Union City Vlogger Realizes Dream at 17

When 17-year-old Rachael Libby reflects on first dreaming of world travel, she points to the days of the pandemic and spending a lot of time watching YouTube videos. Her channels of choice became travel vlogs (video blogs) that transported her to faraway places. Among her favorites were Kara and Nate, a Tennessee couple who started their channel with a goal of visiting 100 countries, saw that come true, and now entertain almost 4 million subscribers. After participating in Union City Rotary Club’s 2024 student travel program, Rachael can now add travel vlogger to her own resume.

Rachael was one of ten students from Obion County who were part of the annual international travel experience which covers all expenses for selected students thanks to the generous support of the Robert E. And Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation.  

In June, when the primarily first-time travelers embarked on their journey, Rachael was equipped to capture the memories in the making. She had been vlogging for several months, sharing her everyday life and faith on Rachael Rianne, her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@rachaelrianne .

Already adept at grabbing still photos of candid moments and portraits, for the trip, she added a second digital camera specifically for action. From the bus ride to Nashville to making it through security, flying across the Atlantic, and touring iconic stops in London, Paris and Lucerne via train, bus, and subway, Rachael and her cameras were there. The results were recently presented to the Rotary Club as the group recapped their journey.

Rachael reports, “I couldn’t believe I was going, couldn’t believe I was there, and can’t believe I went.

“I’m grateful. I had a dream to travel, but didn’t think it would come true,” she explained. “I’m not a rich person. I don’t make that kind of money. I didn’t think it would be possible, but God opened this door. I am truly so grateful.”

A native of New Mexico, Rachael with parents Nancy and David Libby moved to their Union City farm seven years ago. Nancy’s YouTube channel Maplewood Homestead was Rachael’s first introduction to the work involved in establishing a digital presence. The family’s farm life is now chronicled for 1,000 subscribers.

While many teen girls may dream of becoming an “influencer” on social media, that’s never been Rachael’s aspiration.

“I’m not the biggest fan of influencer culture. Right now, it’s more of a hobby,” she explained. “I do photography because I’m afraid I’m going to forget. I knew video would capture the memories we were making in Europe.”

Learning from her mother’s vlogging experience and devoting hours watching tips on creating a channel of her own, Rachael honed her editing and narrating skills. Both are evident in the three episodes recounting the students traversing the streets of London, admiring the art in Paris, and hiking in the shadows of the Swiss Alps.

This year, trip organizers reached out to Stacie Freeman, Co-Founder of Global Citizen Adventure Corps, a nonprofit established to plan and support young people in travel service learning.  The Dresden native planned for both lodging and food as well as selecting the various tours and cultural activities in London, Paris, and Lucerne. As part of the program, the ten students were also treated to the global citizenship course Freeman teaches online through Bethel University, gaining the participants three hours of transferable college credit.

While the course offered an overview of what was to come, Rachael confesses the concept of being a “global citizen” eluded her. Homeschooled and already taking multiple dual enrollment classes at Freed Hardeman University, the straight A student wasn’t accustomed to not making the connection.

“I don’t think I fully understood until we went on the trip,” she acknowledged. “A lot of the other students felt this way, too. Then, we saw so many people and when you do, you realize it’s not just you in the world. We think where we are living is all there is. And it’s not.”

Now she says she sees a global citizen as someone who “immerses themselves in different cultures and sees the beauty of everything else and, as a result, finds a greater appreciation for their own life and the lives of others.”

This sentiment is reflected as Rachael joyfully recalls experiences such as, in London, seeing the pageantry and hearing the music as the King and Queen led a parade welcoming the Emperor and Empress of Japan, bonding with roommates over laughter and storytelling in a Paris hotel; and “running out of adjectives” to describe the beauty of the mountains around Lucerne.

A member of Bishop Street Church of Christ where she first heard about the Europe opportunity, Rachael references John 10:10, when Christ underscores “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” and notes, “I love to have fun, to live life in the moment, live to the fullest. I want to live it up, in a joyful way.”

For Rachael, a future of “living it up” translates into more travel. Currently an intern with Ginny Starks Photography in Union City, she is planning to pursue a photography career and looks forward to photographing places next up on her bucket list such as Antarctica, Italy, and Greece.