Looking back, Sophie Jamison ’18 jokes her friends didn’t really like her Nerf-focused posts on Instagram. Those posts evolved into @nerfers101 and garnered attention from Nerf enthusiasts around the globe. During the Covid lockdown, she was unable to attend the Nerf shows and competitions she is known for, so she turned her attention to TikTok and creating content. Since starting on TikTok, Sophie has amassed more than 1.8 million subscribers (yes, you read that correctly). But it ALL began here, at The Winchendon School, when during her ColLAB, Sophie created a YouTube Channel, learned basic videography and other skills she still calls upon in her work.
At the end of March 2021, Hasbro announced, “The NERF Marketing Team at Hasbro today kicked off a nationwide search for a trend-obsessed and highly-creative NERF fan to take on the title of NERF Chief TikTok Officer (Nerf CTO). The coveted position will pay $10,000 a month for up to three months to help develop strategy (read: give our marketing team some clout), create content (make 10-12 epic NERF TikTok videos each month), and ultimately set the tone for NERF’s debut on the social platform.”
With over 1,000 applicants, in addition to her application and content, what set Sophie apart was the fact her TikTok subscribers also recommended her for the position. According to Adweek, “Nerf said that throughout the campaign, the comments section on its TikTok account was flooded with users and fans tagging Jamison and saying she was perfect for the role of chief TikTok officer.”
WHAT’S A ColLAB?
Immersive learning through ColLABorative studies at The Winchendon School means our students have achieved subject mastery and personal growth through our experience-based learning. This can look different for different students. For some students, it may look like an internship at a non-profit learning how to fundraise, while for another student it may be writing a research paper on The Detection Mechanism of Gravitational Waves Emitted from a Type 1A Supernovae (say that ten times fast!). For Sophie, it translated into her new position at Nerf.
ColLABs end with a symposium giving the students an opportunity to share their knowledge and research with an appreciative audience. In short, ColLAB Symposium is the centerpiece of our commitment to immersive education.
To keep up with Sophie’s Nerf adventurers, follow her on Instagram @Nerfers101 or on TikTok at @nerfers101.
To watch Sophie in her 2018 Baccalaureate speech as she describes the anxiety she learned to overcome – go here:
