Just weeks after earning her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) through Craven Community College’s CDL program, Dyamonesse Campbell found herself back on campus ... but this time behind the wheel of a concrete mixer truck delivering materials for the college’s new building construction project.
For Campbell, the moment represented more than a delivery. It symbolized how quickly determination, training, and opportunity can come together to change a life.
“I utilized Craven Community College’s CDL program to kickstart my career in truck driving,” Campbell said. “The program gave me a strong foundation in both the classroom and behind the wheel, helping me develop safe driving habits, time management skills, and confidence operating commercial vehicles.”
Before enrolling in the program, Campbell had military experience but little knowledge of the trucking industry. Inspired by seeing the steady flow of construction trucks arriving on campus during the college’s expansion projects, she decided to pursue a career in commercial driving.
According to CDL instructor Sheila Meadows, Campbell entered the program eager to learn and determined to succeed.
“She knew nothing about trucks or the industry and just wanted to drive,” Meadows said. “At test time, she passed her CDL exam the first time.”
That success quickly opened new doors. Just two months after completing the program, Campbell secured a position as a concrete mixer driver, officially launching her career in the transportation and logistics industry.
“Since leaving Craven Community College, I have continued building experience, learning new skills, and pushing myself professionally in a field that challenges me every day,” she said.
For Campbell, her biggest accomplishment so far is not tied to a title or milestone, but to what the career represents for her future.
“I would consider my biggest accomplishment to be taking the first steps toward building a stable future and creating opportunities for long-term financial freedom,” she said. “This career path has become an important stepping stone toward my long-term goals both personally and professionally.”
One of the most memorable moments came when Campbell returned to Craven’s campus to deliver concrete for the college's new Corporate Training Center.
“What’s so incredible is that just eight weeks earlier she was here learning,” Meadows said. “Now she’s helping build the college.”
Campbell credits the CDL program with preparing her professionally, emphasizing safety, responsibility, and confidence in a demanding industry. Her experience reflects the hands-on nature of Craven’s workforce training programs, where students gain real-world skills designed to lead directly to employment opportunities.
For current and future students, Campbell encourages them to focus on finding the path that fits them personally instead of comparing themselves to others.
“My advice to current students would be to remember that everyone has a different calling in life,” she said. “It’s important to find a path that genuinely fits your personality, interests, and goals rather than comparing your journey to someone else’s.”
She also believes persistence and ambition matter more than following a traditional timeline.
“Success does not follow one specific timeline or direction,” she said. “Having ambition, discipline, and the drive to keep pushing forward can take you much further than you may realize.”
From learning the basics of commercial driving to returning to campus as part of the construction effort shaping Craven’s future, Campbell’s story highlights how quickly opportunity can turn into achievement when preparation meets determination.
She draws inspiration from a quote by Oprah Winfrey that continues to motivate her journey forward:
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.”
