Sue Anna Joe
Greenwood, MS USA
"Always be yourself. In Mississippi, we have ways of doing things, but what we have to offer is ourselves. You're going to help create this community."
Career Roadmap
Sue Anna's work combines: Design, Art, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
A degree in your creative field is valuable for landing a job and honing in on your career direction. While employers may accept equivalent experience, if you’re just starting out in the workforce, you’ll likely not have that. College will help you build a portfolio and gain knowledge in industry mechanics and principles. While pursuing your degree, take classes in different areas that can support your creative career goals—classes like business, education, marketing, or computer programming.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Communication
Mississippi State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I earned my degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism, but after working as a newspaper reporter, I realized it wasn't the right fit for me.
2.
I took office and retail jobs to support myself while figuring out what kind of career I really wanted.
3.
After moving to North Carolina, I taught myself graphic design and web design through books, tutorials, and continuing education classes.
4.
As I built my portfolio through freelance projects, I earned a position at a small creative agency where I gained hands-on experience in design and web development.
5.
That experience led me to a tech company in California, where I spent nearly a decade building websites and sharpening my technical skills.
6.
When I returned home to Greenwood, I found new inspiration in Mississippi and began creating products that reflected my own story and perspective.
7.
I launched my own business—designing enamel pins, stickers, and bookmarks—that share messages inspired by my life, my community, and my creativity.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You need to stick to the career you chose, even if it means being someone you're not.
How I responded:
I initially wanted to be a sports journalist, but after graduating and starting my career in journalism, I knew it wasn't the right fit for me. I was too introverted. I was really disappointed because I had set these high standards for myself that just fell flat. But I realized success wasn't about forcing myself to fit a career that didn't match who I was. Once I gave myself permission to start over and embrace my introverted, creative side, I found work that felt authentic and fulfilling.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was afraid to start over once I realized that the career I had chose wasn't actually the right fit for me. However, it's much better to embrace the discomfort, allow yourself to change, and find something that's more fulfilling.