We recently had the chance to connect with Grace Adams and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Grace, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something that brings me a lot of joy is getting to act. Last summer I got to play the leading lady in a short film called Timeless. This was such sweet, and beautiful experience. What made this such a sweet experience is I got to be apart of this short film with my best friend, Emma Sumlin, who directed and wrote Timeless. I was also able to play a dream role, of being a woman in love in the 1940’s. I grew up on Old Hollywood movies, so it was an honor getting to see something I had grown up with come to life. I’ve always been inspired by actresses such as Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly. I love acting, and it fills me up with so much joy because I get to take my gifts of being able to put myself in someone else’s shows, and imagine how there life is. I get to bring to life a character with real struggles and real emotions, in hopes that someone will be able to relate to the character in some way and feel seen, even for just a moment.
In September, Timeless got to premiere in Hollywood, at the Chinese Theatre for the Silicon Beach Festival. It was such a surreal feeling to be able to go to Hollywood to watch Timeless premiere. Timeless was a project that will always be dear to my heart.
Something else that brings me joy is getting to dance. I grew up being very physically active. I started taking figure skating lessons at about 5 or 6, which transitioned into doing rhythmic gymnastics from 7 to 15. From there, I began taking dance lessons, 15 on, until my sophomore year of college. With this said, I have always loved moving my body to music. There is something so freeing about expressing myself through my body, while getting wrapped up in the emotions that each song provokes. Taking breaks in my studies to dance is a must for me because it allows me to destress and release any pint up emotions that I have been experiencing. I feel so joyful, and exhilarated when I’m dancing. It’s like I’m in my own world, feeling every emotion I choose to in that moment.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m currently aspiring to be a licensed professional associate. I’m a full-time student at Dallas Baptist University, where I’m working on getting my Masters of Arts in Psychology. I’m passionate about being able to provide compassionate care, and answers through administering psychological assessments in the future. Simultaneously, I work part-time at Undergraduate Admissions at DBU. As I have been working towards getting my degree, I have also had the opportunity to pursue some passions, such as acting. This past fall, a short film I was in called Timeless, premiered in the TLC Chinese Theatre.
For the past 5 years, I have been in a season of preparation. I’ve been gaining knowledge not only in my career field, but also in leadership qualities. I had the wonderful opportunity to be in the first cohort of the Presidential Fellows Program, at DBU. In this organization, I had the honor of learning about servant-hearted leadership from the President of DBU, Dr. Adam Wright. He brought in speakers, such as Tom Leppert, 58th Mayor of Dallas and Dr. David Walls, President and CEO of Austin Industries, to speak to us at our monthly meetings. Being a part of this program was such an enriching experience. I gained so much wisdom and knowledge about what characteristics, traits, and drive it takes to be a great servant-hearted leader for the Lord.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that shaped me the most by far in how I view myself is my mom. My mom has been and continues to be one of the most influential mentors in my life. Part of the reason she has shaped the way I see myself is because I am a close reflection of her. I take after my mom quite a bit, when it comes to my character, personality, and beliefs. I see myself as a caring individual, that seeks out ways to serve and love on others. I can see these attributes in myself because I first was able to identify them in my mom. I grew up with seeing an example of a woman who loves the Lord with her whole heart, and in turn loves the people around with so much intentionality, and true care. I’ve noticed how much my mom has a heart for others around her, and continuously finds ways to serves others well. It has become second nature to her. I have also seen how much grit and determination she has. She has faced very challenging life events, such as my dad getting early onset frontotemporal dementia. Amongst caring for my dad through this tiring and horrific disease, she has not let that take her joy or deep compassion. She has not grown in resentment or despair. Instead, she continues to love and serve as she always has.
I have the honor to say that I share many qualities as my mom. I had the first 18 years of my life to learn from her, and it has made its mark. I’m wanting to work in the people field because I care about others immensely. I really want to be able to bring light, answers, and comfort to the clients I will have in the future when I become a licensed professional associate (LPA).
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think that this is almost a paradox because in almost all cases success started out from some sort of suffering. I think there is always going to be a rocky road to success. In order to answer this question, however, I would say that suffering has taught me the need for people and community in my life. When we are suffering, we are at a point of desperation. This is when we can feel we are at our weakest, whether that’s physically, mentally, or spiritually. Suffering can produce beautiful results, but it takes people in our lives to be that hand that helps pull us out of a hole. Moments in my life when I have gone through intense suffering, it was my close friends who helped walk alongside me, and provided a shoulder to lean on. I think instinct can sometimes be to withdraw when we are going through intense pain and suffering. This often leads to further suffering, as we are only seeing our lives, and thinking of solutions through our eyes. The problem with that is we are already incredibly exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed, which clouds and inhibits our ability to problem solve. This also leaves us with the weight that everything is on us, when it doesn’t have to be. I have been very blessed to have friends in my life who pour into my life and provide care and support. I think that there is strength in reaching out to one another. When we realize we are not alone in our walk of life, it brings us a sense of comfort because we know that we are not the only ones experiencing these trials and tribulations that come from living in a fallen world.
Relating this back to the original question, I think that in the heat of success, we can forget the people that helped us get to that point. I believe that if we are not careful, success can drive us to be more self focused. When you are successful it’s easy to credit yourself with that success, and thus feel no need for others. We can develop an individualistic mindset that we can do whatever we want completely through our own strength. I think this is very naive, as no one can truly be successful without others, as it takes other people to even make being successful meaningful.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would say that what really matters to me are people. In whatever setting or atmosphere, I hope that people feel that there is someone who wants to take the time to listen to them, and care. I have seen so many people go through vastly different struggles, and accomplishments. I love getting to be a person who can show someone that they are important and seen. It sounds so simple, but I think that it can be very powerful. When someone takes time to notice something you have achieved or experienced, it’s a beautiful thing. I love getting to hear people’s stories because it encourages me in my own life. It encourages me to see people pursuing their dreams, amongst various obstacles and struggles. It shows me that I’m not the only one who has felt immense pain, anger or confusion. It shows me that there are people who feel intense passion for particular things in their life.
Most of all I care about people because when I hear people’s stories I feel that I’m experiencing them myself. This makes me feel on some small level what I imagine they felt. In this, I can share my deep care and love for that individual.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel the most at peace when I’m spending time with the Lord. I gave my life to Jesus when I was a little girl. The Lord has been my strength through very dark times in my life. He has always gotten me through whatever life circumstance came my way. I would not be hear today, if I did not have relationship with the Lord. He is my source of light and joy that’s full in my heart. I have never felt more comfort or peace than when I’m spending time in prayer and worshipping the Lord. “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (New American Standard Bible, John 16:33). When I spend time with Jesus, every worry of mine begins to melt away because I know that the Lord does not forsaken His people or give them more than they can handle. We see this in the Bible as it says. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (New Living Translation, Isaiah 43:2). The Lord has carried me through, and will continue to lead and carry me through as I pursue becoming an LPA, continuing acting, and dancing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: grace_madams
