gwatt’s Blog

How has social media changed the way we experience and see our world? For better or worse, social media is changing the game for the travel industry.

As any modern-day Instagram scroller knows, social media is constantly showing us beautiful images of places we’ve never been. Ads for travel businesses and study/volunteer programs are always popping up on my feed. But on the other hand, influencers jetting off to new locations is also a predominant theme in my Instagram algorithm. I started to wonder; has social media increased people’s wanderlust and helped the travel industry, or has it made people feel as if they don’t need to get out there because they can easily see all the views from their phone?

I plan to speak with a travel professional and maybe a travel blogger to get their thoughts on how social media has changed the game when it comes to seeing and experiencing the world. Since I have links with Texas Lifestyle Magazine, a local travel publication, I should be able to speak with someone from there to gain insight on how they have shifted their focus to social media and how they think it impacts the travel industry. I also have connections with some Instagram travel bloggers, so I will reach out to them to get their perspective as well. I feel like there is a common misconception people have about travel journalists and influencers– that they are essentially the same. Through my article and interviews, I hope to be able to clear this confusion as well. Hopefully I will be able to contact people who hold both of these professions so I can get two different views on the topic.

I have researched a few sources that also will be helpful to my story:

https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/download/4887/4098

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/how-the-decades-rise-of-social-media-changed-travel.html

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/social-media-influencers

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-influencers/index.html

https://travelfreak.com/social-media-tips-for-travel-bloggers/

Photo by: Gracie Watt/ Caption: Cameron reveals the key to self-discovery by saying, “I think everyone can figure out a lot about themselves when they’re out of their comfort zone.”

In 2015, Cameron Kerr found themself working in a coffeeshop in downtown Boston. About a year later, they could be found working in a vegan diner in their hometown, Fort Worth, Texas. Now, they spend most days writing and drawing in Jos coffeeshop on the campus of St. Edward’s in Austin, Tx. The 2,000 mile journey between these coffeeshops was one of ups and downs and self-discovery for Cameron. This is their story.

Cameron explained the culture shock of moving from Fort Worth to Boston at 18, and how it impacted their struggle with mental health. “I always knew I had seasonal depression, but you don’t realize how bad it is until it’s dark and cold all the time,” Kerr said. 

Kerr was diagnosed with bipolar and seasonal depression shortly before their move to Boston, which they described as being a point of concern for their parents. Kerr was only 18 when they packed up their stuff and made the leap of faith of moving up North, along with a friend they had convinced to move there too.

Since they felt the need to occupy time and pursue an education in Boston, Kerr took a step forward and applied to Emerson. “I wanted Emerson to be a perfect fit and to override how miserable I was, which was naive.” 

It was at Emerson that Kerr began to question their identity and pronouns. “We were having a meeting and they told us to say our name and pronouns and I said ‘I use they/them pronouns’ and from that point on it just worked, and I felt it more. I realized it was legit.”

“My parents came to visit one weekend and we were at a pizza place and they asked me how I was. I just started crying. It hadn’t even hit me yet how unhappy I was until then. I told them I needed to come back home for a while and get my head straight,” Kerr says of the moment they realized they needed to move back to Fort Worth. 

Former roommate, Izzi Payne, took notice of a change in Cameron once they came back to Fort Worth. “Every day I saw them trying to piece together their brain and personality cause I think going to Boston and coming back kinda disassembled that for them.”

So, Kerr found a job at Spiral diner in Fort Worth, Texas. “I kinda went in knowing I would have to teach people and correct people and exert a lot of energy towards showing up for myself. I just had to be patient with people from ‘cowtown’ who had never met someone like me.” Kerr explains how after they began working at Spiral diner it became a very queer-friendly establishment. 

Former partner, Noah Stephenson, explains how he saw Cameron’s growth while they worked at Spiral diner. “They became more comfortable in themselves and their identity, and unapologetically began to figure out who they were and how they were going to occupy space in the world.”

Han Frazier, a former roommate of Kerr’s also noticed a change in them once they came back from Boston. “They got so much better about listening and taking other peoples’ feelings into consideration. Also, they became a lot more independent.” 

Kerr explains that they applied to St. Edward’s in Austin on a whim, although they had always liked the location. “Austin is like the cool parts of Fortworth but bigger. It seemed like a good midpoint between a smaller town and something bigger like Boston.”

Today, Kerr is in a much more comfortable place. “I’m doing better now than I was then just from maturity.” They explain that through all of those jobs and experiences, they grew up and discovered a lot about themselves in the process. 

Kerr is no stranger to change, and is currently trying to live by the motto “just be open minded and the rest will come.”

Every year at St. Edwards, freshmen study a different book in their seminar class. This year was “Dear America” by Jose Vargas. Recently, Vargas visited campus to speak to freshman and aspiring journalists about what it means to be a journalist, what it means to be undocumented in America, and his personal journey to success. 

Vargas was fueled by the desire to stand out in a country where he didn’t always feel accepted. “I thought the most rebellious thing I could do was have a byline. I could exist without existing,” he tells students. He lets his passion for journalism drive him to success, and now he could not imagine life without it. “I identify as a journalist more than any other identity.”

Some of Vargas’s accomplishments include being a Pulitzer-Prize winner, being nominated for an Emmy and a Tony, appearing on many news and media platforms, and much more. While his achievements are vast, he explains to students that it was not an easy journey.

He came to America at the age of 12, but Vargas didn’t find out that he was undocumented until 16. He explained that once he found out, there were moments where he would lose hope for his future. He initially wanted to be a film director in school but felt that it wouldn’t be possible based on what he had just discovered.

However, he found hope again through mentorship. One of his teachers told him that he should pursue journalism, and ever since he was devoted. Now, he urges students to “Find a mentor!” A mentor is a guide who can let you know when you may need to rework some of your ideas. Vargas says he is “cursed with ideas,” but still has mentors today who help him weed through them.

Journalism can often be confusing, Vargas discusses with students, especially in a time where Trump leads people to mistrust journalists and the media. Vargas explains how it is now more important than ever for us to report. He often sits down with people who have very different worldviews. “My job as a journalist is to talk to people who may not agree with me and try to understand where they’re coming from,” he states, and describes that one of the best forms of practice for journalists is “dealing with people who have a very different set of facts.” 

Vargas also explains how he grapples with labels. He does not only refer to himself as an activist. Speaking of his assigned labels he also says, “I’m not an undocumented journalist and filmmaker. I’m a journalist and filmmaker who happens to be undocumented.”

While advising the room of aspiring journalists, Vargas bared the harsh truth that “journalism is not for lazy people, if you don’t feel the hunger to do it, don’t do it.” The room filled with active listeners and budding questions, as Vargas explained his way of looking at his work. “I don’t care what others think. Excellence comes from within.” He also advised students that when writing to try and “narrate the self without erasing other people.”

From topics of working in the journalism world to current events, Vargas proved to be an inspiration to many. He spoke of his struggles and overcoming. His work is not done, however, and he still continues to research, explore, interview, and document our world.

As a final statement on journalism, Vargas says to students, “Once you learn what craft is, then it’s time to get good.”