“Finding Confidence and Joy in Creative Freedom at HYV” by Eric Dominguez

During my time with Hearing Youth Voices (HYV), I experienced a profound sense of confidence and fulfillment. This wasn’t just because I was working with HYV— an organization deeply rooted in the community and committed to amplifying youth voices on issues that matter— but because the ideas we were tackling were genuinely interesting and fun for me. The opportunity to work on projects that have real social impact, combined with the creative freedom to explore relevant topics like social justice, education equity, and community empowerment, made the experience incredibly fulfilling. Even with five-hour workdays, I found myself wanting to continue because I was so engaged with the content.

One particular project, The Confessional (found on our social media pages), required me to fully embrace my creative freedom. Initially, I felt I needed more structure, but the project’s open-ended nature pushed me to trust my instincts and make independent decisions. Working on The Confessional was both exciting and challenging. The most difficult part was navigating the lack of a structure, which was initially daunting. However, by embracing the freedom to experiment, and trusting my judgment, I was able to make decisions that felt authentic to the project’s goals. I spent many nights reviewing footage, deliberating on what to include or cut, all while considering the audience's viewing pleasure.

My vision for The Confessional was to create something that felt raw and real, where the youth could share their experiences and thoughts. I focused on capturing genuine moments that would not only be entertaining but also relatable to our audience. I believed that this approach would resonate because it reflects the unfiltered reality that our viewers, especially young people, can connect with.

The outcome was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the views for our videos surpass 1,000 was a clear sign that our work resonated with people. Not only did our video surpass 1,000 views, but we also received positive feedback from the community. People appreciated the honesty and creativity of the project, which reassured me that our efforts were making an impact. This success validated the creative risks I took and boosted my confidence in trusting my instincts. The positive feedback made me feel proud and motivated me to continue pushing boundaries in my work. It reinforced my belief that when you pour your passion and energy into a project, it not only makes the work more enjoyable but also leads to meaningful outcomes. 

This experience has taught me that confidence and passion are essential for producing impactful work. As an intern, I now embrace opportunities to take initiative and be creative, even when it feels challenging. Trusting my instincts and finding joy in the process not only makes the work more fulfilling but it also leads to successful outcomes. Whether in collaborative projects or independent tasks, bringing this mindset to my work helps me contribute more effectively and enjoy the journey. Pouring energy and joy into places like HYV is important because these organizations are at the forefront of creating positive change in our communities. By fully committing to the work, we’re not just creating content—we’re contributing to a movement that empowers youth, amplifies their voices, and drives social progress. The passion we bring to these projects ensures that the work we produce is not only impactful but also meaningful to those it reaches.