Meet Trailblazer Jennifer Miraval

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Miraval.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Creativity has been an element in my life, as early as when I was in my mother’s womb. My mother, was a worship singer while pregnant with me, because of this most of my life has been composed through music, and faith. This is where my story begins.

As a child I blossomed unafraid of the world. Performing for my friends and family felt natural to me. I would come alive through my art, music, and dance, and I used my hands to create anything and everything I could. It was a simpler time of course, but I remember always feeling safe to express myself through my creativity.

I later learned multiple instruments, and enjoyed singing. So much so that I nearly damaged my vocal chords. Music and drawing was my primary passion at the time, but that soon shifted when I discovered a new outlet for my creativity – through a camera lense. I was 13-years-old when I anchored my first live newscast. The experience was far from anything professional, but it shaped me.

As the years went on my family became my anchor. My parents would encourage my siblings and I in anything we did, by telling us “You can do anything, you just have to do it.” Those words would lift me up when times got tough. However, as I got older I started to lose faith in their words, and I began questioning my self-worth…which led me to hide.

In college, I became a reporter, anchor, and producer at Northern Arizona University’s live Newscast called NAZToday. I remained faithful to my creativity, but unfortunately, not to myself. After years of dwindling confidence, I had just about reached rock bottom. On the outside there wasn’t anything that I could put my finger on that caused me so much pain inside, so I continued to suppress it.

At the time my soul was in a dark place, and I was suffering deeply with anxiety. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I had just moved to Phoenix, for my job as an associate producer at a local News Station, and I had never felt so alone. It was my first job out of colIege, and my first time living in a big city. The job wasn’t too bad. I quickly learned my role, but something was wrong. I still felt lost, and I ached for something more. Something deep inside me wanted to cry out, and I realized I could not live like this anymore.

It was in this darkness that I heard Him call my name “My daughter, come home.” The voice came from my Father, not my earthly father, but the one in Heaven. It wasn’t an audible voice, but a voice that I felt inside, and it wasn’t what I expected. He didn’t condemn me, nor shame me, but He received me with loving and open arms. Slowly He gently began showing me who He was in my loneliness. Nothing went to waste with Him. I gave Him a chance, and He took my pain, suffering, and shame, and made it beautiful.

He continues to heal me today. It’s not all at once, but through time. Gently He’s guiding me and reminding me who I am; His Beloved Daughter. And although I fail Him on the daily, He lets me try again, and again, and again.

It’s now been almost two years since I surrendered my life to God. Now at 23-years-old I am still an associate producer, but I am also one of the leaders of Youfra; the first Franciscan young-adult Catholic ministry of its kind in the United States. I will also be graduating this summer from Tepeyac Leadership Initiative Inc.; a leadership program geared towards Catholic professionals working in the secular world.

I am also blessed enough to say that my adventure is only beginning. At the moment I am working on a project that is teaching me new ways to love others through my gifts and talents. The project is a documentary highlighting Human Dignity, and it’s become one of the biggest and scariest projects I’ve had in life. I’ve had to force myself out of my comfort zone, and jump right into faith. Unfortunately, at the moment I cannot reveal the details of this documentary, but what I can say is that I hope to show the powerful message of healing. I am not certain what will come of this, but what I do know is that I trust the One who’s guiding me.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road especially since I am working towards making something that’s forced me out of my comfort zone. Most of my experience comes from working in local news, but now that I am entering into the filmmaking industry I quickly learned that it’s a whole different world. The storytelling is different, more time is demanded of you, and if you want people to take your story seriously you need a crew, equipment, and money. To be honest, it stresses the heck out of me, but so far, God has unexpectedly placed filmmakers in my life that have been advising me through this journey.

So, when it comes to doing what you’re passionate about, here are a few reminders that help me when I feel discouraged:
1. It’s absolutely not easy, and it will never be easy.
So, what do you do? Ask yourself this; is it worth it? Is everything you’re doing worth the struggle? What and who are you doing this for? What or who are you fighting for? What’s the message you want to send across? Ask yourself these questions because these are the questions that will ground you when times get tough.

2. Don’t listen to the lies… because well they’re LIES!
When you start to hear the lies in your head, that you’re not good enough, that you don’t have what it takes, I advise that you go back to the reason why you’re doing what you are doing in the first place, and stick to the truth. Believe in yourself and know that you are made for more. Know that your life is valuable and that you have something that no one else can offer in this entire world, but you. That is the truth. There’s no one like you, and there will never be anyone like you. So, own who you are, and don’t be afraid to know yourself, because I promise that once you know your true name you’ll do things you’d never imagined you were capable of.

3. It’s impossible to please everyone.
No matter what side you’re on or what you’re fighting for, people will mock, and hate you. But also remember that where there are haters, there are also supporters. People who will have your back and who will fight with you. So, I advise you to find people in your life that will support you, but also who will speak truth into your life when you need it; even if it hurts.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Right now, I am an Associate Producer for FOX 10 News. What that means is that I assist producers in writing the stories anchors read on air, and I sometimes write stories for the reporters to track. I work on all six shows in the evening, and I sometimes have the opportunity to produce segments. As you can tell I do a lot of writing for broadcast television which can explain why my writing on here may be different than what you’re used to reading.

To give you a glimpse of what it’s like in a newsroom, you never know what to expect. One minute, I’m writing a story about a rescued puppy, and the next, I’m writing about a man who attempted to stab his wife to death; which I’ve noticed can cause some of us to become numb. Unfortunately, it can sometimes cause journalists to unintentionally disconnect themselves from humanity to coup with the raw stories we hear. Because of this, I choose to love my coworkers.

My true vocation is to love and to love well, and I bring that into any line of work that I do. What I mean by that is that I try to give every person that’s in front of me the dignity that they deserve. No matter the age, size, color, gender, or social class; I believe each human person deserves the same love and respect from me. I admit I sometimes REALLY suck at it, but I try my best to at least practice it.

A lot of this has been shaped through my faith and my career in journalism; in which both kinds of intertwining. My faith and career have helped me to learn how to listen to both sides of a story, to be patient, and to seek the truth. Those are some of the reasons why I fell in love with storytelling.

So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
There are definitely opportunities for any kind of woman out there. But one thing that I did learn is that if you’re barely starting out, be willing to do things for free. You have to build up your portfolio, resume, or experience somehow; and unfortunately, people aren’t willing to pay for zero experience so you’ll have to do it for free.

If you are just starting out I would say start in your community. If your passion is working for media, join organizations that you’re passionate about and do some social media work for them. If your passion is health, there are thousands of women crisis centers that are desperate for your help. If it’s music, sign up to perform at local events or weddings. Also, remember we have it made! Compared to women in other countries we have so many opportunities to choose from, it’s just now up to us to make something out of them.

Also, get involved in your community and network. Connect with others who have the same interests as you. You never know who they can connect you with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennifermiraval.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_miraval/?hl=en

Image Credit:
Yesenia De Garcia, Nichole Maddox

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