Your first court appearance will be arraignment; they'll ask you to enter a plea and *might* impose bail. Some
standard tips for appearing in court, for your convenience.
As for a plea, you should plead not guilty. If you plead guilty, you are automatically convicted and sentenced for exactly the crime charged, with no possibility of diversion or having the charged reduced through plea bargain. Hire a lawyer
before you appear for court if you can afford one; if not, ask for a public defender when you appear.
Any diversion programs available depend on your location and circumstances; your lawyer can help you get into one once you have a lawyer. Unfortunately, this IS going to remain on your record; I don't think North Carolina offers any possibility to expunge anything less than an outright acquittal or dismissal, and even then they limit the extent that you can get one. And yes, it may very well affect your ability to get a job in the future, especially in retail, and yes, if you work in retail, especially at a large chain, there is a very good chance that you will be fired for shoplifting. Many retail companies subscribe to the National Retail Theft Database; when you were caught shoplifting, your details were entered into the NRTD and if your employer subscribes to it, they will find out.