Ebony editor shares success story with students

Mitzi Miller, Editor-in-Chief of Ebony, visited East Carolina University to speak for the MLK annual celebration on Tuesday.

She addressed people of the community, students, and staff members about her journey to making her dreams come true. The theme of the event was based on Martin Luther King Jr. having a dream and visualizing it and Miller spoke on making the visualized dream come true.

“One of the most important things is doing what you have to do to get where you need to be,” said Miller at the event. “The bigger picture is the long term goal.”

During her college career at Florida A&M University, Miller started out as biology major but after a few days in the class she realized that was not where she wanted to do with her life.

“I wanted to do something that I loved,” said Miller. “I liked to read so I switched to being an English major with Education as a minor.”

Miller’s senior year in college was when she came down with what she believed to be a really bad case of the flu. After weeks of trying to use home remedies, Miller went to the hospital to find out that she had liver problems and would need a liver transplant as soon as possible because she was dying. For one year and a half, Miller waited for the transplant, which was eventually successful.

“People usually ask me if I regret getting sick. I do not. Getting sick and recovering allowed me to not only be physically here but it is the reason I am mentally here,” said Miller.

Miller stated that during her recovery phase she knew that she wanted to do something that she loved.  She received her first job in sales and marketing at a magazine company, which she stayed at for nine months.

“I hated that job. Then one day my boyfriend at the time asked me, what’s the purpose of all this if you aren’t happy? So I quit the next day,” said Miller.

Miller went on to explain how she was unemployed for six months. She used this time to find herself and take a break from the real world. She wanted to get not only a job, but also a career.

During this time, Miller received her first job in the journalism field at Honey magazine by running into the editor at a party. Miller stated that she went up to Amy Barnett, the editor of Honey magazine, and told Barnett that she was going to be a star and that she would do whatever it takes if she just gave her a chance. At this moment Barnett laughed at Miller and gave her the contact information to get information about a job. It was an unpaid internship at first but she was looking at the bigger picture.

           “Always be prepared to humble yourself and accept a smaller opportunity if it will lead to a bigger one,” said Miller. “It’s not what you say or what you do. Its how you make people feel that they remember.”

Miller stated that she worked hard to get further in the field and move up in her career, as she has always been competitive.

“There should always be a voice inside your head that says keep going,” said Miller. “The road doesn’t stop until you say it stops.”

Later on in her career, Miller decided to do some freelancing for about six years. One day she got a call saying that an opening was available at Jet Magazine. She took the job, and described it as a “humbling and tremendous moment.”

Miller has become the second person to ever hold the position as Editor-in-Chief for both Jet and Ebony Magazine. Throughout her whole experience she has focused on not losing herself or her identity. She wants to inspire people to be present in their life and stay true to who they are.

“You have to know who you are so when your identity is tested you can push back,” said Miller.