The true tale of one woman who kept her New Year's resolution
Tess Yarbrough
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TESS' VIDEO BLOGTo check out Tess Yarbrough's video blog, go to www.youtube.com/user/safetytess.
Well, a new year is almost upon us and with a new year comes the requisite New Year's resolution. Almost everyone makes them, but - let's be honest - hardly anyone keeps them.
Tess Yarbrough, however, is hardly anyone. Not only did the spunky 20-year-old from Victoria keep her resolution, but because she did, she has a better insight into 2010 than most people do.
For the past 365 days, Yarbrough has been documenting a year of her life through her video blog, or vlog, called "SafetyTess Vlogs" and posting one video clip every day for the past year on her YouTube channel. The videos range from 15 minutes to 25 seconds and include everything from Yarbrough just walking down the street and talking directly to the camera to documenting the road trip she took to meet her favorite band, Tegan and Sarah. An avid music lover and guitar player (she auditioned for "American Idol" this year and plans to again in 2011), many of the videos are also music-themed, such as Yarbrough playing open mic night at Hastings.
"It all started when my dad got sick in 2009 with severe diabetic myopathy, and I didn't know what to do with myself. To take my mind off it, I started watching YouTube videos and people's vlogs. I started thinking how cool would it be to document a year of your life?" she said. "I've always loved video, and so I invested in a better camera and decided to get really into it. I actually made it my New Year's resolution."
Video is nothing new to Yarbrough, who works the morning news shift at the Victoria TV station. However, keeping up with the project was no easy task. Yarbrough admits it was a lot of work to edit and post a video every single day. But even if she was sick, she still managed to put something up, even if she just strung together some random video clips, she said.
"I have 92 subscribers, which isn't a lot, but some of them would get mad if I was late posting a video," she said.
There were also the strange looks she got from people as she filmed herself doing everyday activities.
But in the end, the payoff was worth it, she said.
"Seeing yourself every day, you don't realize how much you change, from your haircut to your attitude," she added. "I love documenting my life, from videos to scrap booking. And I love how I can capture life through the camera. In fact, after a year of doing this, the camera has become like a person to me."
Although the project ends on Jan. 1, Yarbrough already has her new resolution in mind for 2011.
"I want to learn to juggle and beat box," she laughed.
But that doesn't mean she's giving up on video entirely.
"Once this year is up, I'm thinking maybe I'll start posting videos weekly or maybe have a Web show with music," she said. "I'd love to have a YouTube-sponsored vlog or maybe someday work at Maker Studio in Los Angeles, which makes scripted YouTube clips."
TESS' VIDEO BLOG
To check out Tess Yarbrough's video blog, go to: www.youtube.com/user/safetytess
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Believe me, I'd much rather see this than another picture of that guttersnipe Flo Ree Duh in last week's entertainment section.
Haven't seen the videos, but I already know she's got plenty of talent.
December 30, 2010 at 4:38 p.m.This is directed to the first comment that was made. If you haven't noticed this article was for someone accomplishes a New Years resolution. Everyone is different and enjoy different things in life. As long as you are happy and enjoy life that is all that matters. Have you ever fulfilled anything in your life? I think just like her everyone is entitled to their own opinion but this is a newspaper. Isn't it? Which means you chose to read this article . You could of stopped reading it and go off on your own business. At least she trying to do something safe and doesn't promote anything bad in her videos. Unlike this trash that is out there now a days. Please respect other people.
December 30, 2010 at 2:36 p.m.Prior to writing the story, I did look through her videos and with the exception of a few times where she would combine a three-day road trip into one video or something similar, she did post a video every day. How she titled them changed (some have dates and others do not), which may have added some confusion.
As for whether or not she is newsworthy, that is up to every reader's personal opinion. We decided to feature her in our Get Out entertainment section, which is geared toward younger readers and focuses on entertainment, music, movies and on what local, creative people are doing.
Her daily vlog is also part of a larger national trend, where people are taking on similar projects like this, such as the 365 Project, where participants take and post a photo every day as a sort of visual diary. With that in mind, and the fact that the issue's theme was New Year's and it was her New Year's resolution to do this, we decided to make her our cover story.
If you have anyone in particular you think is worthy of a story, don't hestitate to send me suggestions.
Thank you,
Aprill
December 30, 2010 at 2:03 p.m.I've read this newspaper for over twenty years and it just gets worse and worse. The story is really lacking a why. Why should we care what this little goofy girl is doing? Why does she make these terrible videos? (I even went as far as to watch a few until I couldn't take it anymore. Also, there is hardly one for everyday more like one every week get your facts straight.) Now I know this town is very small, but surely there are more talented people doing more important things for a newspaper to cover than this plus sized girl. No wonder print media is dead.
December 30, 2010 at 1:04 p.m.