Today we’d like to introduce you to Pao Harvey.
Hi Pao, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been a Star Wars fan for as long as I can remember, with the prequel trilogy being near and dear to my heart because those are the movies I grew up with as a kid watching them in theaters.
However, my love for the franchise was reignited in the last few years after finally watching more than just the Star Wars films. It’s because of shows like The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars: Rebels that deepened my appreciation for this galaxy far, far away and ultimately led me on the content creation journey I am on today.
You see, shortly after I experienced watching through Clone Wars and Rebels for the first time, I found out about these niche communities on Instagram of geeks, cinephiles, and collectors who love to share and talk all about their favorite fandoms. I immediately felt like I finally found “my people” and one day, after being a loyal follower for so long, I decided to take a leap of faith and create my own fandom account called @ThePadalorian (which combines two of my favorite aspects of Star Wars: the Jedi and the Mandalorian).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Looking back, creating my fandom account was an idea that genuinely made me SO excited just thinking about it but I sat with it for several weeks before I ever brought it into frution. It was a step outside of my comfort zone because at the time, my Star Wars collection as well as knowledge were SO much smaller and novice compared to the bigger creators and collectors that I was truly inspired by. Not only did imposter syndome almost stopped me from doing content creation as a hobby but I also worried about what others would think of me. I had never put myself out there like this before and I was already becoming my own worst critic before I even made that first post. In the end, I am really proud of myself for not giving in to those inner thoughts of doubt and insecurities, and pursuing this passion of mine anyway. It was 100% worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Outside of my fandom and content creation hobbies, I work as a technology support analyst for a dairy records processing center. I have loved animals ever since I was a kid and I always aspired to work towards a career involving them, so I graduated from NC State University with a B.S. degree in Animal Science. As a college student, I spent the majority of my undergraduate years gaining experience specific to the dairy industry after realizing how much I enjoyed learning about dairy cows. Now, I give back to dairy farmers across the country by providing technical support and expertise on the data tools they use daily to make informed herd management decisions.
I think it sets me apart because I am more known for my Star Wars obsession but not for what I do full-time, and it surprises people when I tell them that I work with cows for a living, haha. I appreciate having this work/life balance, though, that caters to two of my passions in life and it is what works for me at this time.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I believe the most important lessons I learned along my journey are: stay true to who you are; and, if it brings you joy, do it.
Building community is so important when you start off your content creation journey. I discovered early on that I am only successful when I prioritize authenticity and genuine connection with my followers. The latest trends come and go but in my opinion, what matters most is what makes you YOU. That is something that will stick with someone much longer than a viral moment. Remember: no one is better at telling your story than you. So stay true to who you are.
And lastly, if something excites and scares you at the same time, it probably means that you care about it a lot and you should give it a try. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from following that dream. Be brave enough to believe in yourself, and who knows what doors of opportunity may open up just for taking that courageous first step. So if it brings you joy, do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepadalorian/
