On the record with: Hampshire High School student and Instagram expert Lashawn Holliday

CARPENTERSVILLE – Lashawn Holliday has a busy summer ahead of him.

The 17-year-old Hampshire High School student has plans to volunteer at the Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin, the Volunteer Center of McHenry County and the neurology wing of Sherman Hospital.

He’s also got several extremely popular Instagram accounts to tend to, including one, TheChristFanatic, that has nearly 140,000 followers, and two other Christian-themed accounts with more than 14,000 followers.

Holliday said he loves using his social media platform to spread positivity and encouragement, and as a social media intern at the Volunteer Center, he’s started an account called VolunteerWithMe to encourage others to be involved in the community.

The aspiring neurosurgeon sat down with reporter Caitlin Swieca to talk about his social media expertise and other passions.

Swieca: How did you first get into Instagram?

Holliday: I wanted to encourage people and let them know that they’re worth it. I was really passionate about helping people. It’s just how I am, what I’ve been taught growing up.

I wanted to utilize that in some fashion, and I thought, “Instagram is an easy way to do that, to encourage people.” And I’m really passionate about my faith.

I just put two and two together and made an Instagram, and then posted scriptures and stuff. It’s some part Christian-based and some part encouragement for other people.

[Social media is] a really negative environment sometimes, but I’m glad to put a different spin on it.

Swieca: So how did you get so many followers?

Holliday: Bigger accounts would shout me out and tell their followers to follow me, and that’s how it all started. The way that Instagram’s algorithm works, you get suggested on other big accounts.

It just started growing. I get about 250 followers each day. People tag their friends on my account, people re-post my pictures. It just spreads like wildfire.

Swieca: How do you come up with photos you post?

Holliday: Pretty simple. I usually use Christian movies, and I make all my photos and use an app called Phonto. There’s thousands and thousands of fonts you can use, and I just use one specific one.

I get my pictures from Facebook, online, other people, and then sometimes I just do plain backgrounds with text. I mostly make every single picture I have on my account.

Swieca: How much time do you spend on Instagram?

Holliday: A lot. A lot. I spend a lot of time because I get a lot of messages from people. There’s always someone who needs help with something. Like, I’ve already possibly prevented suicides. People just telling me they’re at their lowest point.

I always get messages like, “You encourage me. You inspire me to do better in my life.” I just spend a lot of time on it. It’s something I’m really passionate about.

Swieca: Have you made friends through Instagram?

Holliday: With other Christian accounts, I’ve made close friendships. I’m actually going to meet one who’s coming to Chicago. I’m going to meet him in the next couple of days.

I’ve been doing it for like two years, and it’s a good group of people I’ve created a strong bond with online without really knowing them. It’s kind of cool, but kind of weird at the same time. I’ve made a lot of friendships.

I actually advertise for brands too. I promote them and I’ve gotten a plethora of items and things and money for ads. I’m really happy to have the opportunity.

Swieca: How did you get involved with the McHenry County Volunteer Center?

Holliday: My mom, she volunteers there as a database manager. I started volunteering with her as well, just to have something to do for the summer.

I’m also doing a couple other things too, at the [Anderson Animal Shelter in Elgin], and pretty soon I’ll be volunteering at [Sherman Hospital] in the orthopedic neurology unit.

I just wanna spread what I have to say. There aren’t a lot of teenagers making the best choices. But it’s always nice to see hope. Hopefully, like Gandhi said, I can be the change you want to see.

Swieca: Do you have any tips for people trying to build a following on Instagram?

Holliday: Acquire a specific mission you want to do, like what you want your account to center around, and just start posting cool pictures.

The Lashawn Holliday lowdown

Who is he? Holliday, 17, is a community volunteer with a very popular Christian-themed Instagram account.

Parents? Mom Jovan, Dad, Fernando.

Favorite subject in school? Science.

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 23
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