When Kelly Clark finished high school, she thought she was done with her education.
Too much time spent on dead-end jobs helped her realize her ambitions surpassed her resume and it was time for change.
鈥淚 had been out of high school for a really long time, and I knew I wanted to progress in my career, and I knew I needed my degree to do that,鈥� she said.
Now Clark is a standout student pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration, with a concentration in accounting, at The 极乐禁地. Since enrolling in her first college courses, she accepted a position managing grants and contracts. She hopes to work her way up to an internal auditor role, earn a master鈥檚 degree and become a certified public accountant.
鈥淚 feel like I can conquer anything,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淚 feel that my resilience has increased, my perspective has changed about a lot of things in life. I鈥檓 happy with where I am, but still look forward to where I鈥檓 going.鈥�
Clark is confident that her experience at UBalt will get her to her dream career, but her path wasn鈥檛 always so clear.
Back when Clark first committed to a college plan, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her into online classes she wasn鈥檛 anticipating, and fears of failure started to creep back in. The abrupt change turned out to be an opportunity for Clark to excel where she least expected to.
鈥淚 weathered the storm, and to my surprise, my grades were awesome, and I was handling my work-life balance and my children,鈥� she said.
Community college boosted Clark鈥檚 confidence enough that she applied to transfer to UBalt.
Clark wanted to be part of an institution where she could find support from faculty and her peers. She ended up choosing UBalt initially because the campus is close to her 极乐禁地e home.
She soon discovered how much more was waiting for her here.
鈥淚t has proved to be so much more than just convenient,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淚 really feel like I鈥檓 a part of a community here. I feel so supported. I feel acknowledged and seen.鈥�
Clark found her community quickly, starting in the classroom where she met Dr. Jan Williams. The accounting professor lauded Clark鈥檚 work and encouraged her toward the accounting concentration. That led Clark to more classes in the subject and later the honors society for accounting students, Beta Alpha Psi.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to network,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淎nd that first meeting, I was blown away, and [Williams] invited me to Back to UBalt night, which consists of a panel of alumni who majored in accounting and have gone on to have successful careers in either private or public accounting. That was just added motivation for me.鈥�
Clark has found more support outside of the Merrick School of Business. At the Robert L. Bogomolny Library, she lauded the tutoring, life coaching and Microsoft Excel and writing workshops.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much that UBalt offers that helps you be successful,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like UBalt is taking you by your hand and telling you, 鈥楲ook, I know this is hard, this is challenging, but you don鈥檛 have to do it alone.鈥� You鈥檝e got help. They want you to be successful, and that鈥檚 what I feel all of the time.鈥�
While Clark鈥檚 decision to go to college was initially rooted in fear, her success so far paired with others鈥� encouragement has helped her see she鈥檚 right where she belongs.
鈥淢y pursuit is rewarding me already in my professional life, and it鈥檚 just immeasurable. I feel it was just wonderful to be seen, to be part of the UBalt community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting teary eyed because higher education wasn鈥檛 really encouraged in my household. I did so well in grade school and middle school and high school, but I was never encouraged to pursue a degree in higher education, and I wish that I would have started on this journey sooner.鈥�
The silver lining of waiting for the first-generation college student has been showing her children how sacrifices pay off.
鈥淚 share the highs and the lows, so they will be well aware of what their journey could look like when they pursue their education,鈥� Clark said.