During the summer of 2013, Jesse Castleberry knew something wasn’t right.
Castleberry, a 2011 graduate of Harmony Grove High School in Camden, had two years of a science degree behind him. But he wasn’t happy with what he was studying. So during that fateful summer of 2013, he decided to change his major to business.
Not a gradual, take-a-business-class-and-see-how-you-like-it change. Castleberry instead elected to dive in head first.
“I guess you could say that science wasn’t my calling,” said Castleberry.
So in the fall of 2013, did something he hadn’t done before – took a business class. And he knew instantly that he was moving in the right direction.
“On my first day that fall semester, I was in Mrs. Edwards Personal Finance class, and I knew it was the best decision I had ever made,” said Castleberry.
Castleberry knew a little about business before his first class. Both of his parents have business backgrounds. His father, Randy, works with Lockheed Martin in Camden, and his mother, Iwana, owns a tanning salon in the Camden area and also works with Harmony Grove school district.
But while business ran in the family, it wasn’t a direction his family necessarily wanted him to go.
“My father always pushed me to go into something instead of business because he said I didn’t want to have to deal with it,” said Castleberry. “But the funny thing was I grew up with business. All I knew was dealing with it.”
In high school, Castleberry took an accounting class, a class that he really enjoyed. And while he didn’t decide then to pursue business as a career, it was always in the back of his mind.
Since changing his major, Castleberry has found success in his chosen field. He has been a member of Enactus, a student business group, and has acted as a Presenter at Enactus competitions. He has also helped with the SAKE project, which is a competition for fourth grade students and is sponsored by Enactus.
Castleberry, who was a member of the SAU baseball team for his first two years in school, is also a member of Phi Beta Lambda, which is the college level for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the Business Students Advisory Council.
But perhaps what Castleberry has enjoyed the most was his internship opportunity. During the summer of 2014, he served as a Products, Planning, and Control intern with Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas.
“It was a great experience. I learned a lot from it,” said Castleberry.
The company was equally pleased with his work.
Castleberry will graduate in May of this year, and has accepted a job offer with Lockheed Martin. “When I go back in the fall, I feel like I’m going to be able to contribute a lot.”
Dr. Lisa Toms, dean of the College of Business, hates to see Castleberry leave SAU, but knows he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do.
“Jesse has been a wonderful student here in the College of Business,” said Toms. “He works hard and applies himself. He’s a real leader here. I look for him to be very successful in his career.”
Castleberry said he values all of his experiences in the College of Business, and feels his classes have prepared him for his career ahead.
“I like the family atmosphere here. You can make good connections. The environment is friendly. They welcome you with open arms,” said Castleberry.
