Meet Jonni Jean

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonni Jean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jonni Jean, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem were things I really struggled with growing up. When I was a child, I played softball and was involved in multiple musical theatre productions, choirs, and plays. I wasn’t into most of the “girly things”- I played video games. I always knew I enjoyed acting and entertainment! However, I stood out from the rest in all of these activities. I was often teased about my loud personality, weight, and dedication. My peers constantly told me that I “cared too much” or I was “too loud”, and that really affected me. These activities were my escape from reality- a place where I could be myself, have fun, and be creative. While growing up, I knew I always looked and sounded different, but I also learned to understand that those things made me unique.

These were the moments when I realized- not everyone is like me. My outgoing personality is filled with so many ideas, my interests and goals drive my dedication, and no matter what you look or sound like you can still do anything you desire. Once I learned this, it all clicked. Did it take time to click, yes. But that is the beauty of the journey. Getting to experience the ups and downs is personal and special.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a YouTuber who makes all kinds of content! I make videos on gaming and animated shows, and I always make it fun. My main goal for these videos is to create an escape for others like the creators who made an escape for me. Growing up, I was surrounded by the internet. Platforms like YouTube became a part of my daily routine and was a place where I could wind down from a hard day and laugh.
To be clear, I am not a gamer. I am very mediocre at all the games I play. However, that doesn’t matter in my videos. These games are a stage for me. I can get my friends, crack jokes, and entertain while following a structure (the game itself). At the end of the day, it is about the fun times, not if we won. As for my videos about animated shows, those videos are where we dissect and understand the stories in front of us! I grew up watching and admiring cartoons. From the voice acting to the animation- I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Now I have a series where my co-host Liya (liiya_xo) and I react to indie animated shows. These shows are made by very talented indie artists and indie studios on YouTube.
On top of my content creation, I am a Voice Actor! This is a new endeavor, but acting is nothing new to me. I have been doing stage work for years, and now I am expanding the stage to animation. Voice acting is something so special to me, and I hope to one day have a professional at-home recording studio for myself. Until then, I am saving up for that goal and auditioning with what I got. I started this journey in January 2024, and I am just getting started!
From content creation to voice acting, I am also a college student! I am a full-time communications major who is also studying social media for business use. Being busy gives me purpose, and I plan to pursue these goals. I know I can make something beautiful out of these passions and hobbies because I already am.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

It is beautiful to have big dreams and aspirations, but it is very important to break them down in order to make them a reality. For me, organization is the biggest quality to have. I achieve this by having a schedule and sticking to it. Using tools like a planner helps you stay on task and physically see the work you’re doing. Another skill is dedication. When I have my mind to something, it becomes something I work on daily- and that is dedication. It is cool to have dreams, but making them a reality takes dedication! Finally, communication is a skill you will need to have. I communicate with all kinds of people every day. From other creators to brands, making those connections strengthens your personal brand!

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed about the projects in front of me I do a few things. First, I recommend taking breaks! It is important to not overwork yourself, so breaks are important for your workflow and mental health. However, you have to be prepared for these breaks so you can still succeed while taking time for yourself. To combat being overwhelmed, I also take a step back and think. “Am I doing this right? Will this video be successful? Do I pursue this?”. These are all questions I ask myself because I want to focus my energy on the good. If a project is stressing me out, the product won’t be as good as I know it can be.

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