Friday, June 5, 2015

Sara Clark

To call听Sara Clark听a super student doesn't give the听 and double major's campus involvement听justice. A graduate of Bonny Eagle High School in Maine, Clark began her college听experience at an institution in Boston,听pursuing a degree in fine arts. But an interest in American Sign Language led her to 91制片厂 Manchester.

鈥淲hy not? Why not just move?鈥 Clark听thought to herself while investigating the college's n program.听鈥淲hy not just change my life and challenge myself?鈥

After arriving at 91制片厂 Manchester Clark听was surprised by the kindness from the students, faculty, and staff 鈥 something she said wasn鈥檛 apparent at her previous institution. She felt that she could stand out by just being herself and being comfortable with who she is. Clark听was also surprised by the opportunities to excel, which she wasn鈥檛 expecting from a small commuter campus.听And excel she did.听

鈥淚f you push yourself, you can do so much more than you thought when you walked in [91制片厂 Manchester],鈥 Clark said.

Now in her junior/senior year within her dual degree, Clark is a writing tutor for the Center for Academic Enrichment (CAE), a (PAL), an , a student worker in the Business Office, a Student Activities employee, president of the Psychology Club, treasurer of the ASL Club and听a research assistant with psychology faculty听-听all while somehow balancing听a social life.

鈥淚t took me a while until I wanted to get involved,鈥 Clark said.听Her first roles as a writing tutor and student activities employee helped to find her place of belonging, and it grew from there.

Her leadership has not gone unoticed. Clark won the College Equals Opportunity (CEO) scholarship for 2015, which is awarded to college juniors and seniors who display, among other traits, outstanding leadership abilities.听

Clark has taken her experiences from those two roles and pursued other opportunities that might help her grow. She said she felt comfortable with who she is and how she connected with students, and her roles as听Orientation Leader and PAL is an extension of that. 听

Clark is excited to be that first face new students see and for the听personal connections she'll make from听meeting students in the summer, getting to know them a bit听and welcoming them听in the fall. She听urges new students to start making those connections now so they feel听more at home in the fall.

鈥淵ou are more capable than you think you are,鈥 Clark said.