Each year the Maricopa Community College District awards the Chancellor’s Scholarship to select students who exhibit a history of academic excellence and dedication to their education. Among this year’s recipients is Sarah Clark, a hard-working single mother who has managed to make headway toward earning a degree at Rio while also honoring her professional obligations.
“I didn’t know when I gave my little bio statement in my application that they’d be reading it as my introduction at the ceremony,” Clark laughs, reflecting on her experience of receiving her scholarship. “So mine was like, ‘Hi, my name’s Sarah, I like anime, I’m in IT’ while everybody else had these long introductions with all their distinctions.”
When asked what she wished was in her introduction instead, Clark emphasized her pride in being in the Honors program.
“I’ve been a member of the Honors program since my second semester at Rio,” Clark said. “When I graduate I will have the Honors on my diploma, which is very important to me. I believe in not just succeeding but excelling. I don’t get my schoolwork done just to get it done; I have high expectations for myself.”
Thanks to the scholarship, Clark will be attending school full-time, which marks a change in her academic career. She’s been taking classes at Rio Salado part-time for several years, picking up classes here and there while honoring her work and family responsibilities.
“I’m a single mom and I worked two jobs while going to school,” Clark said. “I just want to say that it’s never too late for anybody. You’re the only one holding yourself back.”
Clark studies both business and computer information technology; once she receives her associate degrees from Rio Salado, she plans to transfer to Phoenix College to complete her bachelor’s degree.
“I’m kind of sad that it’s coming to an end because I have honestly enjoyed being in school so much more this time around,” Clark said.
Looking ahead to the future, Clark expressed her desire to work as the on-site IT support for a company.
“I want to teach people how to use things,” Clark said. “I used to be in the hotel business and one of the hardest things for new employees was learning the hotel software. Having a good trainer makes a world of difference. When I was at the IT department for my former company, the focus there was to just resolve the issue. But my ticket time for clearing tickets was a little longer than the average because I would explain to people how to resolve the issue themselves so if it happened again they would know how to troubleshoot. I want to help people understand their technology better.”
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Clark moved to the Valley in 2018. In addition to her extensive experience in IT, she's also volunteered for the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and the Red Cross. When her day is done and she wants to unwind, she loves watching anime.
“My favorite of all time is definitely Naruto,” Clark said. “I have the Nine Tail Fox tattooed on my arm. He’s shunned by his whole community of this quality that makes him different, but that thing also makes him the strongest, it’s what makes him the best and it’s what makes him be able to save his community because he learned to work with that difference. Instead of it being something negative it became his power. I feel like we all have something within ourselves that we may not be proud of or we think it’s s negative. But that thing makes us who we are and it makes us better for the future.”
Article by Austin Brietta