Natahisa Clark, Liberal Arts Student

Liberal Arts student Natahisa Clark's college life can be summed up in one sentence: She must be the person that NCC had in mind when they designed student planners.

"I'm a real outgoing and active person," says Clark. "I need to be busy."

She isn't kidding. Clark -- who hopes to use her political science background to someday pursue a career in politics -- juggles being a Spanish tutor, an honors student, a member of the Monroe Band of Brothers club, a member of Student Government and involvement in Student Leadership. That's on top of fitting classes and homework into her jam-packed schedule.

"When I first started here, I wanted to focus on my school work instead of extracurricular activities or clubs," Clark explains." I was determined to get an academic scholarship right out of the gate, so I wasn't really involved. But I didn't want my days to become mundane. I need to participate."

Natahisa 's sister, Elizabeth Clark, who is also a student at NCC's Monroe campus but started a few years ahead of her younger sibling, was the one who encouraged Natahisa to use NCC as the starting block for her academic career. Elizabeth also showed Natahisa the ropes as far as getting involved in clubs and events was concerned.

"I was planning on going to school in D.C., but my sister gave me all of the pros of why I should come to NCC, and a lot of her friends ended up going somewhere else and actually coming back here to restart college," says Clark. "I'm glad I made the decision because I've been able to excel here."

Clark has discovered that her self-described "opinionated" personality has fit well with the curriculum of her political science classes, where discussions with her peers have helped to shape her decisions about where to take her education and career next. She plans to transfer to Kutztown University in the spring of 2012, and doesn't rule out potentially going to law school after she receives her bachelor's degree in 2014.

"Why not share my opinions with the world?" Clark muses. "If I go into politics, I'd like to be at the state level helping with education. But everyone has to have a fallback plan. Being a lawyer is my #1, my plan A. Plan A is the only option. And so far, that's worked out pretty well for me."