by Tanya Chang

Sports Editor

Senior Stella Miletich, who also goes by Stella Miller in the music world, is entering her final year of high school balancing AP classes, art, and a growing music career. Miletich explains that her stage name is chosen for practical reasons: “A lot of my life, I struggled with people pronouncing my last name. I would get called up to a performance and it would just get absolutely butchered.” Miller proved to be the perfect stage name, feeling similar to her legal name while making it easier for audiences to remember and find her online.
This year Miletich is enrolled in AP Literature, AP Statistics, AP Government/Honors Economics, and two advanced art classes assisting her to complete her AP Art portfolio. She balances difficult coursework with her creative passions: though she has always been strongest in the arts, she still pushes herself in more challenging courses such as AP Lit, which she admits has been her most demanding class so far. With a laugh she added, “We have, like, a huge book report—it’s due the same time as my college applications, which is really convenient.” Juggling a busy schedule of classes, rehearsals, and performances, Miletich sees her art classes as a rare space to slow down, reflect, and recharge. In art she can channel the same creative energy she puts into her music

Outside of school, Miletich commits nearly all of her time to music. She has been a classical pianist since childhood, but as she grew older she expanded her love for music by picking up the guitar and singing. This eventually led to her performing throughout the Bay Area to share her passion with other people. Her decision to give up volleyball and track in her junior year gave her the chance to fully focus on building a music career, which already includes radio appearances, live shows, and verified recognition on Instagram. For Miletich, writing songs can include hours of journaling before shaping those thoughts into lyrics and melodies. She admitted, “A lot of times a melody will come to me at like 1:00 AM before I’m trying to get to bed. Never really convenient.”

Miletich’s growth as a performer has been significant. Initially, Miletich faced stage fright, eventually approaching each performance like practice, building confidence until performing became second nature. “I treated every performance like reps at the gym. The more I did it, the nerves kind of just dissipated, and it became natural,” she reflected. She embraces her time on stage as an opportunity to connect with people, whether in a cafe, at a school talent show, or on the internet.
Looking ahead, Miletich hopes to build a career in the music industry, ideally as a performer while also studying business in college. No matter the path, Miletich is determined to learn every part of the industry from production to promotion. She emphasized, “I want people to hear my music, and if my classmates are part of that audience, that’s more of a benefit for me.” Whether she is working on art or staying up writing songs, Miletech reveals her determination and creativity wherever she goes. As she prepares for life after high school, Miletich continues to take risks, embrace opportunities, and pursue a variety of creative endeavors.