Robotics, origami and toy reviews. That’s how Palo Alto Middle College junior Alisa Sonehara got her start in content creation: by filming crafty videos with her sister which were then uploaded onto YouTube by their mother. 

Alisa, who now has a YouTube channel of her own and posts on Instagram reels, said she started creating content around two and a half years ago. Her YouTube channel boasts a little over 1,000 subscribers, similar to her Instagram account. She still recalls her mom’s YouTube channel as what got her into posting on social media in the first place.

“That made me really happy when I was younger,” Alisa said. “That [channel] was more just for me and my sister to look back on as we got older. I guess I’m picking it back up.” 

On her YouTube channel — @alisasoph — Alisa posts mainly “lifestyle and fashion content” currently, curating styling tips, makeup routines and day-in-the-life vlogs when she travels. Inspired by famous content creator Emma Chamberlain, Alisa said that she’s been “in love” with YouTube since she was young. 

“I’ve always wanted to do content, and I think it’s something every little kid tends to like,” Alisa said. “It [was] like a little dream.”

While she was in Japan for the summer, searching for things to do, Alisa said she decided to try her hand at making videos, with a goal of entertaining people through difficult times. 

“It’s always been a form of entertainment and inspiration of what I want my life to look like and how I can feel like I’m less alone in this world,” Alisa said. “[Watching] different YouTubers made my day and inspired me a lot. I hope to do the same someday.”

Her favorite video she’s made — decorating her room with different art pieces she received from her grandfather — highlights what she hopes to share with her audience: love, connection and personal experience. 

“I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable and found ways to express myself through [content creation],” Alisa said. “I mainly made [the channel] for my art at first, so I could track my progress. But now it’s more lifestyle and fashion so when I get older I can look back on it.” 

Currently, Alisa is more active on Instagram due to the fact that it’s less time-consuming compared to YouTube. Her reels amass an average of 3,000 to 5,000 views, she said. 

“Right now, I think Instagram reels are a shorter and easier way for me to connect with other people and share my content,” Alisa said. 

Alisa said that reels feel more personal, prompting her to post more beauty, fashion and day-to-day content on Instagram since reels take less time to edit and upload compared to YouTube. They’re closer to real life, she said, since she creates them at a faster pace. 

As for what draws her to fashion and lifestyle content over anything else, the answer is simple: her family and her upbringing.

“I have been surrounded by my sister, mom, and grandparents who loved fashion growing up,” Alisa said. “I love spreading the idea of it and giving people inspiration because it’s such a fun way to express your feelings and passions.”

Alisa said that one of her biggest supporters is her sister, Ayaka Sonehara, who’s helped her work through criticism and a lack of motivation. Ayaka said the thing she admires most about Alisa as a content creator is her creativity and artistic eye. 

“She has this amazing attention to detail, which really shines through everything she creates,” Ayaka said. “On top of that, she takes the time and care to edit her videos thoughtfully, so they reflect her vision and personality. It’s clear she puts a lot of heart into her work.”

Although filming, editing, and uploading are time-consuming, Alisa said the positive aspects of content creation make it worth it. To other high school students looking to start creating content, Alisa said to “go for it” and not worry about what others think because “life is too short to keep waiting and worrying.” 

While she doesn’t see a future career in content creation, she hopes it will continue to be her side hobby and passion. 

“I would love to be able to create a community and have people appreciate what I do as well,” Alisa said. “In the end, I don’t mind how many subscribers I have, or how many followers. Even if I can make an impact on one person, I think that’s all that matters.”