Friday, May 2,2008
Page 4
CAMPUS VOICE
Clark balances roles as
mother, student, worker
By ASHLEY SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
Valerie Clark balances roles
as a mother, wife, employee
and student.
Almost 24-hours a day seven
days a week, Valerie Clark is
either in school or working.
Somewhere between raising
three kids, being a wife and
maintaining a job outside the
home, she is still able to handle a
full-time course load as a student
at Wayne Community College.
While she knows how important
education is to her success, she
and other students saw how
her children might be just as
important to the attainment of
their education.
Recently, one of her children
was able to visit with a
developmental psychology class
she is taking. At that particular
time, the class was discussing
early childhood cognitive
development and abilities.
Being 8-years-old, her son
provided living confinnation of
the information covered in the
class textbook.
“I see the things we talk about
in the kids. 1 try to step back and
look at situations through their
eyes,” Clark said smiling.
Clark’s instructor. Sue
McClenny, allowed her to
bring her son so other students
would be able to see a child’s
mind in action. During his
visit, McClenny asked the boy
questions and from his responses
the class was able to gain a
better understanding of their
child development studies.
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Clark knows from first-hand
experience how instrumental
the knowledge she obtains
through her courses can will be
in understanding why children
behave, spe^, play, interact and
think the way they do.
With that knowledge under
her belt, she is able to move a
little more easily though other
challenges that she faces. One
of the obstacles Clark faces is
the overwhelming amount of
information that can be packed
into a class. Another issue that
she shares with nearly everyone
is time. After helping the kids
with their homework, supper,
getting their baths done and
putting them to bed, she finally
finds the time to do her own
work.
Before becoming who
and what she is today, Clark
went through some of the life
processes most everyone has
faced. Previously, she worked
as a-waitress, caregiver in a day
care facility and a as a habilitation
technician. Clark currently
works with the Mental Health
Association of North Carolina
as a program manager. She
deals with individuals who seek
treatment or help for substance
abuse and addictions.
“I love to help people. I want
to be a part of aiding them in
See Clark on 7
COACH’S
MARION
EDWARDS
Owner
111 Walnut St
Golsboro, NC
(919) 735-1967
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Designer Floral Shop
122 E. Walnut St. Goldsboro,
NC 27530 9197347657
Fax 9197347658 www.
allaboutflowersnc.com
Photo by ASHLEY
SULLIVAN
Like the psychology
book before her, Valerie
Clark has a wealth of
knowledge.
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1506 Wayne Memorial Drive
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Goldsboro, N.C. 27534-2201
919-734-8242 Fax: 919-734-6436