Campbell Burnett: The science behind her smile

BY BROOKLYN MCKINNEY / Multimedia Journalist

The first thing I noticed about Campbell Burnett was her radiant smile. She’s not one of those people who just smile to seem polite or get by, she gets that sparkle in her eyes and then her joy becomes contagious, filling up the entire room.
 

I had the privilege of working with her last semester at Tarleton State University’s Student Media office for the JTAC Newspaper, and she was not only an amazing editor, but also one of the most genuine and kindhearted souls I have ever met.
 

I still remember reading her comments on my articles while editing, and they always made me smile.
 

While Burnett has graced this campus for the past four years with her joy, passion, and dedication, she will graduate in December.
 

During her time studying  Biomedical Science at Tarleton, she excelled in her classes, maintaining almost all A’s while balancing her responsibilities as a content editor for the JTAC Newspaper.
 

“Working for the JTAC was probably the highlight of my time here. I mean, working my way up as the content editor,” Burnett said. “It was an amazing experience, especially because of Ashton, she was an awesome boss, and Jennifer too. They’re my girls.”
 

Ashton Cox, former editor-in-chief of the JTAC holds their friendship close to her heart.
 

“Campbell will always show up no matter the situation. She will speak her mind and be honest with you, especially when you need it the most,” Cox said. “I cherish Campbell and the friendship we have built, and the best thing about her is that she makes it known that the feelings are reciprocated. You never have to worry about whether  Campbell appreciates you or not because she will show it one way or another.”
 

Campbell decided to write for the JTAC for the same reason she chose to minor in English; she loves to read and also enjoys writing. In fact, one of her favorite classes she took at Tarleton was Folklore with Dr. Kristina Downs.
 

“I took it because of like the Taylor Swift album, you know? So I was like, ‘Oh, folklore, Taylor Swift’. So I took the class, and of course, it had nothing to do with Taylor Swift,” Burnett said. “But still, Folklore is such an amazing subject to learn about. And it’s so vast, like almost everything is Folklore if you really bring it down to a science or simple terms.”
 

Being a student of the Honors  College at Tarleton not only led to Burnett exploring her passion for English but also the streets of Italy while learning about literature, philosophy and Italian language and history.
 

“It was a mix of everything, and it was super hard, but super rewarding. It was like a win-win experience because like you’re in Italy and you get to do all of these amazing things. I go super homesick, I will say that, but it was awesome overall,” Campbell said.
 

Because of her enthusiasm toward literature classes, Tarleton Honor’s college advisor Betti Cryer encouraged Burnett to complete a minor in English while studying Biomedical Science.
 

“She was like, ‘Take the whole classes as your electives that are english, and you’ll have your English minor’. So I was like, ‘okay’. So I mean, it just kind of worked out serendipitously,” Burnett said.
 

As a very busy student, Burnett recommends mapping out tasks in Microsoft Calendar to improve time management.
 

“I plan out my day, I plan out my nights, and then I work off of that. So, whenever I have gaps in between classes, gaps in between school and home, or like, whenever I don’t have something planned that evening, I fill it in with something that’s productive,” Burnett said. “So if I’m like, ‘Oh, I haven’t studied in a little bit’, I’ll put some time in there. But if I’m like, ‘Oh, 

I’ve been studying this whole week’, like I need some hobby time, then I’ll put that in there. It’s all on my Microsoft calendar, and she is my holy grail, period.”
 

Some of Burnett’s hobbies that help her unwind include cooking and sewing.
 

“I haven’t started making clothing yet, but I love to sew. I picked it up about a year ago, and I haven’t turned back since. It’s been such a useful hobby too. Like dude, I’m telling you, [Tarleton] needs to have sewing classes and stuff like that because it’s such a nice, relaxing hobby to get into,” Burnett said.
 

Not only is Campbell dedicated to her studies, but she is also a very family-oriented person. When she saw her family in any of the students or faculty at Tarleton she was bound to love them.
 

“My favorite teacher was probably Dr. Margolis. He taught a government class and he’s retired, and I had him this last semester here. He brought snacks every day to class, and he was the best man ever,” Burnett said. “He reminded me of my grandpa, and I love him to bits. I hope I see him again sometime in this lifetime. He was amazing.”
 

While she is currently unsure about what she wants to do in the medical field, Burnett’s next step is to study for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Wherever medical school takes her, Campbell will always be intelligent, hard-working, loyal  and well, Campbell.
 

When asked if there was anything she would tell Burnett right now, former coworker and friend Cox offered her words of encouragement.
 

“Campbell, never give up. Use that dedication you have, and use it towards anything that comes your way,” Cox said. “You have so much potential. Never change. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to meet you, and I’m sure many others feel the same.”
 

I feel the same, and I hope that Campbell never stops smiling.