Tanner Wells: it's the little things that count

BY MADALYNN DAVIS 

Contributing Writer 

Tanner Wells — the man, the myth and definitely the legend. According to Merriam-Webster, a legend is a person or thing that inspires stories passed down over time. It’s a definition that many people have the opportunity to achieve, but rarely do. It takes a special person to have their story remembered.

For Wells, that story didn’t start at Tarleton. It started in the moments that shaped who he was going to be for the rest of his life: his childhood.

“Growing up, both my parents always made sure I was doing the right thing,” Wells said. “They told me to do something for someone or lead by example.”

Instilling a strong sense of giving allowed Wells to see the world in a way that most people do not, a world centered on serving others before himself. As a child, that influence did not always feel easy to understand.

“My dad influenced me the most,” Wells said. “While he could be, in my eyes, harsh, I realize now, as I’m becoming an adult, he was just making sure I was going to be a well-respected man.”

Coming to Tarleton was a big shift for Wells. The values he’d grown up with were things he chose to live by every day. A big part of that also came from his sister's encouragement.

“When my sister went here, she wasn't involved at all on campus, so when I was coming to Tarleton, she made it a point to let me know that I should get involved and try and do everything here,” Wells said. “She says it's one of the things she wishes she did while she was here.”

According to Wells, he was first introduced to Tarleton through his sister, from moving her in and out of her dorm.

“It wasn't until she invited me up for homecoming my senior year of high school that I fell in love with Tarleton,” Wells said. “When I came up, I got to experience the bonfire and then the parade and the football game the next day. This is when I knew Tarleton was my home.”

College can often make or break people. Students are away from their families and everything they’ve ever known, and whether they sink or swim depends on the choices they make. Wells chose to take advantage of the opportunities Tarleton gave him.

“Believe it or not, my freshman year, I was more introverted and reserved,” Wells said. “Through my time here, I have obviously pushed my limits and gotten outside of my comfort zone with getting more involved and more out there.”

What started as just showing up turned into something much more. Wells began to take on bigger roles in the organizations he joined, leading with compassion and just being himself. The more he stepped into these roles, the more he began to lean into the values from his childhood. What makes Wells really stand out is not just how much he has done, but the way he carries himself while doing it.

He is a member of the Shotgun Club and Ultimate Frisbee. He was a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM) for two years, serving as a facilitator before transitioning to the Leadership Team (LT). He served as the FarmHouse assistant recruitment chair and chaplain of the Tarleton Men's Society. He has also been crowned Mr. TSU.

“Through being a TTM, I got to connect with students and families coming to Tarleton,” Wells said. “After my last year at Duck Camp, I joined the Texan Reps, which gave me the perfect opportunity to still serve and talk to future Tarleton families and connect.”

While Wells has made his rounds throughout the university, his ability to stay humble and want to serve others is more impressive.

Wyatt Towler, a member of FarmHouse and friend of Wells, praised the effort Wells puts in to make people feel seen and also “for small things that people overlook.”

When Towler was a first-year TTM, Wells wrote him an appreciation card, with print so small it was hard to read, but it took up the entire card. 

“It wasn't just a ‘Hey, I’m proud of you, good job,’ it was a full-on heartfelt note that made me tear up,” Towler said. “It was so meaningful to me, and I still have it to this day.”

Another friend of Wells, Sam Lima, had a similar experience with his level of care in a different way. According to Lima, Wells, along with another friend, took the time to help her move everything out of her apartment, into a storage unit and then back into her house.

“He helped with a lot of the heavy lifting but also just provided space in his truck so that we could move everything in at one time,” Lima said. “I was in so much distress because I was thinking I had no time to do so before, but Tanner laid down all of his time just to help.”

Times like these go to show just how far Wells will go for his friends. 

“He truly cares about his friends and always will make sure to put up a fight even if he ‘might lose to the first punch,’ which is a joke he always makes,” Lima said.

These actions may seem small to others, but they are what make Wells memorable. It isn't about getting a thank you back or expecting someone to do something in return for him. The quiet but intentional acts speak louder than anything else, and they leave lasting impacts on the people around him.

“I'm most proud of all the connections and impacts I've made with the people I've met here,” Wells said. “I also think the mentor and leadership opportunities that I've been able to be a part of is what I'm most proud of.”

Wells said he believes leadership is not about power, but about setting a good example. He makes it a point to lead in a way that helps the people around him grow. He has found the most fulfillment in serving those around him in this way.

As he looks ahead toward his future, Wells plans on carrying those same values into his next chapter of life. After graduation, he intends to spend the summer serving as a church counselor before taking his next steps.

“Tarleton has grown me in ways that I didn't know were possible and has equipped me with life skills that I know will transfer into my next chapter,” Wells said.

If a legend is characterized by personality and the values they live by, Wells has already made his place, long before his story has been completed.