After a study abroad trip to Ireland, I was tasked with creating an artifact about how technology was impacting the Irish language. One thing that really surprised me as I researched my topic was just how few people speak Irish daily. I knew that Irish wasn’t the primary language spoken in Ireland, but I had no idea that only about 2% of the population uses it in everyday life outside of school. That number felt shockingly low to me. I expected the percentage to be higher, even if only slightly. Seeing how much effort is being put into preserving and revitalizing the language through technology made me realize just how at-risk it really is. At the same time, it also gave me hope that newer generations, through platforms like Duolingo, TikTok, and AI tools, might actually keep it alive in creative ways.
When it came to how I would present the topic, I spent a lot of time thinking through my options. I considered making a podcast, a TikTok/ Reel, or a YouTube video. I ultimately decided to go with a YouTube video because I wanted to use visuals to help bring the story to life. A podcast would’ve been great for interviews or deep conversation, but I knew that images, text overlays, and screen recordings could help show the impact of technology in a more engaging way. Since the final product ended up being about 2 and a half minutes long, it felt like a better fit for YouTube than for a shorter reel or TikTok post. I’m glad I took this approach because I was able to include maps, app footage, and even social media examples that wouldn’t have had the same effect in audio form.
Looking ahead, this project gave me a chance to practice several creative and technical skills that are going to be important in my future career. I learned how to structure a short, informative video from a outline, and I had to think carefully about how to keep the audience’s attention throughout. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how important visuals are to storytelling, especially when explaining something that people may not already know about. I spent a lot of time deciding what visuals would help support the narration and how to pace the video so that it didn’t feel too rushed or too slow.
I had originally hoped to make some custom visuals or animations to go with the video, but I ran out of time and didn’t have the technical experience yet to make that happen. That’s something I want to learn more about this summer; how to create simple animations or motion graphics that can take my video content to the next level. Gaining those skills will help set me apart from others in my field where visual creativity is a big asset. I know that being able to edit, animate, and produce content across platforms will make me more versatile when it comes time to apply for jobs.
Overall, I feel like this project gave me a clear idea of the kind of work I enjoy doing and how I can continue to grow. It helped confirm that I want to pursue a career that combines storytelling, design, and technology. Now I have a better idea of what I still need to learn in order to get there.