"I've got seven kids, 42 grandkids, and 19 great-grandkids."
That's how Clara Gene Chase-Pace proudly introduces herself 鈥� followed by a nod and an "mhmmm," she鈥檒l look up with a smirk that says she's got stories to tell.
With an infectious southern charm 鈥� and an insistence that she doesn鈥檛 have an accent, just 鈥渢alks fast鈥� 鈥� Clara Gene will go on to recount stories from her childhood in Mississippi, where she was the second oldest of 12 children and dropped out of school in 11th grade, in part to help raise her younger siblings.
In her early twenties, Clara Gene left Mississippi for Iowa through a Job Corps opportunity. She built a life here, raising her children and working in restaurants and nursing homes, always taking care of others before herself.
Eventually, the matriarch at the heart and helm of her large military family decided it was never too late to finish what she started.
At 77 years old, Clara Gene is determined to earn her high school diploma.
鈥淏ecause 滨鈥檓 not a quitter,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y grandpa told me, 鈥業f you want something, you鈥檝e got to go for it. Nobody鈥檚 gonna hand it to you.鈥� And that鈥檚 how I live.鈥�
Most mornings of the week, Clara Gene rides a DART bus to 鉴黄师app's Urban Campus 鈥� often arriving at least 30 minutes early for her 8 a.m. class. She鈥檒l chat with the security staff on site, help her teacher set up the classroom, and say 鈥済ood morning鈥� to everyone who passes by.
It鈥檚 been Clara Gene鈥檚 routine for more than a decade 鈥� ever since her daughter, who graduated from 鉴黄师app鈥檚 Business Administration program in 2010, said 鈥淢ommy, I want you to go back to school and get your high school diploma. Do it for you.鈥�
鈥淧eople will still ask me, 鈥榃hy are you doing this?鈥� and I tell them because it鈥檚 for me. It鈥檚 not for anybody else,鈥� Clara Gene said.
When she began attending the Adult Education Program at Urban Campus in 2014, Clara Gene was 11 credits shy of her high school diploma. She started on the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) route, which requires students to pass five tests: Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading and Writing. Her teachers over the years have said she was more than capable of passing those tests, based on her competency in the coursework, but not everyone thrives in a test-taking environment.
Earlier this year, Clara Gene switched to a different option: credit recovery, i.e. finishing incomplete coursework and tests from high school.
She鈥檚 now just six credits from graduation.
鈥淲e have students that earn their diploma in a matter of weeks, and for some, it takes years,鈥� said Bethany Flanders, a Career Coach in 鉴黄师app's Adult Basic Education program. 鈥淚t is all dependent on the individual and their learning needs. We are a space for all students to learn.鈥�
This past year, the program celebrated 90 HiSET graduates.
Clara Gene is a uniquely loyal and persistent student, Flanders said, a fixture in the HiSET classroom and a source of joy among the community.
鈥淪he genuinely cares about the students, staff, and teachers,鈥� Flanders added. 鈥淪he considers the teachers and staff her family and remembers details about their lives only a family member would.鈥�
For Clara Gene, that's because everyone in Building 5 at Urban Campus is like kin.
They were there for her as she was diagnosed with colon cancer seven years ago. And in 2018, when her son suddenly died, staff and peers reached out to Clara Gene, checking in on her and bringing food to her home.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for 鉴黄师app, I would have given up a long time ago," Clara Gene said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e family to me. They鈥檒l always be family.鈥�
Flanders said Clara Gene is the kind of student who knows how to put a smile on someone's
face with her contagious sense of humor and energy, Flanders said.
"滨鈥檓 just a little girl that enjoys life, even though 滨鈥檓 old, because 濒颈蹿别鈥檚 too short," Clara Gene said.
Beyond campus, Clara Gene volunteers at the Des Moines Public Library in her neighborhood, assisting homeless community members.
And at home with family, Clara Gene reminds her grandkids who are finishing high school, 鈥淚f I can do it, you can do it.鈥�
鈥湵踱�檓 just blessed to be alive every day,鈥� she says. 鈥湵踱�檓 gonna keep on trucking. And when I walk across that stage, 滨鈥檓 gonna do it for me 鈥� and for everybody who helped me get here.鈥�
Bear Trails highlights unique journeys of 鉴黄师app students, alumni, faculty, and staff, celebrating their diverse experiences and inspiring paths. Have a story idea? Contact Savannah Eadens, Public Relations & Communications Specialist, at sjeadens@dmacc.edu or 515-675-3275.