From the Marines to TCC to the Secret Service

One of the few, the proud, the Marines – Hiawatha Clemons spent time in the Corps packing up the personal belongings of those in his unit who died while fighting the War on Terror on the front lines in Iraq. “I was proud to serve my country and help protect it from any more terrorist attacks,” Clemons says.

After his four years of service, Clemons decided to follow another passion; he began working with disabled adults through the Southeastern Virginia Training Center. “I’ve always had a strong interest in working with people with any type of disability – from physical to mental to developmental.”  

Clemons turned to TCC in 2007 to study social sciences with the goal of becoming a special education teacher. An special education student himself, Clemons recalls the shame he felt while attending “special” classes in high school. “I was told I’d amount to nothing, but now everything is different. At TCC I gained a confidence I never knew before,” Clemons adds. He will graduate in December 2012. 

During his time at TCC Clemons got involved in student life, serving as parliamentarian for the Student Government Association and the Student African American Brotherhood group. Clemons credits Emanuel Chestnut, Tim Konhaus and Monica Liburd as TCC staffers who offered friendship, advice and served as mentors.

“From here, I really can go anywhere,” Clemons adds with a laugh. But his teaching career will have to wait, as his stellar military service record resulted in another call to duty – this time as a Secret Service agent, protecting government officials and their families.

Story submitted by Emanuel Chestnut Jr., Tidewater Community College