Daily Inspiration: Meet Tiffany Damon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Damon.

Hi Tiffany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
Born in Fremont, CA, I was six months old when my family relocated to Houston, TX. My father had lost his job working in IT, declared bankruptcy, and fought to make ends meet with my mom. 

In our quaint apartment, I was three years old when my father gave me a very simple blueprint for life: do well in school, get into a good university, and find a job that pays well and makes you happy. Otherwise, he told me, I would face the same struggles he did from not having a college education. 

Beyond the first miracle of having a father who deeply cared about my future, the second miracle was that, even as a toddler, I understood him, and I listened. 

I decided to do well in school. I graduated from Cypress Park High School’s inaugural Class of 2020 as their first Valedictorian, their first Student Body President, their first graduation commencement address speaker, and as team captain of my beloved Speech and Debate team. (Shoutout to the best debate coach ever, Tammi Raley, who has now grown the program exponentially since my time there — this year, they’re sending a student to Nationals! Yay!) 

For the past three and a half years, I have attended the University of Southern California, studying at both the Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts. Here, I have grown both professionally and personally, and I will forever feel humbled to say that I get to be a Trojan for the rest of my life. Set to graduate this May 2024, I’ve successfully followed two-thirds of my dad’s blueprint. 

In short, I have been driven quite literally all my life, and it’s this drive that has landed me here, in the incredible city of Los Angeles, CA, the place I now call home. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Most of the struggles that came with chasing my dreams so fervently and tenaciously were largely personal. Isolating myself from family and friends every day to get work done took a toll on myself, my esteem, and my relationships. 

My mental health was tested for years with all the pressure I put myself under to distinguish myself and succeed—all the way from kindergarten (yes) through to my senior year of high school. 

My quick escape within the confines of my home were through films and television. Movies were my window to the outside world as I relegated myself to staying inside, working, and studying. When it became too much, films showed me what life could look like and reminded me of why I was working so hard. 

Am I working to become the next Andy Anderson? A fashion journalist killing it in New York? Perhaps. Or maybe I’ll become the girl version of Tony Stark, graduating Summa Cum Laude from MIT and building an Iron Man suit in my garage. It was possible (totally), and I considered it—until I took computer science classes and decided maybe not. 

Either way, movies taught me to dream. They showed me what this “bright future” I kept hearing about could potentially look like—how all this determination and discipline could someday pay off. 

I felt understood by characters as passionate as I was, and I cared about what they cared about. And when nothing else could tear me away from working, all my family had to do was shout, “Want to watch a movie?” 

Always. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
At USC, I’ve carved out a space for myself as a film producer. I’m currently co-president of the Trojan Filmmakers Club of USC, an on-campus School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the disparate SCA majors (and SCA non-majors) through independent productions led entirely by students, with an emphasis on promoting diversity of gender, race, and sexual orientation both in front of and behind the camera. 

To me, seeing a film come together from pitch to premiere is one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable. As Executive Producer of two films this year, “Syncopate!” and “Soliloquy,” I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of working with passionate, thoughtful creatives who have all treated these projects as their babies—with exceptional care, attention, and dedication. I have looked forward to every meeting, debrief, and shoot day—an experience all due to being part of such great teams full of diligent, respectful, and inspiring individuals. 

I have learned so much in this role for the past two years. To provide guidance, connect creatives, and educate younger filmmakers has been the absolute highlight of my USC career. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
There’s three: 1) Live each day intentionally. 2) Your reputation began yesterday. 3) Enjoy the process. 

1) 

I value the experience of life to no end and will be a kid at heart to every possible wonder there is to discover; with that said, however, this happy-go-lucky mindset has not been steadfast. Mentally hitting very low points several times teaches that greener grass is pretty. freaking. nice. Staying where the grass is greener is, of course, only achievable by cultivating said green grass, i.e., live each day intentionally. Know what your goals are, hold yourself accountable, and don’t waste your own time—nor allow anyone else to waste it for you. 

2) 

We are always being evaluated by other people and will continue to be for the rest of our lives. Defensively, we tell ourselves that we don’t care what others think about us, when really, we should learn to care just enough—not so much that our esteem is puddy in others’ hands and not so little that we’re careless with how we conduct ourselves. Because, ultimately, it does matter what other people think. People talk, and people will remember how you made them or their friends feel. Good, bad—what you decide will follow you whether you like it or not. 

3) 

There is no other side of success where one will be impenetrably safe because they’ve finally done enough. There is no other side of success where all your hard work and determination will pay off with the reward of never having to work hard ever again because your laurels last forever. Accept that it’s the consistent process of working to get to where you want to go that is the reward—the true fulfillment. Grand moments of success are thrilling and unforgettable but also fleeting. They bleed into the next moment that asks, “What now?” 

No worries, just keep moving. “Just keep swimming.” Create a new process. Enjoy the process. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tiffanydamon_
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanydamon

Image Credits
Alexandra Pillsbury
Maximus Jenkins
Christophe Merriam
Leah Rae
Jewel Marks