Arts and Humanities

Marlene Clarke

Kaplan University

Arts and Humanities: 20th Century and Beyond

Professor Jennifer Harrison

May 21, 2012

My name is Marlene Clarke and I am originally from Trinidad and Tobago. I am the last of five siblings and I grew up in a single family home. I am a wife, mother, fulltime employee and student but somehow I have been able to achieve all the goals I set for myself.

My daily experience consists of waking up at 3:15am to be at work by 5am and it can be a downer at times. When I get to work, there are things I have to deal with that is beyond my control and it drives me crazy. I try really hard to stay focus and remember each hour spent is an hour close to going home.

I really enjoy my job but the challenges can become stressful and irritating. While I am at work, I have to figure out what is cooking for dinner, what items I need from the store, doctor’s appointments for myself and the kids, car maintenance, activities for the kids, school work and so on. It is difficult to focus on one thing because that is the role a mother has to play.

There are times when I realize that I rarely have time to focus on myself so I would go and get a manicure and pedicure to unwind and relax. Sometimes I would go out with the girls and have a blast and focus on only me.

My goal is life is to teach my kids how to appreciate the little things as well as what really matters while we are on the earth. I had a tough life and I came a long way and I am thankful for the experiences because it contributed to who I am today. There are times when I look back at the past and the memories bring emotions of sadness, joy and most of all relief. I was fortunate enough to enjoy life at a young age, have kids...