Resilience and belief in one’s self goes a long way

FERRIS – Ferris High School graduate Tiffany Pace is making not only her mother who passed away in 2018 proud, but the residents in Ferris and Ellis County as well.

Pace said she is motivated “every single day,” to make her mother proud.

“I work so incredibly hard to make her proud,” she said. 

“I promised myself that I wanted to change this world and be a leader for her. That’s precisely what I’m doing in this life.”

Now a junior at Texas A&M Commerce University, Pace began her college career at Kansas Wesleyan University, where she had only intended to run track.

But the young athlete said she did not feel right in Kansas.

“I loved the people, but I wanted more,” she explained. “I didn’t think I would’ve transferred and be blessed with so many opportunities at Commerce.”

She decided at Commerce to put away her running shoes – and pull out her dancing shoes instead.

Pace tried out for the dance team, inspired by a past Commerce dance Captain Jasmine Bellotte. 

She contacted Bellotte, as well as past Captain Claire Beckelman, and Dance Coach Ashley Rocke, and even though she had never danced before other than in some minor productions, she was welcomed by the ladies with open arms 

“It clicked for some reason,” she said.

Fast forward to her first year dancing.

“This journey of overcoming challenges and stepping out of my comfort zone has been truly inspiring,” she explained.

Her improvement dancing motivated her as she continued to dive deeper into the world of dance. 

In her second year, she decided to try out for Captain, but didn’t make it. 

She did make Lieutenant though, and that pushed her forward yet again.

Her own dedication to face her challenges and her support from loved ones like her boyfriend, De’Shahvieé Malone is a constant source of motivation, and the team’s encouragement were instrumental in her journey and her eventual success being named Captain. 

Through hard work and dedication, the Ferris graduate saw her dream of Captain of the Lion Dance Team for her upcoming university semester.

“I knew I wanted to take on leadership when I started dancing,” she added. “Showing up for my team in every way possible is essential to me, and now I’m getting to lead this team, which is such a fantastic blessing.”

Pace was also elected as Vice President of the “Mystifying” Mu Zeta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Another win at Commerce since she said, “When I got here, I had limited knowledge about D9 sorority life.”

Making it all come together is her thing and she said she is “making her younger self proud,” and showing herself she can do anything she sets her mind.

She didn’t do it alone though, and in addition to her boyfriend she also gives thanks to her family for their support; father Michael Pace; sister, Litrice Jackson; and brother-in-law, Stephen Martin.

“But most importantly,” Tiffany concluded, “I owe all these accomplishments to my mom.”