Gracie Jones’ path to finding her true north

BY LAUREN JESKEVIC

Multimedia Journalist

When Gracie Jones first pulled into Stephenville with just a plan to tour Tarleton State University “just for fun,” she didn't expect to fall head over heels with the campus, culture and lifestyle. In fact, she was already fully committed to another university on a near-full scholarship.

Within days of touring, she had flipped her entire plan, turned down her other offers and committed to Tarleton and the Honors Program.

In high school, Gracie was the definition of involved. She served as class president, Beta Club president, an FFA officer and a student body representative every year. Between leading meetings for her class and managing the softball team, she found time to play varsity golf.

 She was a natural born leader, yet she admits that, back then, much of her drive came from the pressure of fitting in like many others. Coming to Tarleton as a first-gen college student, she had very mixed expectations of college life. 

“Something that surprised me was the duality of it,” Jones said. “I’m allowed to be fully involved in my academics, maintaining internships and serving as a teaching assistant, while also still being fully engaged in the campus life and social engagement areas.”

Jones has noticed much personal growth, realized she has come to not worry much about fitting in and is simply comfortable being her full self.

Jones is first to say that she never saw herself as a “sorority girl.” She didn't go through formal recruitment and hadn't even given it a second thought during her first semester. After a few months of watching the sense of community among campus and Greek life, she decided to go through the recruitment process in the spring of her first year. 

She walked into Phi Mu and immediately fell in love with it. It wasn’t just the sisterhood displayed in the room and on social media, it was the personal connection to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that sealed the deal. 

After a year in the chapter, Gracie’s passion for the sisterhood led her to run for the position of vice president of new member experience.

In this role, she was responsible for guiding and mentoring 95 individual new members. One of her favorite memories to “bottle up” happened in the fall of 2025. After months of planning her sororities Bid Day, she watched the buses pull up and saw 75 new girls spring to their new home. 

“I just felt so happy to be a part of a day that was going to be so special to them,” Jones said. 

Phi Mu became the place where she learned that leadership isn't about the title; it's about making sure the person behind you feels like they found where they belong.

If Phi Mu was her home, New Student Programs was her passion project. For two years, Jones served as a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM) and a Duck Camp leader, even spending a summer on the orientation staff (O-Staff).

Her first Duck Camp in the summer of 2025 stood out as a turning point. It was the moment she realized how much she loved the idea of “guiding others home.” 

“All of my favorite memories at Tarleton are centralized around wanting to help other students fall in love with this university the way I have,” Jones said.

That spirit of mentorship bled into every other part of her life. Whether she was working as a residential leader (RL) at the Honors Hall or laughing through long shifts on O-Staff, Gracie was always building community.

 She even found a “Baby Duck,” Cadee Springs, who started as a mentee and turned into one of her best friends. Finding someone so similar to herself and watching them grow into the Tarleton culture was an experience Gracie says she will cherish forever.

The true measure of Jones’ time at Tarleton was found in the words of those who walked beside her. Her peers describe her not just as a leader, but as a steady presence who makes everyone around her feel seen.

Henry Jonason, who served alongside Gracie on the RL staff at Honors Hall for two years, has an immense amount of care for Jones. 

“Grace and I have been RLs together for the past two years, and she’s probably the best person I have ever met,” Jonason said. “She is a leader with integrity who values honesty and respect amongst her peers and fellow men. She lives joyfully and with optimism, never losing an opportunity to have a good conversation with someone to make them feel welcomed and cared for.”

He continued, attesting to her warm personality.

“She laughs easily and is curious about the people and the world around her. She is also just a quality friend,” Jonason said. “There have been times where I need to count on someone, and without a second thought, she is there to support me in any myriad of situations. Grace exemplifies the Texan spirit living out our core values. I am proud to call her my friend.”

Eeva Linna, a fellow TTM and O-Staff member, shares a similar glimpse into the heart of their friendship.

“She is the kind of person who loves and serves others with her whole heart, fully investing herself in every relationship,” Linna said. “Before each orientation, we’d grab McDonald’s breakfast and 7 Brew, and we’d end our days with Cici’s Pizza. Even in a short time, we clicked immediately… Gracie is incredibly easy to get along with and always makes everyone feel welcome. She never fails to make me laugh or show me a good time. I’m so grateful to call her a friend.”

Jones’ academic journey has been just as transformative as her social one. She started out thinking she wanted to go into a research field, but she eventually realized that data and lab reports were not where her passion lay. 

“I realized how much I don’t find fulfillment in research,” Jones said. “I want to be able to talk to people face-to-face and help them improve their quality of life.” 

This realization shifted her career goals toward the psychological field, specifically focusing on cognitive-behavioral aspects. 

After graduation and completing her graduate school requirements, her goal is to become a cognitive behavioral therapist. Until then, she hopes to work in a psychiatric rehabilitation center, applying the leadership and empathy she honed at Tarleton to a clinical setting.

As graduation approaches, Jones looked back at her time in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and her various leadership roles with deep gratitude. 

Tarleton wasn't just a place to get a degree; it was a place where she was allowed to grow, make mistakes and eventually find out who she actually was.

“I don’t even recognize the girl that first committed to Tarleton,” Jones said. “I have been able to feel so much more confident in who I am, what I’m capable of and how much of an impact I can have. I can’t imagine how I would have managed all the personal growth I've done over the past few years if it weren’t for Tarleton.”

She’s moving into the “real world” with a healthy mix of confidence and curiosity. While she feels certain of her passions, she remains open to any changes that might come. 

Ultimately, her goal for the next few years is simple: to keep evolving and to be a person who would make her younger self proud. 

For Gracie Jones, the purple and white isn't just a school color; it's the backdrop of the years she became herself.