Marisa Jarrott Keeps Moving Forward with the Support of CFCC

A Wilmington native and 2022 graduate of Ashley High School, Marisa Jarrott spent two years working after high school before deciding to build a different future for herself and her family.

“I looked at my dad and said, ‘I don’t want to work a dead-end job anymore, and I want to retire you early,'” she said. “I immediately enrolled at Cape Fear Community College.”

With guidance from academic advisor Daniel Ling, Jarrott chose to pursue Business Administration with concentrations in Banking, Finance, and Accounting. Together, they mapped out a plan that aligned with her career goals.

“Every single semester, I’m at Daniel Ling’s door,” Jarrott said with a laugh. “He’s always helped me figure out what classes I need and what direction I want to go.”

When Everything Changed

As she settled into college, Jarrott felt confident she was moving toward the future she had envisioned. Then, just one year into her studies, everything changed when her father passed away unexpectedly.

“He was my only parent,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Unsure how she would continue, Jarrott reached out to Ling, who helped her navigate the difficult weeks ahead. He worked with her instructors, explained her options, and helped her determine the best academic path forward.

“He kept pushing me because he knew I was a good student,” Jarrott said. “If it wasn’t for him, I definitely feel like I would have given up on school.”

Ling’s support helped Jarrott navigate a difficult time as she continued pursuing her degree. She also credits her fiancé, her in-laws, family, close friends, former coworkers, and the support she found at CFCC for helping her keep moving forward.

Support Through Grief

Today, Jarrott encourages others facing difficult circumstances to lean on the people around them.

“Don’t be scared to ask for help,” she said. “When you’re grieving, you’re feeling every emotion at once, but it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to shut down. There are always resources, whether it’s your school, your advisors, your church, or your family. If you talk, people will listen.”

Jarrott plans to graduate this spring with a degree in Business Administration and certificates in Banking, Finance, and Accounting. She hopes to begin a career in the banking industry before starting a family of her own. The future she imagined with her father looks different from what she expected, but earning her degree is one way she continues to honor the dream that inspired her to enroll at CFCC.

“I’ve learned that you don’t have to go through hard times by yourself.”

Learn more about CFCC’s Business Administration program.