By Honorary Reporter Yara Amin from Egypt

Photos = Yara Amin

The K-influencer Academy will soon accept this year's class. I joined the academy last year and thanks to its numerous opportunities, 2021 was quite memorable for me as this program helped me think of many ideas regardless of the number of subscribers on my YouTube channel.

To encourage newcomers this year, I share my top memories from my first year as a K-influencer.

This is the certificate of completion I received from the K-influencer Academy. 

Start of my journey 
Just like on usual days, I was browsing news and posts from social media when I came across an ad for content creators around the world from the K-influencer Academy.

Considering the small number of subscribers on my YouTube channel, I was a bit hesitant to apply at first. Yet my love for Korean culture eventually prompted me to apply to the program and I was accepted.

With no experience in this field and a small number of Honorary Reporters from Egypt namely 38 among 1,224 from 76 countries -- I felt tense and nervous at first. These negative feelings quickly disappeared when everyone started exchanging experiences, advice and support with positive words and a sense of friendship.

The academy has opened many doors for me and helped raise my creativity and think out of the box. I've received useful and professional information for creating attractive video content such as sound quality, picture resolution, accuracy, lighting and effects. Academy members received weekly and monthly tasks with topics and ideas, and could choose topics that suit each individual.

Unforgettable moments

I designed my first video with optimism and eyeing success and progress to express my love for Hallyu. The video was on making a crepe version of the mugunghwa (rose of Sharon), Korea's national flower. 

This screenshot is from my first video made through the K-influencer Academy on making a crepe version of the mugunghwa (rose of Sharon), Korea's national flower.

This is my favorite video since it allowed me to enter the academy last year. Being part of the program was so valuable since I learned how to create interesting content to attract an audience.

Gifts

The best gift I received from the academy was moral support from the program's organizers, who supported and encouraged me with every video I made. The most exciting part, however, was the monthly task that enhanced our capabilities in designing and creating content.

Every month, the organizers honor the best video with gifts. Those named the year's best creators of feature content get the biggest prize, a free trip to Korea.

I received these gifts from the K-influencer Academy after making a short video congratulating the 50th anniversary of the Korean Culture and Information Service.

 

Graduation
At the end of the year, academy participants created a short video to mark the induction of new Honorary Reporters and the 50th anniversary of the Korean Culture and Information Center. I received an award for my video and a gift.

2021 was memorable for me thanks to the K-influencer Academy, and I look forward to taking on more challenges and getting inspired this year, including being named a best content creator and earning a trip to Korea. 

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.