Tradin' Spaces: V-Dub to 'Cuse

What do you want to be when you get older? In the back of your mind you can hear that faint voice of an adult asking. As we grow older and closer to college graduation, the voice isn’t so faint.

“When I was little I wanted to be a teacher,” said senior Erica Clarke. “It wasn’t until college that I decided that I wanted to be a college professor. Before then I thought I would teach English or journalism in a public school or something like that.”

Since we began school, what was next was always planned. You knew there was high school and maybe college, but never in kindergarten did you think you’d be going to graduate school.

“I always had high goals [even] from a little girl,” said Clarke. “I never thought I would go this far, but I knew that I would be something great.”

Clarke was on her way to becoming something great when she entered Wesleyan as a freshman in 1997. But due to family problems, she had to put her dream on hold.

“I originally left school in the spring of 1997 because my father had to be hospitalized in an in-patient rehab facility for alcoholism,” said Clarke. “It was too expensive to pay for both, so I had to drop out of college. I worked and paid to take classes at a local community college after we moved to Harrisonburg, Va. I always knew I was going to finish college.”

In 2001, Clarke was back on track. Four years later, with graduation quickly approaching, and Clarke, unlike many other college seniors, knows exactly what is next – graduate school. She plans on attending Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts in upstate New York. It is one of the hardest graduate programs to get into in the country. However, if you’re a student like Clarke, there are no worries. On May 14, Clarke will be graduating cum laude,

“I missed magna by a few tenths of a point,” said Clarke.

She will then move to New York in July and classes start at the end of August.

Once you see that letter in the mail, it’s like you don’t want to open it because you’re afraid. At that time you’re intimidated by those fine black letters on that crisp white piece of paper.

“I was so nervous because I really wanted to be a student there, but I was unsure that I had done enough to get in,” said Clarke. “Syracuse is such a competitive place, I did not know if I was qualified enough to get in. The envelope was thin, so I was afraid that it was a rejection letter. As soon as I saw that I was accepted, I screamed and ran to Diane Hotaling’s office (my boss) and yelled, ‘I did it.’ We hugged and cried.”

“After I cried with Diane, I called everyone I could think of, my family first of course. My parents were so excited. My dad told me he always knew that I was capable. My mom cried and told me that she was so proud. My family really needed the pick-up. We had just returned from my sister’s funeral in New Jersey.”

Applying to school can be difficult because you always have your hopes of your first choice, so you’d be upset if that didn’t come true, but not for Clarke.

“It was my first choice,” said Clarke. “It has been ever since Dr. Bill Ruehlmann suggested it the summer before my junior year. I researched it and decided that that was were I wanted to go.”

Clarke also applied to Regent University in Virginia Beach, Cornell University in New York and Texas Christian University.

She is studying communications at Wesleyan and is double tracking in journalism and media.

“I will be getting a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Studies,” said Clarke. “My concentration is in media and cosmopolitan studies, all which is fancy jargon for the study of language and how it relates to media.”

This is a two-year program, plus summer classes.

Going to New York from Virginia Beach, the weather is going to be out of control.

“I must admit, I have not lived in the north since I was a small child,” said Clarke. “The threat of constant snow is a little daunting, but I have met so many people from there who reassure me that even though it is cold, it is beautiful. I visited there in the summer and will be returning during spring break to get the real lowdown on the weather.”

The weather isn’t going to be the only adjustment for Clarke.

“I’m excited about going to a big school, especially because of things like sports and other campus activities like concerts. I think that small colleges are perfect for undergrad, but grad programs should be pursued at a large college.”

VWC may be small, but Clarke has made a big mark and is well-known around campus. Being involved in campus life is big for her. She is the immediate past president of Campus Kaleidoscope, co-leader for HolyFire Campus Ministries, vice president of Society for Collegiate Journalists, secretary of Lambda Pi Eta, a Resident Assistant, Ivy Leaf reporter/historian and charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., student rep for The Alumni Association, co-community editor for The Marlin Chronicle and the 2004-05 VWC Homecoming Queen.

With all this is mind, Clarke still has a month until graduation. However, there is nothing that will stand in her way. She couldn’t even if she wanted to. There are too many people who have helped along the way.

“My success is not just my success. I have to thank Dr. Ruehlmann for always believing in me and my abilities, Diane Hotaling for never letting me lose focus of my dream and my parents for always supporting and helping me no matter what.”

Clarke realizes that there is a small negative that will come with her transition.

“I will miss all the friends that I have made here, especially my sorority sisters and the professional staff, Dr. Ruehlmann, Diane Hotaling, Dr. Stuart Minnis, Kelly Jackson and Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, but not her classes,” she said giggling.

Clarke is quick to tell you that succeeding on the journey is just as important as arriving at the destination. She says it is the journey that makes you stronger.

“People should never let circumstances dictate their future,” said Clarke. “If you have a goal, strive as hard as you can as long as you have to. It is always worth the work and the wait.”