Well, first of all my name is Stacey (nicknamed Staco,Stace, Stac…the list goes on). I was born and raised in Clifton, Texas a small town of about 3,500 people. So… basically I’m from the sticks haha. I always wanted to get out of Clifton while I was there, but now have a greater appreciation for how my hometown and the people in it helped mold me into the person that I am today. I love that I grew up in the “country”. I’m blessed with an amazing family that I am very close with. My parents were high school sweethearts and married right out of high school. They’ve given me a great example of what true love looks like, which is why I’ve learned to never settle. I have an older sister, Jennifer, that will graduate from pharmacy school in May, and a brother-in-law, Jessie, who works at Wells Fargo. I am proud to call both of them members of my family, they are incredible people.
I graduated from high school and decided that I wanted to attend Texas Tech University. Sorry to all of you Red Raiders, but that was a terrible mistake. I moved to Lubbock and attended South Plains College, hoping to transfer to Tech, and I absolutely despised West Texas. It makes me smile when I think back to deciding to transfer to Texas A&M and how God always knows our inner most desires. I had always wanted to attend A&M, but for some reason decided against it during high school. And wouldn’t you know, despite my own plans and stubborness, I ended up at A&M anyways :). I was fortunate enough to attend Texas A&M University with some of my best friends from high school and roommates that became my best friends while attending A&M (shout-out to the Lodge!), they are so close to my heart. While attending A&M, I started out as an Applied Exercise Physiology major. I love sports and staying active, which influenced me to want to pursue a career in physical therapy. I volunteered in a physical therapy clinic and decided it just wasn’t for me. So, again working against my stubborness, God opened many doors for me to start down the path of becoming a teacher. Teaching has also been one of my true passions from the time I was very young.
Which leads me to the present time, in which I am currently finishing up my first year of teaching elementary school. I work in a Title I school and absolutely love my students. I know that teaching is what I’ve been called to do, but I also know that God has other plans for me, which is where the World Race comes in.
One word a lot of people use to describe me is goofy. I’m pretty easygoing and laugh at almost anything. The beach, sunny days, sports, good books, traveling, working with children, the color turquoise, and photography are a few things that I love. My life’s goal is to know that I made an impact, to know that I left the world a better place because I was here. I’ve had a passion for missions since high school and truly believe that just loving people can change the whole path of humanity. They asked us to write about what we expect from The World Race so…here are a few things that I expect:
I expect for God to wreck my world. I know that I’ll be living in poverty, and hope to learn not to take everyday things for granted.
I expect to be stretched way out of my comfort zone.
I expect (hope) to learn how to live out true and pure love daily…not just when I feel like it or it’s convenient.
I expect to learn not to think I have to live up to my own plans or expectations, just God’s.
