Seeing the Clarks together isn't unusual.
In the past few weeks, you would have found Robert, 48, his
21-year-old son, Jim, and daughter Laura, 19, helping battle brush
fires as Corinth volunteer firefighters.
They help lead the Corinth Boy Scout troop. They rock climb. And,
until recently, they fought over space at the dining room table to
study. Or not study.
"We procrastinate together," Jim corrects.
Today, that togetherness takes on special meaning -- even for
this close-knit family -- when the Clarks will be honored together
as Adirondack Community College graduates.
The three will be elbow to elbow, lined up alphabetically near
the front of the group of 335 graduates for tonight's commencement
exercises at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
With nearly half the student body of traditional college age of
up to 22, the other half being older returning students, parents and
their children have graduated together before, ACC registrar Jeanne
Charpentier said.
But the Clarks are the largest family group she remembers in her
15 years at the college.
"Never a family, like this. This is a real pleasure," Charpentier
said.
All three will receive associate degrees in applied science --
the two children in liberal arts for math and science, and their
father for electrical technology. Jim and Laura are graduating with
honors.
Chatting amiably, talking over each other and laughing often on
Wednesday, the Clarks described their close family life, which
Robert said was, for his part, entirely intentional.
"I took a cut in pay three times to be with the kids when they
were younger," he said, describing his early years at International
Paper Co.'s Hudson River mill, when he changed shifts to accommodate
the family.
He decided to go to college to finish a degree in his field in
recent years, in part, he said, to be an example to his children of
the struggle to work and study. He hoped that would encourage them
to get their education earlier than he did.
For him, it meant taking classes at night and weekends, after
work, and in between all the other extracurricular activities.
Some of that effort depended on caring co-workers who, for three
semesters, switched shifts with him to let him get to class.
Finishing up also depended on the help of his wife, Christine,
whom Robert and the two children said prepared meals for them while
they studied and proofread their papers.
The children say they appreciate their father's efforts,
especially since his graduation comes seven years after starting at
ACC and 30 years since he initially sought the degree at another
college.
"Dad's made a lot of sacrifices for us," Laura said.
Robert brushes it off.
"I'm proud of both my kids," he says.
The children work hard, too, trying to fit college in with all
their other activities.
In addition to everything else, Jim heads the outdoor club at ACC
and Laura played first base on the college's softball team.
And Laura said it's been hard explaining to her professors that
she didn't have as much time to study because of her firefighting in
recent weeks.
Sometimes, she said, she'll be wearing one hat and literally have
to switch it for another.
Tonight it's mortarboards for everyone.
Rob Barendse Photo