Marina Crippen talks about the value of the relationships and friendships she made at Clark and how they have impacted her life and career.
I felt at home at Clark from the very first time that I visited the campus. Since I knew that the college I selected was going to be my home for four years, it was extremely important for me to find a place that felt exactly that way-like home, a place where I was welcomed, valued and accepted. Diversity was also very important to me, as a minority student. I found all of these things and so much more at Clark.
Clark's faculty, staff and students were so welcoming and friendly to me and my family at the Admitted Students Open House. I felt as though I was already part of the Clark family. Everyone was so attentive and so willing and ready to answer my questions. At the open house, I also noticed the wide array of people. There were students from all different cultures, countries and ethnicities represented on Clark's campus. That really appealed to me because the world that we live in is diverse, as well as the people whom we work with day in and day out in our careers. I visited and toured several colleges during my senior year of high school, but none made a lasting imprint in my heart and mind like Clark did. Clark was different-it was home.
The things that I value the most about my time at Clark are the relationships that I formed during my four years there. These Clark relationships are like no others in all my life. They mean so much to me and are relationships that I will have for the rest of my life. I really did become part of a family at Clark. In fact, there are faculty and staff members at Clark whom I still keep in touch with to this very day; people I know that I can always turn to for support and advice.
These friendships that I made at Clark will never be broken. My college friends are by far my closest and dearest. There's something so special about the friendships that you form in college. You go through it all together-the schoolwork, the deadlines, the stresses, the tears, the laughter, the fun, the ups and the downs-and as a result, life-long bonds are formed through this whirlwind of experiences and emotions. They say, "How far you travel in life matters less than those you meet along the way." And that pretty much sums up my Clark experience. It changed my whole life.
While at Clark, I studied business management. Since then, at almost every job interview and in almost every conversation I've had with people I've met along the way, when I mention that I went to Clark, they are immediately drawn to that. Their eyes get big and they usually comment, "You went to Clark? Wow!" It's amazing the reactions that I get from telling someone that I am a Clark alumna. People out there in the world know Clark. They know what a great institution it is, and what a great education it offers. Being a Clark alumna impresses prospective employers and makes a difference in the interviewing process.
Attending Clark doesn't automatically place a "silver ticket" into your hands. You do have to work hard to get to where you want to be in your career. But having a Clark degree does make starting a career easier. My Clark education has sharpened my mind and given me the ability to think critically, solve problems, and work more effectively and professionally with others. I'd say that Clark has changed my life in the sense that it has given me the people and critical-thinking skills that I need to succeed in my career and relationships, not to mention friendships that will last my lifetime.