If you’ve spent any time at Anderson University, you’ve probably seen Camden Davis. You might recognize him by his red hair, his genuine smile, or his shiny gold SGA nametag. If you spotted him dashing between classes or grabbing lunch with a friend at Chick-fil-a, you would immediately understand that he belongs here. Camden Davis is part of the fabric of Anderson University, but you may be surprised to find it wasn’t always this way.

Camden, a senior Accounting major, hails from Charlotte, North Carolina. After touring larger, public universities, Camden visited AU on the recommendation of a friend from high school. After several visits, Camden explains that he had a “defining moment” where he realized God was calling him to something “completely different” than those larger schools. It was then that Camden finally committed to attend Anderson.

When Camden arrived at Anderson for his freshman year, it took some time for him to find his place; he changed his major three times before settling on accounting. He originally intended to major in interior design, but switched to math after realizing he loved the logistical aspects of design more than the creative ones. As a math major, Camden realized he missed the relational side of working in design; he is a deeply relational person. This led Camden to finally choose accounting, where he can combine his love for logistics with his care for people. After graduation, Camden hopes to use these same skills to build a career in real estate.

In his freshman year, Camden wasn’t as involved as he wanted to be. In his own words, he didn’t “drink the Kool-Aid” as much as other people. At the beginning of his sophomore year, he decided to change that. He became an Alpha leader, which involves helping freshman students find community on campus. “I absolutely loved it,” he explained. From there, he dove in headfirst to campus activities. He’s served with the Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator and as the student body treasurer. He is a member of AU’s Ducks Unlimited chapter, a club dedicated to conserving local wetlands. He even joined the Rotary Club, the college division of the Anderson Rotary. The Rotary Club is a civic organization dedicated to professionalism and community service. They do activities like visiting children in the hospital or partnering with local non-profits.

With so many activities on his plate, it comes as no surprise that Camden Davis likes to be busy. When asked what he does in his free time, he laughs and admits that spare moments in his schedule are few and far between. When he needs a break, he takes walks a lap around campus and relishes in the silence. “When I’m so busy, I lose sight of how good we have it here,” he explains. He loves those quiet moments when he is able to stop and think. Other than his walks, he rests by listening to old country music or sharing a meal around the table with friends. He confesses that he is a fan of Alan Jackson and George Strait, and sometimes he goes country line dancing to blow off steam. “It’s been a fun little thing that my friends and I do… we go, we dance together, we listen to that old country music,” he shares.

Camden knows that coming to Anderson was a critical factor in making him the person he is today. A self-proclaimed shy kid in high school, he says that the Christian community at Anderson has helped him grow. “I think the Lord gave me some confidence and reassurance in my faith here,” he explains. The community he has found here has helped him to become more outgoing and create stronger relationships with God and others. “Coming here was the push I needed from walking the line as a Christian to actually having that fire for the Lord.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone still unsure of where they belong, his response was poignant: “Don’t be afraid to change.” From choosing a different school than he’d imagined, to switching his major and deciding to getting involved, Camden Davis’s AU journey has been marked by change. But, ultimately, those changes have formed him into the person he is today. “In my freshman year, I wouldn’t have seen myself being social, being in a role where I talk to people for a living… but as my skills grew, I found out that’s what I love. I would remind everyone not to be afraid to change.”