‘Learning is essential, but implementation overrides everything’

Mehak Maingi who pursued a Bachelor of Design & Multimedia from Apeejay College of Fine Arts is at present, working with Speed Records India Pvt Ltd as a YouTube channel head and senior video editor. Her journey is truly impressive and highly inspiring. However, her journey involved hard work — she started her career as a video editing intern, but today she closely works with the managing director of the company.

In a candid interview, she talks about how the college has holistically honed her skills which has led her to take a path of creativity ahead.

Tell us about yourself.

I have been working with Speed Records India Pvt Ltd for the last five years. I’ve been an integral part of the company wearing the hats of both YouTube channel head and senior video editor. Before joining the college, I did not know that I had a knack for designing. My educational roots trace back to Apeejay School, an experience that has ingrained in me the belief that once an Apeejayite, always an Apeejayite. Now, I am responsible for handling every bit of the YouTube channel of the company I work at. From navigating the channel to designing till curating content for the same.

How has Apeejay College of Fine Arts helped to hone your skills?

Honestly, anything and everything that I know about multimedia is all due to Apeejay. If you are willing to learn about the creative part, Apeejay stands unparalleled. The teachers have always been highly supportive and have also given their extra time to help us soar high.

The confidence and skill sets of Apeejayites stand out in the crowd. My company actively seeks talent from Apeejay, recognising the distinct capabilities fostered by the institution.

What is the YouTube channel all about which you handle?

Speed Records is a 10-year-old company and is the biggest music production record label. Over the years, they have successfully produced thousands of songs combining feet-tapping tunes accompanied by vibrant voices as the identifier of Punjabi culture. With an innate fusion of Punjabi songs and movie content, Speed Records has established itself as a prolific player in the music industry.

What challenges have you faced specifically in your editing space?

The primary challenge that I had to face in my journey was to juggle numerous editing software all at once. During my college days, we used to give each software six to seven months for practice. However, after working for quite some time, I realised that real-world scenario demands proficiency in multiple software simultaneously. Since editing is an ongoing process, we must understand that every day brings new lessons that enrich our creativity.

Fond memories from your college days.

I recall the day when we were given a practical session. We were given a task for photography and video editing which had a deadline for a tight deadline of two hours. Suddenly, in the early summer, the sky unexpectedly turned pitch black. It was 3 pm and there was chaos. Even though everyone was worried about the submission, the situation was also infused with a fun element as many students connected and bonded well. College days were exceptionally fun and worthwhile.

Any piece of advice you would give to aspiring YouTubers?

Never say never to learning. Since designing and handling a channel on YouTube requires a practical approach, make sure to keep using your skills every day and brush them up. Give time to yourself and your family. Remember, learning is essential but without knowing how to implement what you have learnt, it will prove to be useless.