Rising Stars: Meet Amanda Ramirez of Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Ramirez.

Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In middle school, I started watching YouTube videos and thought about what it would be like if I was a creator. I used to film myself advising on hair care routines and make-up hauls to a “make-believe” audience. In my senior year of high school, I received my first Mac laptop and decided that this would be the year I started posting consistently on my YouTube channel. Then, I was confident that I would produce exciting or valuable content, so I didn’t care if people at school had something to say; I believed in myself. It helped that I also had the support of my family, who would drive me to YouTube conventions or meet and greets and say, “You could do this.” They were my first biggest fans. In my senior year of high school, I committed to the University of Arizona; at the time, I was watching all of the college advice videos I could find, but there were very few videos from people attending the U of A. I decided to use the content I wish had seen while exploring different colleges. My college and sorority videos were quickly my most viewed, and I had focused on that content as my niche. I grew from 200 followers to over 40,000 at U of A. I had incredible opportunities and worked with companies that I had dreamed about. I felt grateful that I got to pursue my passion and make a business and career out of it. Since I was a “college YouTuber,” I always used to get asked about what I would do after college when I could no longer surround my content. Since I was 5 years old, I always wanted to be a teacher, and while in college, I discovered “teacher content creators,” so I was never worried about my next steps; I knew I had built a strong online community where people would continue to want to follow my life journey and I would still provide interesting, valuable content to my audience but now on a relevant topic, teaching. I have been able to expand on more platforms than just YouTube, like TikTok and Instagram, and continue to grow. It has been an incredible journey building an online community and being able to express my creativity online. I’m so proud of myself for having the confidence and drive to make something I always dreamed of having.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have steadily grown from my first posting content until my senior year of college. I was always a few steps ahead. During my junior year, I started thinking about the content I would produce after graduating. I set up my Instagram account, and after creating 10 different usernames, I landed on “amandainelementary.” I started to build my community of other future educators. The following year, during the pandemic, I began to explore and post on TikTok. I wanted my username to stay consistent with my YouTube on that platform, so I stuck with “Amanda Monroe.” I posted a blend of college and education videos and saw growth on that platform. After graduating college, I decided to attend grad school at the University of Arizona; this year, I noticed I did not need more. It was the first time in years that I felt the most unknown about my future. I was stressed about grad school, where I would move, live, and teach. It was all a stressful time. I needed to be more motivated with posting content. One night, I decided to take a risk and move to Phoenix from Tucson. I started applying to different districts in the area and accepted a position. My move and being a first-year teacher was highly challenging, and even though I saw growth in my platforms, it took the effort to feel inspired and focus a lot of energy on my brand business. After my first year, I decided to move schools; it was an excellent decision for my mental health. Since I’ve been in a good place, I’ve been motivated and focused on my business, which has allowed me to grow to new heights that I didn’t think were possible.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I describe myself as a content creator and an educator. I love wearing both hats since both were my dream jobs, and I am simultaneously doing both! Aside from creating content and sharing my life, I am a 4th grade teacher in Arizona. I love working with students and watching them grow over the years! What I also love about being a teacher is how creative I can be in the field; from beyond decorating a classroom and wearing cute teacher outfits, I can be creative in my approach to teaching and engaging students as well! My aesthetic and being myself online sets me apart from others. You always hear, “Be yourself,” which is the best advice. I stay true to the content I want to produce and the type of teacher I want to be for my students. I am so proud of the classroom community and relationships I have built. Having a community online and in the real world with students or other professionals is so important.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any essential lessons or epiphanies you can share?
I’ve learned that it’s essential to focus on the positives. When times are challenging, I think about the silver lining. During the pandemic, I used that time to pour myself into my brand and business and find ways to bring others joy during a difficult time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandainelementary/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/amandamonroe
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandamonroee