Humans of Virginia tech
Mel's Story
The story behind the video...
This particular HOVT video is very close to my heart. I had the privilege of interviewing Mel Skirkanich, an overall amazing woman and dear friend of mine. She shared her experience with living with Lupus, her relationship with Jesus, and her overall outlook on life.
The response to the video was more than I could have ever hoped for. People loved her message and her story because it was real. She did not hold back in the interview or shy away from sharing her thoughts and feelings. In fact, ever since I met Mel, she has always been an open and forthcoming person. She has always radiated love and affection no matter where she went, and I think that’s what people latched onto in this video.
Overall, her story was shared over 75 times, “liked” by over 300 people, and watched over 14.6 thousand times.
Jordan's Story
Elizabeth's Story
This semester I was lucky enough to become a part of an organization called Humans of Virginia Tech (modeled after Humans of New York). For my first assignment, I wanted to do a video featuring Elizabeth Galbreath, who is one of the most inspiring people I have ever had the privilege to know.
Chances are, if you’ve met Elizabeth, you’ve heard her talk about her cow, Ethel, which is just the start of her love for agriculture. She is an extremely active student on campus who can constantly be seen with the various organizations she is involved in. Elizabeth is a very extraordinary person who always looks on the bright side of life, no matter what is happening in her life.
The video was incredibly fun to make since I spent the day filming at Virginia Tech’s dairy farm. I learned all about dairy production from Elizabeth and got an inside look to agriculture that I have never seen before. It gave me a brand new appreciation for farmers and for the industry that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
When we weren’t filming, I got the chance to befriend a few cows on the farm! It was a truly fantastic day of filming, spent with one of the best Hokies I know.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Galbreath for embodying what it means to be a Hokie.