UNH Today

To call Sara Clark a super student doesn't give the psychology and sign language interpretation double major's campus involvement justice. A graduate of Bonny Eagle High School in Maine, Clark began her college experience at an institution in Boston, pursuing a degree in fine arts. But an interest in American Sign Language led her to UNH Manchester.

“Why not? Why not just move?” Clark thought to herself while investigating the college's sign language interpretation program. “Why not just change my life and challenge myself?”

After arriving at UNH Manchester Clark was surprised by the kindness from the students, faculty, and staff – something she said wasn’t apparent at her previous institution. She felt that she could stand out by just being herself and being comfortable with who she is. Clark was also surprised by the opportunities to excel, which she wasn’t expecting from a small commuter campus. And excel she did. 

“If you push yourself, you can do so much more than you thought when you walked in [UNH Manchester],” Clark said.

Now in her junior/senior year within her dual degree, Clark is a writing tutor for the Center for Academic Enrichment (CAE), a Peer Assistant Leader (PAL), an Orientation Leader, a student worker in the Business Office, a Student Activities employee, president of the Psychology Club, treasurer of the ASL Club and a research assistant with psychology faculty - all while somehow balancing a social life.

“It took me a while until I wanted to get involved,” Clark said. Her first roles as a writing tutor and student activities employee helped to find her place of belonging, and it grew from there.

Her leadership has not gone unoticed. Clark won the College Equals Opportunity (CEO) scholarship for 2015, which is awarded to college juniors and seniors who display, among other traits, outstanding leadership abilities. 

Clark has taken her experiences from those two roles and pursued other opportunities that might help her grow. She said she felt comfortable with who she is and how she connected with students, and her roles as Orientation Leader and PAL is an extension of that.  

Clark is excited to be that first face new students see and for the personal connections she'll make from meeting students in the summer, getting to know them a bit and welcoming them in the fall. She urges new students to start making those connections now so they feel more at home in the fall. 

“You are more capable than you think you are,” Clark said.