibilities with my current position are to make sure I create a safe space for all people to come and enjoy content surrounding Nicki Minaj. I always strive to make everyone feel welcome and find excitement within her music. I make tik toks almost daily and interact with the people who enjoy my content!”

What obstacles have you faced to get where you are today?

“The biggest obstacle I have had to face is the anxiety that comes with a good amount of people following you. You tend to worry if people will like you or accept you, but after a while, you stop caring. Once you realize you’re just doing it for fun and release the attachment to followers and numbers, it gets so much easier and wayyy more fun.”

What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing?

“I would tell people that it’s not as glamorous as it looks. There will be days you want to delete all of your social media, run away, and cry. These days are nothing compared to the interaction you get with genuine people who love what you do. Talking to and connecting with people who get you and love you is SO worth it. Don’t get discouraged and stay true to you.”

Why are you passionate about your job or role?

“I am passionate about my role because I am able to do what I love, and that is be a fan of Nicki Minaj. It’s so amazing that I can promote her and share my love for her with so many people. It is so incredible to connect with real people who share the same interests as you.”

 

What gives you the motivation to keep on doing what you do?

“My motivation is all the amazing people who follow me. I have had some really nasty comments and mean people come across my page, but for every one of them, I have so many more people who are kind and uplifting. These are the people who make it all worth it. It is so special to share genuine moments with people all across the world.”

And will you continue on creating content for a good amount of time?

“I plan to continue creating content for a while! I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”

Google Image, CPO Magazine

I’m glad that I got to interview Ava since it really got me to look differently at content creation. I love content creation, and I do it in my spare time on my youtube channel, but interviewing Ava gave me a better perspective on what it’s like to be a bigger content creator like her. I’d say she and I especially connect in the way that we both love Nicki Minaj. I wouldn’t call myself a superfan like Ava, but I would still say we have the same interest. I’ve been watching her content for quite a while now and it never fails to entertain me. We connect in many areas!

Thank you so much Ava for helping me with my assignment and answering my questions, I learned a lot from you! I can’t wait to see where the future takes you!

Links to Ava’s Social Medias:

Instagram

Tik Tok

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? Give at least two examples.

My digital footprint could affect my future opportunities in many different ways. What I post and do online could affect my chances of getting into post-secondary schools, future careers, friendships (etc). For example, if someone were racist, discriminate, or inappropriate online an employee is less likely to hire this person. This is what can happen to a lot of individuals and even others who participated in the conversation. But if it shows online that I am a person with a lot of knowledge to conceive and give, employees would most likely want to hire you. So from this, we can conclude that we should be safe online and use our devices appropriately since it can affect big parts of our lives.

Describe at least three strategies that you can use to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe

Some strategies that I can use to stay safe online are,

• Limiting the data I share.

To limit the data I share I must remind myself that I’m not the only one who can share my data. If I’m on public wifi, or public social media platforms there are other people who can access and share my data.

• Deleting old accounts.

To delete old accounts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok (etc.) is not that hard and can be very effective. Once you delete these old accounts not everything is gone but most histories contributed to that account get deleted to the public.

•    Being cautious about what I post.

Being cautious about what I post and staying on a private account is a big part that can help me stay safe online. I only allow people I know in real life on my social media accounts (Instagram mainly) and they are the only ones who can see what I post.

By using these strategies I can say protected and safe online.

What information did you learn that you would pass on to other students? How would you go about telling them?

I learned a lot of information that I could pass on to other students. The main one that I would share would definitely be that to not be so secretive on the internet but not to be so open on it. Both things can and maybe, in fact, affect your future opportunities. So in a positive conclusion, I ask everyone who’s reading this to stay safe on the internet and to know that you are not the only one who can access what you do on there.

Work cited/ Sources:

Protection, Allstate Identity. “What’s a Digital Footprint and Why Does It Matter? Tips for Protecting Your Data.” Allstate Identity Protection, www.allstateidentityprotection.com/content-hub/whats-a-digital-footprint.