Rising Stars: Meet Maya Ellison of Other

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Ellison.

Hi Maya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been a very involved person. Growing up in Atlanta is such a privilege. As a kid, every club and extracurricular you can think of well that was me. Around the 3rd or 4th grade, I learned there was a media club. It started with me reading the morning announcements, but that eventually turned into my teachers and staff at Wynbrooke Elementary School pushing me to do the announcements on TV. I didn’t realize it then, but that was God planting the seed for me to be where I am now.

That’s when my love for media, writing, and the arts, music, acting, poetry, really started to form. In middle school at Stephenson Middle School, I also did the announcements and was involved in drama club, all while balancing cheer, tennis, and other extracurricular activities. It never bothered me I just genuinely enjoyed it. Fast-forward to high school, and I learned that the school I attended, Arabia Mountain High School, had a media track. Immediately, I was hooked. We learned so many elements of television, writing, and storytelling.

I think during that time, I was also just trying to find my footing. Keep in mind that throughout all of this, I was still playing sports, joining clubs, participating in class leadership, etc. But through it all, I never lost sight of my purpose. I knew this was where I needed to be. So balancing that I also learned about sports journalism and media – a pathway I followed even up until now. So I tried new things. I became a member of 21st Century Leaders, an Atlanta-based organization that helps high school students navigate their careers through mentorship and hands-on learning. That’s where the career paths really started to form. Through that organization, I was able to intern with CNN, which helped set me up for college.

Attending an HBCU was continuing a legacy my parents set, especially with my dad being a graduate of the same school I attended: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. FAMU helped shape me into a better journalist, and I became extremely involved, doing everything and more, especially within the School of Journalism. I anchored our live news for a few years and became more involved in sports journalism.

I knew I didn’t want to waste my college years because you only get one. Before graduating, I interned with more than 10 companies, including CNN, ESPN, FOX 5 Atlanta, NASCAR, Turner Sports, and the NCAA. During that time, I realized I wanted to go above and beyond. I was extremely focused career-wise; just trying to excel and become the best journalist I could be while understanding every aspect of the industry.

Those experiences, words of guidance, every professor who poured into me, and the teachings from my childhood all led me to where I am now: living a dream I once had as a child. Reporting in Little Rock, Arkansas and telling the stories of the community.

For so long, I went back and forth about where my career was taking me and whether I truly wanted to drift away from sports, but I eventually let those worries go. I gave it to God, and more recently, I’ve noticed a shift. As a reporter, we see and hear so many good and bad things, but I leave work fulfilled knowing that someone’s story was able to help others.

That’s my purpose.

I could care less about the glitz and glamour or how many followers I have. Instead, I ask myself: Am I happy? Did I help someone today? Did I give 110% in what I did?

I know my journey is just beginning, ’m only 25. There’s still so much life to live, but I’m just thankful that not only am I living an answered prayer, I’m also growing every single day. That’s the joy of life. You only get one, so you have to make the most of it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been easy at all. I’ve faced defeat, discouragement, just a whirlwind of issues. At the same time, I can say I’ve been blessed throughout my life. My parents have gone above and beyond to be there for me, push me to do better, and instill values in me that I still utilize now, even if it looked different to me as a teenager or kid at the time.

When I got to college, I can admit I went through phases of loss, depression (even if I didn’t know it), isolation and even imposter syndrome. Questions like, “Do I deserve this?” or “Am I truly walking in my purpose?” always came up – even when I was doing well. Those thoughts even appeared in friendships and in questioning whether I was showing up well for others while also putting my career first. Later in life, those feelings came and went. Even moving away from home was difficult because family is everything to me. Moving to a different state for school, and now for work, came with constant thoughts about whether or not I was being a good daughter and friend.

The biggest struggle for me, though, came during my senior year of college. At the time, I had already watched my mom beat cancer twice. One day, I noticed a knot on the side of my breast. Not thinking much of it, I went to get it checked out, and about a year later, I decided to have surgery to remove it. At first, doctors said it was benign, so there was nothing to really worry about. Surgery came, and then the waiting period began.

The tests came back: DCIS, a form of breast cancer.

Not long after, more testing began. What started as one spot turned into doctors finding what looked like multiple spots — on both sides, and suddenly I was back where I started. Biopsy after biopsy AFTER biopsy. Surgery after surgery. Soon, one spot turned into two diagnoses: DCIS.

That’s when reality really settled in for me, and I realized I had to make a decision. There were only two options: radiation or a mastectomy. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life. I thought about the future constantly, the possibility of the cancer coming back no matter which option I chose, the effects of radiation, and with a mastectomy – feeling like I would lose a piece of myself. After a lot of thought and prayer, I made a life-changing decision.

What I can say, though, is that through it all, I realized just how much love and support I had around me. I have the scars to remind me of what I’ve overcome. I have a testimony that I hope can uplift others. Most importantly, I still have my mind, something God kept intact through the entirety of that journey.

It was extremely hard, and being an only child sometimes made the loneliness feel even heavier. There were moments where I truly felt alone. But God. That’s all I can say, because if it wasn’t for my faith, I would not be here

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
There are so many layers to who I am. Outside of being a journalist, I find myself exploring other talents such as singing, acting, and philanthropy work. I’m just starting to tap into those avenues now.

I think back to all the teachers who poured into me, and for me, I have an obligation to pass the torch. Through it all, I have been so blessed – from family to career. Starting in my junior year of high school, I can say that’s when the seed was planted. I was working with an Atlanta-based organization called L.E.A.D., which pairs sports and mentorship for young men in the Atlanta area. Founder CJ Stewart shared his story during a session with 21st Century Leaders and became an inspiring figure for me as a student looking to step into philanthropy.

In that moment, I started to think about how I wanted to give back. Growing up in Atlanta, I saw firsthand what it looked like for people who didn’t have the same resources or access that I did. Driving down Rockbridge or Memorial Drive, you could see an immediate shift depending on where you were in the city, in schools, opportunities, and the resources available to families. I also witnessed the effects of gentrification, specifically in Decatur, where my dad’s side of the family eventually had to move out because the area changed so drastically from what it once was in the early 2000s.

It frustrated me because I knew I was blessed to have access, and it constantly made me wonder: how do we bridge the gap? That frustration has stayed with me, and I hope to one day use it to fuel an organization that introduces journalism skills and career resources to girls and boys affected by systemic barriers and beyond.

For example, the amount of access sports like tennis and even swimming swimming can add to a young person’s life is something I understand firsthand, because those are sports I played growing up, and got teased for. Through all of this, I want young boys and girls to know that it’s okay to be different, to do something more, and to not talk or act like everyone else – to be a leader. Those same things I got teased for, like “talking different,” were actually helping me navigate a world that can sometimes be a little cruel.

I say all of this to say that my drive to help is rooted in family, change, and a love for the city of Atlanta that raised me. People may not always expect it, but I am an Atlanta girl through and through, especially the East Side. It taught me so much growing up, and I feel obliged to give back no matter what that looks like. I guess that’s what sets me apart. I’ve never allowed my circumstances to define, to always go above and beyond. I am nowhere near perfect and trust me I haven’t even touched the surface of life yet but day-by-day I am constantly finding my footing. That’s the joy.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
On my nightstand is my pink Bible and my journals (yes, I said ‘journals’ because I have a wholeeee lot).

It’s the Bible my church gifted us when we graduated high school, and it’s been with me ever since. I keep it there always as a reminder. When I wake up, before I go to bed, in the middle of the night, no matter what I’m going through, I can open my Bible. I don’t do it as much as I should, and I want to do better, but being able to gain insight and access to God and grow my relationship with Him is what helps me do my best.

I am a music junkie, so for some people who may gain inspiration from podcasts or other things, it looks different for me. I loveeee music. I always joke and say, “I want to be music.” So when I’m down, need inspiration, or just want to vibe, I have a playlist for everything. There’s something about how universal music is and how it can connect anyone, no matter who you are. It puts me in focus mode.

I will say, a shameless plug for a book I can read over and over is The Alchemist. I’ve probably read it three or four times, but that book showed me that where you start is not where you will end. An amazing book, to say the least. That’s my type of vibe, books that make you think, leave you wanting to go even harder in life, and inspire you to help others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mayaellison.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themayaellison/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Maya-Ellison-61564364634783/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-ellison-075804145
• Twitter: https://x.com/themayaellison?lang=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themayaellison