Life & Work with Yarelit Mendoza of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yarelit Mendoza.

Hi Yarelit, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As for my creativity, I suppose it’s something that has always been present throughout my life.

I grew up watching animated TV shows, like Teen Titans, and animated films, like Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Naturally, I got into drawing and other forms of creativity. I’d write stories about fictional characters I had created in my imagination, such as The Adventures of Sparky and Kittenly. I even did a little “voice acting.” Though, it was mostly just me speaking on behalf of my Teddy Bear named Teddy. Quite original, I know…. but how I loved bringing him to life with a nasally voice.

I think I was around 12 years old when I got into anime and discovered Anime Music Videos (AMVs) on YouTube. There was something so captivating about combining music and anime… timing clips to the beat, the transitions, the effects… I just loved it. Being a viewer wasn’t enough as I wanted to be a creator, which is exactly what I did! I think I created my first project in Windows Movie Maker when I was around 14 years old. It wasn’t great by any means, but I was proud of it. I was also part of Multi-Editor Project (MEP) groups, which heavily focused on creating projects as a community. Those channels are still out there, by the way.

Given my history in creativity, I knew that I wanted to pursue the arts as I grew older. However, there always seemed to be setbacks. When I began High School at James A. Foshay Learning Center, I was placed in the academic department of Health. They didn’t have an Art Academy, and the only academy I cared about was Tech Academy. I had no interest in becoming a nurse or working in the health field, so my grades declined. My mother ultimately decided to transfer me to a charter school known for being strict. I’m not quite sure how she managed to get me in, given my grades, but lo and behold!

My grades improved at this new school, and they even offered creative classes! I initially started in a drawing class but asked to switch to Film. I was still interested in video editing, so the change made sense to me. I even started to consider going to college for Film. Unfortunately, none of the universities that I applied to offered that major. I also didn’t want to move too far, so I decided to attend CSU Channel Islands as an art major.

However, by the time I was in college, I had become convinced that I would not thrive professionally in a creative field. I’m not sure why that was, but my lack of confidence altered my professional route. A year later, I changed my major to Computer Science and focused heavily on my career shortly before graduating.

Now that a few years have passed, I’ve been trying to channel that creativity more. I started a YouTube channel under the alias “MelliBL” about 2-3 years ago where I talked about Boys’ Love (BL) webtoons. My projects received a good number of views, and I gained a decent following. Sadly, my videos were taken down by the webtoons’ publisher. I’ve been thinking about resurrecting that channel for manga instead, but that’s still up in the air. Now I’ve been focused on other creative endeavors!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not.

Besides the creative setbacks, I experienced a lot of turmoil during college. I had this weird thing where I did poorly in classes that I had zero interest in but did exceptional in the ones I liked. I found that much of my Computer Science coursework emphasized software engineering, which did not align with my interests. I was more interested in web development, but there was little emphasis on that area. By the time I realized that maybe the major wasn’t for me, I was too deep in.

I didn’t think I would graduate because it just kept getting harder and harder to stay motivated. I was also six years into my degree, so part of me felt ashamed. Still, somehow, I managed to graduate with a B.S. in Computer Science and a 2.6 GPA. Given my grades, I didn’t think I was going to land a job in tech. I also didn’t have any internships under my belt. So, how the heck did I do it?

To be honest, I’ve always kind of put myself out there? I remember reaching out directly to the hiring manager for a position that I felt was a good fit for my skills. The job listing was for a full-time Technical Support position. I was still in college, but I knew that this was something I needed to do. Fast forward, they made an exception for little old me because my boss saw potential in me (shout out to him).

That same proactive trait is what has pushed me to pursue creativity with more intention and confidence.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d say I’m a corporate girlie with a side of creativity. I currently work as a Platform Support Coordinator and enjoy what I do! I’ve always loved helping others, which is a big aspect of my job. As the title suggests, I provide support for our company’s platform. I prefer working on cases involving UI/UX troubleshooting, but I assist wherever I’m needed.

My passions are definitely still in the arts, but that doesn’t negatively impact my work ethic. I will admit that balancing both can be difficult, but as the saying goes, “you gotta do what you gotta to do.”

I sort of dabble in a lot of things. I’ve always considered myself a jack of all trades. master of none. I’ve done a bit of drawing, watercoloring, pixel art, video editing, sculpting, crafting, photo editing, and more. I even enjoy being creative through fashion.

I’m most proud of being part of Gallery 28 earlier this year in February. A couple of my coworkers and friends came down to support me which meant the world to me. I think it’s wonderful that there are people who want to see you succeed. I also got to meet several people from the neighborhood who complimented my work. It felt like I was making progress in my creative journey, you know?

As for what sets me apart, it’s my own experience, of course! I’m not the same person I was five years ago, and I definitely won’t be the same in the years to come. There’s only one of me, and I am constantly evolving.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Please feel free to reach out!! I’m interested in participating in creative projects or simply connecting with other creative people. You can find my email on my website or contact me via Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yarelit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yartelit/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yarelit-mendoza-83680524a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Yartelit
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/@MelliBL

Image Credits
Gallery 28