DREAM/BIG
A Father & Mentor’s Guide to Life After High School
“I was 20 years old when I graduated from high school. I’d been held back twice—once in first grade, then again in fifth. I made a decision to stop letting that embarrassment define me and start letting it drive me. Twenty-one years later, I am the Chief Operating Officer of a major development corporation. Every chapter of this book is built from the decisions that got me here. This is your roadmap.”
Best way to support the author. Ships through IngramSpark. Also available at Barnes & Noble.
“You are the sum of your decisions.”
— Corey Cook
Corey L. Cook
Corey Cook is the Chief Operating Officer of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC) in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. He helps oversee a $150 million development portfolio, including construction management, property management, tenant relationships, and community development initiatives. Born and raised on the Lower East Side of Erie, Corey’s path to leadership was anything but traditional—and that’s exactly why he wrote this book.
Before joining EDDC, Corey spent over 16 years at UPS, working his way from a part-time union employee loading trucks to a management role overseeing dispatch operations for all of Erie County. During those same years, he founded LifeThruMusic, a nonprofit music mentoring program that grew from 10 kids in an afterschool music room at his alma mater to serving multiple cities in PA and eventually working in New Jersey, serving hundreds of young people. That work led to a live interview on Good Morning America, gubernatorial appointments by both Governor Tom Wolf and Governor Josh Shapiro, and recognition for his civic contributions to the Erie community.
Corey is also the founder and CEO of Cook Media LLC, a media production company specializing in wedding photography and videography, live sound, and recently, book publishing. He serves on multiple boards, including the Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation, United Way of Erie County, and the Pennsylvania Council on Inclusive Procurement, to name a few. He is a drummer, pianist, and the creator of the DREAM/BIG book series—of which this is the first volume, followed by GROW/, LAUNCH/, and LEGACY/.
This book started as a graduation gift for his children—a way to pass down the lessons, mistakes, and hard-won wisdom he wished someone had laid out for him when he walked across the stage at 20 years old. But as he wrote, it became clear the message was bigger than his own family. DREAM/BIG is for every young person standing at the edge of adulthood, especially those from communities where the roadmap isn’t always clear.
America
The roadmap started here.
East 6th and Reed Street, on Erie’s Lower East Side, is part of my story. DREAM/BIG carries the lessons I learned growing up there, then turns them into a roadmap for the next young person trying to see what is possible.
Lower East Side, Erie, PA
Small Decisions. Compounded Over Time.
Big Impact.
You are the sum of your decisions. This book isn’t theory—it’s lived experience. Every chapter comes from real decisions I made, some good, some I had to learn from the hard way. I wrote it for my kids. But I also wrote it for you—the young person standing at the edge of adulthood, trying to figure out what comes next. Especially if you’re from communities like mine, where the roadmap isn’t always clear, where examples of what’s possible feel rare, and where one wrong decision can follow you for years.
Best way to support the author. Ships through IngramSpark. Also available at Barnes & Noble.
What People Are Saying
“Finished the book today and I really enjoyed it. I liked how you talked about all the different lanes you were in and how they mixed together to get you where you are now — and speaking on where you come from. Can’t wait for it to come out. Definitely going to recommend it to a bunch of people.”
Questions Before You Buy
DREAM/BIG is a life after high school book for graduates, young adults, parents, mentors, and anyone helping the next generation make real decisions with more confidence.
Who is DREAM/BIG for?
DREAM/BIG is for young adults stepping into life after high school, whether they are headed to college, the workforce, entrepreneurship, service, or still figuring out what comes next. It is also written for parents, mentors, educators, and community leaders who want a practical guide to share.
Is DREAM/BIG a good graduation gift?
Yes. The book started as a graduation gift for Corey’s children and grew into a roadmap for graduates and young adults. It is built around real decisions, financial literacy, relationships, career growth, resilience, and purpose.
Where can I buy the book?
The best way to support the author is to buy direct through IngramSpark. DREAM/BIG is also available through major outlets, including Barnes & Noble.
What free tools are included on the website?
The site includes free financial calculators, the DREAM/BIG Money Visualizer, and a plain-language financial literacy glossary. These tools help readers understand auto loans, mortgages, retirement savings, budgeting, credit, paychecks, FAFSA, insurance terms, and other real-world money decisions.
Is this book only for students going to college?
No. DREAM/BIG is for life after high school in every direction. College is one path, but the book also speaks to work, entrepreneurship, trades, service, family responsibility, community leadership, and personal growth.