Marketing major finds purpose in Statesboro Campus beauty
Marketing major Cameron O’Neill left her lifelong home in Roswell, Georgia, to move to Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus in 2022. But she says it was the charm of the “prettiest little campus” that convinced her to stick around a little longer for a master’s program.
“My plan was always to transfer to UGA,” she said. “But when I visited here, I started seeing myself hanging out in Sweetheart Circle between classes. It felt like I never left home.”
O’Neill fell more in love with campus as she got involved with Georgia Southern’s chapter of Chi Omega.
“I rushed in the spring,” she said. “I’d tried it in the fall semester, but 4,000 other girls were trying to get in at the same time. I got burnt out pretty quickly, and I was homesick. Spring was a lot more straightforward. I met a lot of people, and that encouraged me to be more active on campus.”
The opportunity to enjoy coffee and lunch plans with other members around the Statesboro Campus was also hard to pass up, she said.
“The best breakfast I’ve ever had on campus was at Lakeside Dining Commons,” said O’Neill. “My friends and I would go after our 8 a.m. classes, and it was so much fun.”
She says those experiences and relationships helped her thrive.
“I found out that I had a lot in common with the girls there,” she explained. “They were very chill, and I realized ‘oh, this is a perfect fit.'”
That gave her the confidence to explore her academic community as well, joining organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Eagles Economics Society.
“So I don’t really love economics,” she admitted. “But I wanted to meet more business students, and that was a really great way to do it.”
Her desire for connection led to several internships, including one in the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) and the Department of Marketing and Media at Georgia Southern’s Parker College of Business. She said those experiences taught her a lot about herself.
“I’ve learned I’m a little bit of a control freak,” she said, laughing. “I function really well when I’ve planned out my week and developed my lists.”
Her passion for planning uncovered deeper truths about herself she never knew.
“Honestly, I realized I like to work hard,” she explained. “Throughout my life, I saw how hardworking my parents were. It showed me that a lot of good comes from work.”
That appreciation for hard work has paid off in a big way, she said. She’s currently following several job leads in the area as she looks for a job that will support her dream of returning to the classroom in 2027 to pursue a Master of Business Administration.
“I’m going to continue to work hard,” she said. “I’m excited for my own growth, and I can’t wait for the future.”