Meet Kelly Schwenk

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Schwenk. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.

Hi Kelly , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ll always be intrigued by the concept of finding one’s purpose, and the journey it takes to accomplish the clarity to be able to say “this is what I’m meant to do.” I wish it were as simple as establishing a dream at a young age, or taking an elective in college that makes everything click. As someone who changed their college major and career path multiple times, it’s much easier to look back and think about the things that made me happy from an early age. My hobbies and personal interests have been the same, with appropriate growth, since I was pre-teen.

I grew up in a music-loving household, and developed my own musical taste in middle school and high school. I was completely invested in my favorite artists, and my small town classmates took note. It wasn’t “cool” to have hobbies that differed from the norm, so there wasn’t much of an outlet for younger me to express myself unless I was physically at a concert, or writing in my journal in my bedroom.

Fast forward nearly two decades, the world of being a fangirl has drastically changed. You can express yourself and connect to other fans and artists through countless platforms. Back in 2021, I took advantage of the growing platform of TikTok, and found a community of people who were similarly passionate about music. I started filming reaction videos and concert tips, mostly for creative expression, but it took off in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. People related to the content and sent the kindest messages, ones I wish I could have shown my pre-teen self. I realized I, myself, could be the person I wish I had as support when I was younger. I could create a safe place to express and share my interests. That’s how I grew an online “fangirl safe space” community and it’s brought me more joy and purpose than any career could have!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My favorite question to ask people, whether catching up with an old friend or meeting someone new, is “what do you do for fun” or “what brings you joy” instead of asking what they do professionally. It’s wonderful when the career and the passion line up, but I find people light up when they’re asked about their hobbies or side hustles. I think this is one of the pieces that make the concept of “fangirl safe space” community so special. I don’t share what I do for my regular paycheck, and I don’t know what my fangirl friends do for their jobs, but I certainly know their favorite band member or favorite album!

My goal within the community is to “share and to care.” I share the things that bring me joy, with the hope that it will bring others joy as well. Usually this is in the form of sharing concert videos or reviews and tips for concert and music. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some concerts, including Weekends with Adele in Las Vegas. Since she’s not touring, I want to share as much of the experience as possible with fans who aren’t able to attend. The “care” part of “sharing and caring” is the relationship building that naturally happens as a result of sharing things with people online. I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, whether online or at concerts. I’ve travelled and stayed in new cities with other fandom friends, and have seen others do the same. People share details about their personal lives and how they connect to specific lyrics, and how they appreciate the space to connect to others with the same musical interests.

The mutual excitement in the fangirl community has also allowed me to develop content that people will share and engage with, which allows me to invest in more content. Within the last year, my social media accounts became monetized so the cycle of sharing and caring can continue! I hope to develop my photography, videography, and content creation skills to continue the growth of the community.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The number one thing I’d suggest based on my experience in creating content, is to stop overthinking and analyzing, just post it! I was initially anxious about how my content would be perceived, but to create and have an outlet to express myself meant more to me than the fear of who was watching or judging. The connections I made because I put myself out there allowed me to meet one of my favorite artists, travel, and grow my skills and confidence in ways I never thought possible. You just don’t know what opportunity awaits you until you try, there could be a community waiting for you!

Another piece of advice for growing on this journey is to take a look at your existing community, or who or what you engage with online. Do you feel energized and encouraged by the people in your community? Is it a safe space? If so, develop those relationships and reflect on what makes you feel good about them so you can replicate and nurture the space! If you don’t feel empowered by your community, take a look at why that might be so you can establish the community that lifts each other up to be or feel their best. I often hear content creators talk about unfollowing other creators who make them question their priorities or don’t make them feel great for one reason or the next. Surround yourself with inspiration, and you’ll create the content that invites the same!

Finally, one of the most important things I’ve found in my journey to creating a safe space amongst sharing my passions online is to occasionally remove myself from the space entirely. If I’m feeling a lack of creativity or joy in creation, I can often rekindle it by taking a walk with my husband, or avoiding access to digital media. Nurturing your in-person community and your relationship with yourself is always a priority.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I’m very grateful to have been raised by my parents, I feel very fortunate to call them my mom and dad for countless reasons. As it relates to the topic at hand, they were definitely impactful in my development of passion for music and expressing my interests from a young age.

I remember listening to my parents playing records after they put me and my sister to bed. My mom would always have the radio playing in the car, or have music videos on TV. They would make a point of taking our family to see the symphony or other forms of music to expose us to different forms of art. We would religiously watch American Idol together, and then took us to the American Idol tour for my first concert. When I was old enough and had developed my own taste in music, my mom would take me to see my favorite artists in concert. I remember her driving two hours, both ways, on a school and work night to take me to see the Jonas Brothers or Taylor Swift in middle school and high school.

My parents nurtured my love for music from a young age, and continue to support it today. They were my “fangirl safe space” before I found and nurtured my own community!

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