As senior Jamison Durham prepares to graduate in December, he reflects on his transformative experience as a student in the Harbert College of Business. Balancing the demands of his coursework and part-time job has shaped Durham into the successful person he is today.

Durham is a student from Fyffe, Ala. studying business management. Being the first member in his immediate family to attend college has been a source of inspiration for Durham throughout his Auburn journey. 

“To me, the biggest thing is that I want to prove that I can do it,” said Durham. “It’s not easy to move off from your family and friends, and that’s why I wanted to set out and prove that I can do it.”

Durham transferred to Auburn after spending two years at Northeast Alabama Community College as a pre-engineering student. Initially after transferring to Auburn, Durham was a student in Samuel Ginn College of Engineering until transitioning to Harbert College after discovering his true passion– people.

“Management is all about interacting with people and [leading] people,” said Durham. “I love being around individuals, and that’s my goal, to inspire others around me.”

During his time as an engineering student, Durham interned with a construction company that built aircraft hangars. This position, which leaned heavily toward being a project management role, further solidified his decision to transfer to management.

His experience in retail and the food industry, including his current position at Momma Goldberg’s Deli, helped Durham discover his knack for connecting with people.

Hard work and self-reflection are a necessity when it comes to success, according to Durham. Setting daily goals for himself and evaluating his performance on those tasks is a way of holding himself accountable.

“Every single day, I start [by] asking myself, what am I going to do today? Is it a small task? Is it a big task?” said Durham. “At the end of the day, I look back [and ask] did I accomplish all these things?”

When asked what advice he would offer prospective Harbert College students, Durham said, “I would say to never give up, to always keep pushing and to believe in yourself.”

Durham is deeply grateful for the unwavering support from Harbert College advisors and professors. Whether he has a question or needs help understanding a topic in class, his advisors and professors have always been there to support him, said Durham.

Durham is pursuing an MBA at Troy University beginning in January.

Durham reflected on the last four years as an Auburn Tiger.

“You asked me what my greatest accomplishment was,” he said. “It’d probably be graduating from Auburn in December.”

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