Staff Spotlight: Korick Sisomphone

Meet Korick Sisomphone, the Upward Bound Project Advisor at Cape Fear Community College. With a strong background in education and a passion for working with first-generation students, Korick found his way to CFCC after a meaningful journey through teaching and soul-searching. Read Korick’s full Q&A and see how he makes a difference daily!

What year did you start working at CFCC, and what brought you here?

I started working here at the end of July 2023. I came to CFCC after a long journey in and out of education.

I used to work as a middle and high school teacher in Edgecombe County until the pandemic hit, and life turned upside down. I left teaching and spent a lot of time soul-searching. I was happy to be out of the classroom, but I had a nagging feeling that the chance to make a meaningful impact on my kids was taken from me by the pandemic.

When my partner and I decided to move to Wilmington, she sent me the posting for the Upward Bound job, and I felt it could be a second chance to serve a community and its youth. The job was about working with kids like me—kids who were the first generation in their family to live in this country, the first generation to aspire to college, and who needed a leg up in this complicated and competitive world. I jumped at the opportunity.

It’s been a pleasure to learn and grow alongside my Upward Bound kids over the last year, and I look forward to all the great things they will accomplish.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

My favorite part of my job is getting to know my students and watching them become more realized versions of themselves. They bring their whole and authentic selves into this program, and we all benefit from the richness and vibrancy of the community they collectively cultivate.

We have students who have grown from quiet wallflowers into insightful advocates. Some have found the bravery and vulnerability within themselves to step up and lead their peers through the power of their voice and the strength of their actions. Others have made it their mission to bring joy into every space they enter with an endless stream of jokes, dances, and cartoon impersonations.

There are never dull moments in Upward Bound, and there’s always the possibility of a heartwarming moment that makes you feel proud, hopeful, and eternally grateful.

That’s what makes this work worth it.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?

I love to cook. My favorite moment of every day, and what I look forward to most every weekend, is the chance to oil up a pan and create something beautiful – and delicious! Cooking is like a meditation, bringing me into the present moment, where I am treated to the delightful whirlwind of sounds, aromas, and smells. It’s a creative act, a chance to express myself, to bring something into this world that wasn’t there before, and to share it with those I love most. Ever since I was young, I have found a sense of wonder and peace in a kitchen, which never gets old.

Besides that, I look forward to most simple things—walking the dog with my fiancée, running around Wrightsville Beach and Greenfield Park, and relaxing on the couch with a new book or show to binge.

Who had the greatest influence on your education or career path?

The person who had the greatest influence on my life path is my high school Latin teacher, Mr. Christopher Semper. Mr. Semper saw something in me that I never did and still struggle to see at times to this day. He guided me through all of the ups and downs of high school, and I left with the confidence, courage, and belief that was necessary for me to go on to be successful in college, graduate school, and my career.

We still keep in touch. Though I’ve tried many times over the years, I have yet to find the words or acts to truly and adequately express my gratitude for him and the impact that he has had on me. I’ll have to keep trying.

What is something not many people know about you?

I am a writer. I published my first book of poems in 2021 with some friends. I also regularly write a newsletter and blog where I publish poems and narrative essays about finding peace and purpose, learning to lead and love, and becoming a better, more authentic version of myself for myself—and for everyone else, I impact along the way.

Degrees, certificates, or professional organizations?

• Appalachian State University, Bachelor of Science in History, Communication, and Leadership
• Appalachian State University, Masters of Arts in Appalachian Studies, Culture
• Appalachian State University, Grad. Certificate in Rhetoric and Composition Studies
• International TEFL Academy – Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate
• AmeriCorps Alumnus, Teach for America – Eastern North Carolina
• NC TRiO
• SAEOPP – The Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel