Reality TV star Tanner Smith and his mother Nicci Smith from “Love on the Spectrum” shared their story and experiences Sept. 16 at Convocation in the Vines Center.
Tanner Smith reflected on his time with the Netflix show “Love on the Spectrum.” He mentioned that he enjoyed discovering new things on the show. Nicci Smith added that she believes that “Love on the Spectrum” was what God had in store for Tanner.
Tanner Smith was vocal about his faith in Jesus. He shared about how he met Christ on a beach when he was 11 and spoke about the joy he has found in God and through the people in his life.
“It’s easy to be a joyful person when you’re thankful for what you have,” Tanner Smith said.
Nicci Smith shared her experience of being a mother to a child with autism. She said she learned what surrender means through hardships, and she learned that God has a purpose, which she sees through Tanner’s life.
“God’s purpose for all of our lives may come in the most unexpected and potentially even in a painful way, because that was our family’s story,” Nicci Smith said.
The pair also talked about the impact ClemsonLIFE has had on them. Clemson University, located in South Carolina, started the program to teach those with intellectual disabilities about independent living, and it has helped Tanner grow. He and Nicci also voiced their excitement about Liberty University beginning a similar program called LibertyLIFE that has the same core principles as ClemsonLIFE.
“The LIFE programs at every college and university that offers them are so much more than just the student,” Nicci Smith said. “It trickles out to the family, it trickles out to the student body and just changes the culture, I think, of the place where they are.”
Tanner Smith also talked about his family and the special relationships he has with each of them. He ended Convocation by talking about his purpose before praying over the student body.
“My purpose is, I want to keep spreading joy, and I want to show everyone that anything is possible,” Tanner Smith said.
Junior Lauren Limongelli said the simplicity of Tanner Smith’s answers to the questions impacted her.
“It was just cool how he didn’t overcomplicate things, which is something I think that we can take from him,” Limongelli said. “Not everything needs to be complicated. Just find the little joys in life and live life and be happy.”
Wachowiak is a news reporter for The Liberty Champion.