Chemistry major makes the most of lifelong learning
Mike Clamons, 48, is earning a Chemistry Transfer Pathway A.S. at Inver Hills Community College. Mike is looking forward to graduating from Inver Hills in 2026. He plans on transferring to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, to earn a B.S. in Chemistry before enrolling in medical school.
“My long-range career plans are flexible,” Mike said, “but I’m aiming at becoming a medical doctor. My education will also open doors to working in a chemistry-based occupation.”
“Mike recently spoke at an Inver Hills Foundation Board meeting,” Solina said, “and he did an excellent job sharing his story.” [See Scholarship Essay below for details.]
In tandem with his degree studies, Mike serves as a math tutor in the Learning Center’s Math Center. The Learning Center shows students how to be more successful by teaching them strategies for managing their time and studying more effectively. Mike enjoys helping students understand math assignments and prepare for exams.
More about Mike…
Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Mike earned his GED in 2023 at the Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning. He has extensive experience and high proficiency in such career areas as automobile mechanics, carpentry, home maintenance, and early childhood education. [See Scholarship Essay below for details.]
Mike is an ordained minister. “About seven years ago some friends of mine asked me to officiate their wedding,” he explained, “and I became ordained so that I could perform the ceremony. Since that time, I have been licensed by the state of Minnesota to officiate weddings and provide other pastoral services.”
Married for 24 years, Mike and his wife, Heather, have one son, Jack, 8 years old. “Heather works part-time in nutrition for South Washington County Schools,” Mike said. “I also have an extensive extended family in the Twin Cities, including my mom, my two sisters, two of my brothers, and all of my local siblings’ spouses, children, and stepchildren—in the neighborhood of twenty-five people. I also have a brother with a wife and two children in Bend, Oregon.”
Mike is an avid, award-winning photographer. He and Jack grow flowers for entry into the Minnesota State Fair. Mike excels at photographing dahlias—and a friend of his is known for growing spectacular dahlias at the Inver Hills Community Garden & Orchard.
“We also enjoy riding our bikes and going to movies as a family,” Mike added. “We like all the sports, fishing together, and spending time at our off-grid cabin in Wisconsin.”
Mike, Heather, Jack, and Heather’s mom and stepdad reside together in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Mike Clamons photography gallery
Scholarship Essay
by Mike Clamons
PART ONE
I am highly educated, however, I was never formally educated. I attended an alternative school from the third grade into the twelfth grade, but did not graduate from high school. As a teenager, I began learning auto mechanics through shadowing professionals and learned the profession so well that I have never taken any of my cars to an auto shop for repair.
After high school, my true education began. Over the next 30 years, I filled the gaps in my knowledge on my own, through pure determination. I taught myself subjects such as history, politics, finance, and mathematics. In my 30s, I worked for five years with a master carpenter, learning residential remodeling. I learned the ins and outs of every aspect of home maintenance and repair.
After the birth of my son Jack in 2015, I had to change not only my mindset, but the focus of my education. I began educating myself in the areas of childhood development. I got involved with an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program offered by the St. Paul School District and soon realized that as an older parent I came into the experience with a diverse set of skills that were different than most new parents.
By my second year of involvement, I was not only helping run the parent education discussion, but also mentoring many young parents in all aspects of raising children.
Mike with Ginger, family dog
In 2023, I wanted to show Jack that it was never too late to advance your education, so I made a choice to quit my job of 13 years to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. After I earn my bachelor’s, I plan to apply to medical school. However, with a degree in chemistry other academic and career opportunities would also be available.
To begin attending college, I first had to get a high school diploma. I had many of the necessary skills, but I had not attended a math class since 6th grade. I began the seemingly insurmountable task of teaching myself algebra. Within a few months, I passed all the GED tests and tested into pre-calculus.
In the spring of 2024, I began my studies at Inver Hills Community College. During my first semester, I dedicated myself to succeeding in my classes and learning study skills. I sought out student services that could help me succeed.
With the help of the faculty in the Learning Center at Inver Hills, I learned how to set up an effective study schedule. I applied to and was accepted into TREO student services, and have spent more than 100 hours in the Learning Center working with both math and English tutors. I currently have a 4.0 GPA.
PART TWO
As an older student with a family, I face challenges like running a household and raising a child. Like most students, I also have financial responsibilities. With a family come obligations and demands, not only monetary, but also for time and emotional support.
Jack playing hockey
When I made the choice to begin formal education, I knew I would have to prioritize my responsibilities. I placed my responsibilities as a dad to our young son, Jack, and my wife, Heather, at the top of the list. As a family, we chose to keep our commitment to one another as our top priority, followed closely by education.
It was best for me to resign from my position in the food service industry, and to concentrate maximum effort towards my schooling, because it is an investment in our future. Heather works part-time in nutrition from September-June for South Washington County Schools.
Prior to leaving my job, we were already on a tight budget. Going from two sources of income down to one has been more difficult than we anticipated. We have been using the social programs available to us: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), food shelves, free school lunch, Affordable Connectivity Program, energy assistance, Energy CENTS Coalition, and medical assistance. Despite these programs, we are falling increasingly behind each day.
On April 26, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Shortly after, he asked me to take the summer off from classes to help him through this extremely challenging time. His health has declined quickly and steadily putting him in a position to need 24-hour care.
I am one of his main care givers, which adds additional obstacles to my academic success. My parents live 30 minutes away from us, which not only adds to the time commitment, but also to travel costs stretching our already tight budget even further.
Any extra funds we can procure will go directly towards daily necessities like food, transportation, and household expenses, including care for Jack. Scholarships would help allow me to concentrate on my studies and continue to spend the necessary time studying with the tutors in the learning center to give me a better chance of earning my bachelor’s degree, which will show Jack that through hard work and with the support of the community, it is possible to achieve even the highest of goals in life.
Mike Clamons • Q & A
Mike Clamons
What inspired you to pursue a chemistry degree at Inver Hills?
In 2023, I wanted to show my son, Jack, that it was never too late to advance your education, so I made a choice to quit my job of 13 years to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. After I earn my bachelor’s, I plan to apply to medical school. However, with a degree in chemistry other academic and career opportunities would also be available.
What do you find most interesting about the Chemistry program at Inver Hills?
I’m currently taking my first chemistry class, so I don’t have a good base of knowledge about the program yet. I’d say that this is one path towards my educational goals, however I’m keeping my mind open to all possibilities
How has your lifelong learning experience helped you navigate your college studies?
This is a tricky question. My self-education has left some large gaps in my education that show up in my everyday studies. However, I have have done a lot of problem solving along the way, so that has prepared me to overcome some of the obstacles that the gaps present to me.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
STRUGGLING. BUT. SUCCEEDING.
What do you enjoy most about being a math tutor?
Definitely, the fact that I get to share my experience with students working toward their educational goals. I believe that I get more out of helping others than they do, and I truly appreciate the opportunity.
What advice would you give students thinking about attending college later in life?
I would tell them to make sure that they plan their schooling around their life and not the other way around. As an older student, I have to prioritize—and for me that means my family comes first. Education is important to me, but not as important as the time that Jack and Heather need from me.
My studies have been keeping into my home life the past couple of weeks, and I’m trying to figure out how to get most my work done by 3 p.m. each day, so that I can be home when Jack gets home from school to help him with his schoolwork.
I don’t mind doing a little homework at home as a model for him, but I don’t want it to interfere with our quality time together.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
My wife, Heather, has supported me through good times and bad since 1990, including, but not limited to my education, whatever that has looked like. If not for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and definitely wouldn’t be working toward a bachelor’s degree.
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
OVERWHELMING
Mike Clamons • 12 Answers
Favorite sport or physical activity: My favorite sport to watch is football, and my favorite physical activity is biking with my son
Place you would most like to visit: My brother in Oregon
Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Skydiving
Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Honestly, I’d give away almost all the money 2) Set up a modest trust for Jack 3) Cut back to one class per semester
Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: I don’t really have time for those things lately, but I did go to a Foo Fighters concert this summer and that was really nice
Time period (past or future) you would explore if you could time travel: I’m good here and now, I try to live right here in the present as much as I possibly can
One thing you most want to accomplish in your life: Raising a kind human being
Your national bird if you were your own country: I think I would choose the dodo bird just as a reminder to people how things can work out if we’re not responsible with our actions; although, I might choose the turkey because I think Ben Franklin was onto something there
Dream occupation: Pediatric general practitioner
Person you would most like to meet: I would like to meet Anton Trever; I just read one of his books, and I I’m going to write a research paper about a subject that he’s doing a lot of work with: the revitalization of native American languages
Skill you would most like to learn and master: Parenting—there’s no textbook for that
Most important issue or problem facing humankind: I think it all comes down to lack of reasonable communication between groups of people, i.e. countries, religions, etc.
Learn more about Chemistry at Inver Hills by contacting:
Often praised as the central science, chemistry serves as a bridge between the other physical sciences, including biology, geology, and physics. Chemistry is the study of matter, or the substance of physical objects, with a focus on composition, structure, properties, and change.
The Chemistry Transfer Pathway A.S. degree program offers you the powerful opportunity to complete an associate degree and transfer with junior-year status to a designated chemistry bachelor’s degree program at one of seven Minnesota State universities.
Boost your reasoning and problem-solving powers.
Dozens and dozens of career paths require you to think with clarity, prioritize responsibilities, and master daily and long-range challenges. Studying chemistry sharpens your mind for keystone obligations like analysis, creativity, team-building, and decision-making.
Grasp the material world as the core of all hard science.
As a chemistry student, you will study atomic and molecular interactions and transformations—the dominant subject matter of chemistry. Chemists are particularly interested in how atoms of different elements combine to form chemical compounds. For instance, water is a chemical compound. Life on Earth would be more than tough without it.
Keep the planet turning.
Climate change has forced humankind to rethink energy production and consumption. Huge advances have been made since Alessandro Volta invented the first electrical battery in 1799. Chemists can take credit for ongoing improvements to lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, and solid-state batteries, which are shaping up as the energy-storage solutions of the future.
Climb a mountain of career options.
Chemistry majors can choose from a wide variety rewarding occupations directly related to their education. Just a sampling of intriguing careers options include analytical chemist, biotechnologist, chemical engineer, forensic scientist, nanotechnologist, pharmacologist, toxicologist, geochemist, organic chemist, materials scientist, and environmental scientist.
Work on the frontiers of knowledge.
Chemistry is a legacy tree with five main branches: organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, and biochemistry. Chemists are the linchpins on state-of-the-science projects focused on high-performance lubricants, nanopesticides, hypersonic travel, 3D bioprinting, aqueous microdroplets, molecular mixing, enzyme evolution, and much more. What will materialize as chemistry’s next big thing?
Save the future with chemistry.
Chemists are working on vanguard programs linked to crafting a more beneficial environment, smarter renewable energy, sustainable food systems, more effective healthcare, and a cleaner, inexhaustible water supply. Failure in any one of these critical infrastructural mainstays could be catastrophic.
Turn your lab experiment into a lifelong career.
Our Transfer Pathway A.S. gives you the credits you need to transfer with junior-year status to a chemistry baccalaureate program at one of seven Minnesota State universities. Your education at Inver Hills will be the chemical reaction that sparks your career success.
Chemistry is the study of matter.
Careers in chemistry, the central science, are linked to a huge variety of subdisciplines, including biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, agrochemistry, marine chemistry and many more.
As a chemistry major, you will develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for rewarding careers in scientific research and healthcare, including pharmacy.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Reported job titles
Air Quality Chemist
Analytical Chemist
Chemical Lab Scientist (Chemical Laboratory Scientist)
Chemist
Forensic Chemist
Product Development Chemist
QC Chemist (Quality Control Chemist)
R and D Chemist (Research and Development Chemist)
Research Chemist
Scientist
WAGES
Minnesota
Workers on average earn $80,620
10 percent of workers earn $48,670 or less
10 percent of workers earn $138,250 or more
United States
Workers on average earn $84,680
10 percent of workers earn $52,950 or less
10 percent of workers earn $149,550 or more