news-record.com

Serenity Klumb of Archdale, a math whiz at GTCC, is on the road to realizing her ambition of being a math teacher, despite some bumps along the way.

Klumb, 25, a single mom, full-time student and tutor for fellow students, has been awarded a GlaxoSmithKline Teacher Preparation Scholarship Loan for this academic year. She is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2009 with an associate of arts degree and hopes to continue her education at UNCG.

The scholarship is for up to $5,000, or $2,500 per semester.

Before college, Klumb went from what she described as one boring job to another -- fast food, department stores, call centers and a bingo hall.

She went back to school -- six years after she graduated from High Point Central -- for her 8-year-old daughter.

"How was I going to be a role model for my daughter and tell her she needed to go to college and get an education when I couldn't do it myself?" she said.

At GTCC, she found her niche, as a student and tutor.

"I love to explain and help people understand the value of things that are important in their education," said Klumb, who has a 3.7 grade point average.

"I want to have an impact on students, not only in the classroom but as a young person who has experienced the harsh realities of the world," she said. "I can put myself in the shoes of my students and understand where they are coming from."

Klumb, who became a mother at 17, said she has overcome many obstacles and fears along the way.

"I want to instill that same determination in my students," she said.

"It didn't take long to recognize that she was a natural for math, and for helping others," said assistant math professor Sue Duff, who became Klumb's unofficial mentor. "Being a tutor is invaluable experience if you want to become a teacher."

"There is nothing like helping someone and seeing that final light bulb go off when they finally understand what they have been taught," Klumb said.

Bob Burchette works in GTCC's Office of Marketing and Public Information.