Wanda Clarke

Geometry tells us that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so if the goal is to get from point A to point B, a direct path is best. When we’re dealing with people, however, sometimes just leaving point A can be a problem, and then the line can veer one way or another, frequently making unscheduled stops. That describes Wanda Clarke’s college career.

By the time Wanda was ready and confident enough to begin, it had been more than fifteen years since she had been in school, and I had a husband and three daughters. The community college system worked so well for her because it enabled her to take classes in a way that fit her life. She was able to be there for my family, especially when the girls were very young. She began with classes that she thought would be fun and interesting, and eventually added the courses required for her degree.

While the most direct path works well for some people, Wanda always reminds her friends and classmates that some need to meander a little until we find their own way. Wanda received an associate in arts degree in 2010 and is planning to transfer to UNC Asheville in the fall, where she will start the next leg of her journey.