Graduate Spotlight: Cody Polk
Sometimes the most unexpected places can bring about life-changing decisions. For CFCC student Cody Polk, a vacation on Bald Head Island was the start of a new chapter in his life. Falling in love with the area, he and his wife made the decision to relocate to Wilmington.
Fortunately, luck was on his side as he landed a contract job with a local corporate research organization, that eventually turned into a full-time offer. With a newfound investment in his career, he decided to take his education to the next level and open more doors for himself. This led him to the realization that attending college was the next step in his journey.
Choosing CFCC was an easy decision for him, as he found the college to be conveniently located and equipped with all the resources he needed. As a first-generation college graduate, he is paving the way for his family and future generations to come.
With a strong desire to succeed, he has decided to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration. His journey is proof that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.
Lucky for us, Cody was happy to sit down and share a little bit about his experience at CFCC.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY?
I was born and raised in Indiana. My wife and I have called Wilmington, NC home for the past eight years.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ENROLL AT CFCC? WHY DID IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
I was 28 years old, married, and deeply invested in my career when I decided to go back to college. With everything I had going on, I knew I’d need to find a college that would be flexible for me and my busy life. At the time, I was working at PPD and I was going into the office downtown every day which was only a couple blocks from the downtown campus. I thought it would be convenient to be able to walk to class after work and so I decided to pursue CFCC.
Additionally, every single person I talked to about CFCC had nothing but positive feedback about CFCC. It was a no-brainer for me.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CFCC?
Going back to school was terrifying to me. I only had one experience at another college to draw from, and it was not a good one for me. I was really worried that I would find myself in the same boat at CFCC. However, I felt reassured after meeting with my advisor, Renee Dixon, who put me on the path to success. The plan we created gave me the confidence I needed to finish my degree.
I took all but one class online as well. Cape Fear does an excellent job of helping you stay on track with online courses and the online materials are absolutely top-notch. I had concerns about time management, but it was never an issue because of how well-organized everything is. The instructors at CFCC are fantastic as well which made it all that much better. I just can’t speak highly enough about CFCC. I’m truly going to miss CFCC after I graduate.
DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CLASS?
To be honest I liked almost all of my classes at CFCC. As I mentioned, all of my instructors were really great as well. I would have to say my favorite classes were the accounting courses. I am just wrapping up Leadership Development which I have really enjoyed as well. And, as a photographer, I really enjoyed Intro to Digital Photography as well.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?
I was recently accepted to UNCG where I’ll be working toward a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a management concentration. Once I’m finally done with school, my wife and I have talked about starting a family.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING STUDYING AT CFCC OR TAKING COURSES ONLINE?
Do it! You’ll only regret the chances you didn’t take, and it is never too late to get an education. I can’t speak highly enough about the value of CFCC’s online course offerings. I was able to earn my entire associate’s degree online all while working full-time as well.
