“I feel like everyone online is a national speaker, best selling author and social media guru, am I the only one who’s not.”*

I read a line similar to that on Twitter about a week ago, and it resonated with me. I look at everyone’s bios on twitter or blogs and every time I read them I feel a little inadequate. And then I looked at my bio, am I bragging here? Is it more than just factual, does it give a sense of reality?

I also had a conversation with an old friend I haven’t seen in a couple years who mentioned that he felt angry that I had “the perfect life” at least as it appeared on Facebook. This shocked me; I certainly don’t have a terrible life but; my life isn’t perfect.

These hit me because it made me question what my students see when they look at my online accounts. Is it more than links to DYM, cute photos of my family, and Biblical or leadership quotes? When a student sees my page will it make me more approachable or less?

When I went through I realized perhaps there was more I need to do in order to make me more “user friendly”. I am not changing who I am but I am actually trying to show who I am.

My question to you is, what image does your online presence give? Some of you are international speakers, best-selling authors or social media gurus, but is this the image you want to give your students? If it is then good, if not then change it. Ask yourself, if a friend or student who is struggling saw my profile would they be angry that my life is better than theirs? Are you proud or humble? Is your life perfect or just blessed?

So that’s the challenge, take an honest look at what you are portraying and see if it is really who you are. If not, what are you going to do about it.

*I honestly don’t remember who wrote this, if you know let me know so we can give credit.

 

Kyle Corbin has been serving youth as a volunteer or pastor for over 10 years and blogs exclusively here on LoveGodLoveStudents.com. He is currently the youth pastor at the Bridge Church in North Vancouver B.C. Hit him up on Twitter @CorbinKyle