Northwest Missouri State University President and Troy University alumnus Dr. Lance Tatum told TROY graduates that success rarely comes from having all the answers but rather by consistently showing up regardless of how difficult or messy life gets.

Tatum spoke to nearly 1,000 graduates during two spring commencement exercises across two days, Thursday and Friday, in Trojan Arena on the Troy Campus.

“As you prepare to leave this season of your life behind, you are stepping into a world that’s dynamic, complex and often unpredictable — a world that will test your patience, your resilience and your character, but you are also stepping into a world full of opportunity,” he said. “I’ve seen that world from many vantage points, as a student, as a husband, as a father and as a leader, doing my best to navigate through life’s changes. What I can say with confidence is that there is one truth that has remained consistent throughout every chapter of my life. Success rarely comes from having all the answers. It comes from consistently showing up.”

Tatum encouraged graduates to show up when life is hard.

“You will encounter setbacks, rejection and moments of doubt,” he said. “There will be times when your confidence is tested and your resolve feels fragile. In my own journey, the most defining moments did not occur when things were going well or easy, but rather when the path forward was difficult and perhaps uncertain. Choosing to show up anyway, to keep moving, to keep learning, to keep engaging, that is where you discover who you are and what you are truly capable of becoming. This is where resilience and grit are born.”

Tatum also challenged graduates to show up when life gets messy.

“Your plans are not always going to unfold as expected. Timelines shift, initiatives will fail, life, more often than not will resist order and predictability,” he said. “What I want you to take with you is this – messy does not mean broken, messy does not mean defeated. Messy is where innovation lives. Messy is where perspective is gained. Messy is where transformation begins. Perseverance is born in those messy moments, and, in perseverance, you learn to achieve despite the difficulties.”

Tatum told graduates that character and integrity are built from showing up in moments when there is no one watching.

 “Character is not shaped on stages or in moments of recognition. It is shaped by quiet decisions, through unseen efforts and in the moments when no one is keeping score,” he said. “When you hold yourself to a standard, especially when no one else is watching, you build a foundation of trust, discipline and self-respect. Integrity and character are qualities that will carry you farther than talent alone ever could.”

It is important, Tatum said, to show up even “when you don’t feel like it.”

“I want you to know and understand that your dreams are worth your time, your energy and your unwavering commitment, even on the days when belief in those dreams feels distant,” he said. “Motivation will come and go; passion will ebb and flow. There are days when you will feel tired, uninspired and uncertain, but that’s ok. What matters most in those moments is not how you feel but what you choose to do next. Discipline, not inspiration, is what sustains success. Progress is rarely defined by dramatic breakthroughs. More often, it is built one ordinary day at a time through consistent effort, intentional choices and a commitment to something greater than your current comfort.”

Finally, Tatum urged graduates to show up even when the reward of their effort is uncertain.

“Not every effort brings immediate success. Not every sacrifice is going to be acknowledged, and not every contribution will be celebrated,” he said. “Truthfully, many of the most meaningful moments in your journey will occur without applause or recognition. They will also come without any guarantee of return, but that does not mean that the work lacks value. It simply means the value is being formed within you. When you choose to continue without external validation, you strengthen something far more lasting than a single outcome. You strengthen your capacity to persist, to adapt and to lead yourself through ambiguity. Sometimes the greatest reward is not the outcome but the growth you experience along the way.”

In closing, Tatum said one should never bet against the person who keeps showing up.

“That persistence, practiced day after day, is what will shape who you are and what you carry forward,” he said. “You leave today with a college experience that you will cherish for a lifetime, but more importantly, you leave prepared and with values that will guide you through every chapter of your life. So, wherever life takes you next – into board rooms or classrooms, studios or start-ups, or spaces yet unimagined – remember this message, because it truly comes from someone who has benefitted greatly from the lesson of showing up.”

Tatum began his tenure as Northwest’s 11th president on June 1, 2023. He previously had served as senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Troy University, since January 2019 while holding the rank of professor in its Sorrell College of Business—School of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management. Tatum joined Troy University as a faculty member in 1998 and went on to serve as vice chancellor for its campus in Montgomery; vice chancellor for its Global Campus; dean of the College of Education; and chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion as well as a Faculty Athletics Representative.

He earned a Ph.D. in sport management at Florida State University. He has a Master of Science in Education degree in foundations of education and a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, both from Troy University.

Tatum and his wife, Jill, have two children, Thad and Zoe, who are graduates of Auburn University.