Spotlight On: Caelyn Campbell, Student and Bride-to-Be

Caelyn Campbell, soon-to-be Mrs. Caelyn Harchar, is a full-time student at Centenary University, works a part-time job, and is planning a wedding all at the age of 22. She maintains her schoolwork while trying to save money in order to pay for her wedding and buy a house for her future family. She juggles multiple different lives and responsibilities, which is not easy.

What does a normal day look like for you? What is your schedule like? 

I am usually in class in the mornings. Then, I end up at work for about a four to five hour shift [in a physical therapist’s office]. Once my shift is over, I am at home, cleaning, doing laundry, taking care of four dogs, or doing homework.

How did you meet your fiancé? 

My fiancé, Matthew, and I met in high school. We shared a class our senior year and eventually started texting each other. COVID hit our senior year, so we spent our time at home texting or calling each other. We started dating in April of 2020 and have been together ever since.

How is planning a wedding affecting your daily plans? Does it get in the way of your other responsibilities? 

I usually get wedding-related things done when I have nothing else going on. I try to prioritize school and work before planning my wedding. It does not seem to get in the way of my responsibilities, which is a relief; I prioritize school before anything else.

What do you do for work and does it get in the way of school? Do you find time to keep up with both? 

At the moment, I am only working in a physical therapy office, and the time I spend there is not significant. For most of the semester, I was working there and as a high school volleyball coach. It was definitely a struggle going to school and working two jobs. I had to catch up a lot on Sundays and cram studying to the very last minute, which was very stressful for me. The Spring is not as stressful because I only work one job with fewer shifts.

What was your major when you first started at Centenary? 

When I first got accepted to Centenary, I wanted to major in sports management. I ended up switching after my first semester to the major I am now, which is exercise science.

What happened when you switched your major? Why did you switch? 

When I first switched, the major I wanted was not an official program at Centenary. They were introducing it in the fall of 2021, which means I had to have a temporary major until I was able to switch to exercise science. During that time, I ended up switching to health sciences in order to have a placeholder major and still receive credits that would fit with my new major requirements.

Do you enjoy the classes you’re taking now rather than the ones you took before? 

I absolutely enjoy the classes I am taking now compared to then. I prefer the hands-on and in depth lectures and labs on all things science. I find it easier to learn when I am able to be hands-on during the topic, rather than listening to someone talk and not being able to try things on my own.

What do you want to do professionally after you graduate college? 

In order to get the job I really want, I would need to go back to school to get my masters. Therefore, I am not sure what I am gonna do after graduation. I’m not sure if I want to further my education just yet, especially because I’m getting married in the fall of 2025. I will see how I feel after the wedding, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do at the moment.

If you could go back and tell your freshman self something, what would you tell her? 

If I could go back and tell my freshman self something, it would be that it is okay to not know what the next or right step is. You should not be expected to know all the answers or know exactly how your life is going to play out. Sometimes, it’s best to go with the flow and not get caught up in the future when you have so much time to plan your career path.

Samantha Swayze conducted and wrote this interview as part of a class assignment in Intro to Journalism FA24. She is now a member of The Cyclone Chronicle staff.