International Voices: Camille Campbell ’25 Adapts Through Changes and Cultural Identities
At six-years-old, Camille Campbell, ’25, moved with her family from Philadelphia to a city near Paris, France. Campbell’s father, a pastor, felt called to pursue ministry, and after falling in love with French culture on previous mission trips, his family joined him on a life-changing expedition.
Campbell had to learn French, without any prior knowledge of the language, in public school. Having been homeschooled in the U.S. before moving, Campbell was faced with not only a foreign language, but a foreign lifestyle. She recalls one day not speaking French, and the next understanding and responding effortlessly. As she grew older, Campbell grew to love the language, food, and culture surrounding her in France.
Adaptability has been paramount for Campbell through every stage of life, as she transferred to different schools for various reasons throughout her teenage years. She yearned to someday study in a Christian setting where she could freely worship and talk about God with others. While deciding which college to attend, Campbell’s parents remained in contact with friends in California whose daughter had chosen to go to Azusa Pacific University. Campbell felt a sense of security knowing at least one person here, and believed God was calling her to APU.
Campbell described her experience at APU so far as one of growth, freedom, and security. “Knowing I’d be here for four years allowed me to pull together all my previous experiences of who I am and solidify my identity,” she said. There were many moments in France where she did not fully feel like she belonged, whether it was because of her small accent or others simply knowing she was originally from America.
“Growing up, all I ever wanted was to fit in, but being at APU has given me the space to learn that it’s okay to be different. I wouldn’t change who I am,” Campbell said. “It’s more than okay to be a mix of cultures. I’d rather reflect that instead of conforming to others.” Meeting people at APU with similar experiences as her led Campbell to embrace both American and French culture.
As a biochemistry and honors humanities major, Campbell enjoys studying both of her passions. While most of her family members lean toward the creative side, Campbell has always gravitated toward science due to her fascination with the outdoors and God’s creation. She carries a heart for learning about different cultures and ideas. Her biggest dream is to move out of the country again, learn a new language, and enter the pharmaceutical field with a humanitarian approach. “Science is international because even in different languages, the concepts are the same,” she said. “I want to develop a non-profit through my work and find ways to help people, however God has planned.”
Faith in Christ is the most influential part of Campbell’s life. “Growing up in a Christian home allowed me to be able to turn to God when I couldn’t turn to anything else,” she said. Campbell developed a deep relationship with the Lord while living in a secular culture, pushing her to discover more about what it means to personally know God. “Faith has ultimately given me a love for different cultures because God created all of them, and it fuels my desire to embrace different backgrounds and diversity.”
As an American and French person, Campbell hopes to combine all unique aspects of herself in everything she does, especially when it comes to sharing her faith as a Christian. “I want to meet people from across the world and offer warmth and understanding in interactions,” Campbell said. She admires the French values of depth and intentionality in relationships, recalling friendships that have impacted her because of the accepting and curious nature of those who sought to learn about her perspective, even if it was different. “Many people in France search for truth and don’t view others as ‘other,’” she said. Campbell notices an element of joy in American culture, however, and hopes to continue cultivating happiness throughout her life, sharing warm smiles to anyone she encounters.
Campbell appreciates her journey across different cultures. “Despite all the hardships that come with not feeling like you fully belong in one place, there is so much beauty in being able to create a unique culture, allowing yourself to identify with more people than you would if you kept yourself in one specific environment.” Being able to gain a larger perspective on the world, recognizing beauty in different people, and adapting to new places has led Campbell to feel grateful for where God has led her, and she’s hopeful for what the future holds.
Check out other stories in the International Voices series:
- Heejae Jeong (South Korea)
- Victoria Gautto (Brazil)
- Cheyenne Woon (Malaysia)
Posted: December 13, 2023