From Southeast Student to Hometown Pharmacist

When Cameron Adams graduated from high school, he had a choice. Like many students, he could have headed straight to a university. Instead, he chose to stay close to home, keep working, and start his college journey at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. That decision eventually led him back to Whitesburg, where today he works as a pharmacist in the community he has always called home. 

Cameron’s interest in pharmacy began long before college. Growing up in Whitesburg, Kentucky, he developed a strong interest in math and science, subjects he especially enjoyed throughout school. While in high school, he worked as a pharmacy technician in his hometown, gaining firsthand exposure to the profession. That experience, combined with his passion for science, reinforced his decision to pursue a career in pharmacy. 

“I always liked math and science,” Cameron said. “I had people that I knew who were pharmacists, and they told me that the majority of it was math and science. That just seemed like the right thing for me to do.” 

When deciding where to attend college, Cameron considered several important factors. He wanted to stay close to home, and Southeast offered that opportunity while also providing an affordable option for pursuing his education. 

" It was close to home. It's not as expensive as like a university or a bigger college. You're able to, you know, you can still be at home and then get your education that you need before you go off to grad school, and then it's just it's a good place for opportunity. It can connect you with a whole lot of other places where you end up wanting to go. 

After completing his coursework at Southeast, Cameron continued his education at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy in Grundy, Virginia. Although the program was heavily focused on math and science, he found that his courses at Southeast had prepared him well for the challenges of graduate school. 

“It was a whole lot of math and science whenever I got to Grundy,” he said. “It wasn't unfamiliar because most of the material had been covered before at Southeast. The science classes, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, and statistics all helped prepare me. By the time I got to graduate school, I had already seen a lot of the concepts, so I felt well prepared.” 

Looking back, Cameron believes one of the most valuable resources available to students is their academic advisors. When asked what advice he would give to future students, he encouraged them to build relationships with the people who are there to help guide them through their college experience. 

“Talk with your advisor or counselor, or whatever they may be called now, and get to know them,” he said. “The best advice I can give is to communicate with them and use them as a resource. They can help you so much. I would also encourage students to stay focused on school and make it a priority. Some people think that college is less demanding than high school, but it requires a great deal of commitment and attention.” 

Cameron said his relationship with advisor Wheeler Conover played an important role in his journey to pharmacy school. By staying in regular contact and seeking guidance when needed, he was able to confidently navigate the steps required to reach his goal. 

“Going to Dr. Conover, he was great. He told me what classes I needed to take, what I needed to focus on. He put me in contact with the student affairs guy at Grundy. Okay. So put me into contact with him, and then you know they worked together to get me everything that I needed.” 
 

Today, Cameron has returned to his hometown of Whitesburg, Kentucky, where he serves as a pharmacist. His journey from Southeast to pharmacy school and back to the community that helped shape him demonstrates the value of hard work, preparation, and strong academic support. The foundation he built at Southeast helped equip him for success and enabled him to pursue a meaningful career serving the people of Eastern Kentucky.