When Catrina Mack Cook enrolled at Craven Community College, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of young children. What she didn’t yet know was just how far her education—and the encouragement she received along the way—would take her.
“My time at Craven was very educational and informative,” she said. “I had a lot of help from staff members, especially through the TRIO program, which helped me understand my weaknesses and find my strengths. That support helped me become a great entrepreneur in early childhood education, and now I own my own in-home daycare.”
Catrina graduated from Craven in 2018 with a degree in general education and multiple certifications in early childhood education. She credits much of her success to the dedicated faculty and staff who guided her along the way, including Dr. Colon, who she says “saw in me what I didn’t see in myself.”
After graduation, Catrina turned her passion for child development into a thriving business. Today, she is the owner of an in-home daycare while also pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, continuing to build on the strong foundation she gained at Craven.
Craven’s Early Childhood Education programs teach students about child growth and development, health and nutrition, guidance and care, and effective communication with families. Students gain hands-on experience in supervised settings, preparing them for careers as educators, caregivers, and leaders in early learning environments.
To current Craven students, Catrina offers heartfelt encouragement: “Whatever you set your mind and heart to do, you can accomplish it with the great staff and instructors at Craven. Don’t give up on yourself. Trust what you believe in, and most of all, continue to believe in yourself and do the work that’s ahead of you. It may be challenging, it may be hard—but one thing my mother always told me is, ‘You got this.’”
