Finding Greatness: Christopher Cook

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 12:00 AM
Categories: Finding Greatness | Pressroom | Students | School of Arts and Letters

Macon, GA

For Christopher Cook, finding greatness means showing up for others, embracing new challenges, and making a difference in his community. An applied arts and design major at MGA, Cook is drawing on his own journey back to the classroom to pursue a future teaching art and inspiring others to discover their passions.

Name: Christopher Cook

Major: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts and Design

Activities: History Student Organization officer and reporter, Texas Roadhouse employee

Career Goal: Art or art history teacher

What motivates you?

Being present. I always want to be there for people when they need me. During my few years in middle and high school, I spent a lot of time with my school's art club. The space that my art teacher provided was exactly what I needed to nourish my passions and was what motivated me to get through each school-day. I want to provide that same space for others some day.

What’s one word friends or family would use to describe you?

Brave. I am so proud of my willingness to fail, because it has allowed me to take many chances that have opened the doors for success in my life. I am the friend that will tell you to take a risk and do what you haven't done before. I encourage everyone around me to speak to strangers, take on new projects, and bite off more than they can chew. I find that you can learn so much by just being brave.

What’s something you’re proud of during your time at MGA?

I am extremely proud of my ability to show up every day. I live a very busy life and I was so scared that by starting school this past spring, I would become overwhelmed and burn out. But the opposite has happened; I've volunteered for clubs, shown up to school events, and made so many connections that have given me a new sense of purpose and passion that allows me to feel rejuvenated after a long day of school and work.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has to have been coming back to school. I had spent my teen years struggling through mental health issues, before eventually dropping out of high school. This led me to think that schooling and higher education was just not an option that I had available to me. I began working full-time to help support myself, over 2,000 miles away from family. Then at 20, I moved back home to pursue education, and within 5 months of when I began studying, I had received my GED and started classes here at MGA.

What does “finding greatness” mean to you?

For me, finding greatness means contributing where I can. I believe that each individual has the potential to majorly impact their community. Community is what gives passion and excitement to mundane life. By just being open to help and listen to the people I surround myself with, I have found so much greatness.

What’s next for you after MGA?

Everything! Of course, my goal right now is to teach art after graduating, but there are many other things that I am passionate about, and I am only a freshman. A close friend recently moved to Chicago and began working on their master's in art history, but they had to leave a job in their field that they loved very much. I then realized that a career may be fulfilling, but there is nothing wrong in knowing there is still more to learn and see. I don't know what the future has next for me, but I know that if I keep motivated and continue to desire to learn more, I will be happy wherever I end up.