Finding a Future at NCC

When Katren Lavra first enrolled at Northampton Community College (NCC) through dual enrollment during her senior year of high school, she wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Taking College Success in fall 2025 gave her a chance to experience college before graduation—and it turned out to be much more than simply earning credits. 

“I wanted to get a taste of college and get a head start,” Lavra says. “I wanted to learn how to make school less overwhelming during softball season.” 

The experience gave Lavra practical skills she still uses today, particularly time management and communication, which helped her in connecting with her professors and balancing her academic workload. 

After graduating from high school in June 2026, Lavra returned to NCC as an early childhood education major. 

Although she initially considered attending a four-year college—and even looked at schools out of state—she found that NCC offered something difficult to match elsewhere: an affordable, high-quality education combined with opportunities that fit her academic and athletic goals. 

The option to complete student teaching hours at the childcare centers on campus and the opportunity to continue playing softball factored into her decision.  

Her experience on the softball field has also shaped the way Lavra approaches college. A longtime softball player, Lavra played throughout high school and for two years in middle school, including with the travel team, Pocono Pride, on her off seasons from school teams. Today, she’s right fielder for NCC. Softball has taught her the importance of flexibility when working in a team. 

^{Lavra (left) with teammates}

“When we have group projects, it makes it easier,” she says. “I’ve learned to be adaptable when we bring in new players, and I can bring that to my projects.” 

Her relationship with her coach, Coach Kutteroff, has also been an important part of her NCC experience. Lavra says his continued communication, even during the recruiting process and throughout the year, showed her that he cares about his players both on and off the field. 

But while softball has helped shape Lavra personally and academically, it’s her experiences with children that have helped shape her career goals. With nine cousins on her mother’s side, Lavra grew up spending time with younger children. She would often turn everyday play into a classroom, making her cousins “play school.” 

Through NCC’s Future Educators Club, Lavra has had opportunities to visit schools and observe classrooms. Those experiences gave her a closer look at the needs of young students and reinforced her decision to work with children. 

For Lavra, early childhood education is about more than teaching academic skills. She is especially interested in helping young children learn to express their emotions, develop confidence, and understand their own value. 

“I saw that some kids just need an extra push or attention one on one to be the best that they can be,” she says. “I feel like I can be that for them. When they’re younger, you really get the chance to help mold them into a person who can express their feelings well, which is really important to me.” 

She hopes to spend time working with children around ages two or three before eventually expanding her career into K–12 education. Her goal is to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree while gaining experience working at a childcare center. 

“I’m always willing to break the tension and put kids at ease,” she says. “I feel like I can create a welcoming environment for kids who are having their first experience in school. I make connections with kids quickly.” 

Lavra is learning the same lesson in different ways: success is built through connection, teamwork, and the willingness to help others grow.