Hartfield Student Becomes Published Author

Camden began acting at seven years old and has worked in theater, television, and film. His journey has taken him from Jackson, Mississippi, to New York City, where he performed on Broadway in Camelot at Lincoln Center, Off Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun at The Public Theater, and live on the Tony’s in Camelot.

For Camden, writing the book was a way to share a story he knows is not an everyday one!

“I am a young kid from Jackson, Mississippi, and it’s not your everyday story that you hear about many kids from the South making it to the biggest stage in the world,” Camden said. He hopes his story encourages other kids to see that big dreams are possible, even when the path looks different from what they expected.

Camden has attended Hartfield since sixth grade, and his Hartfield story began at quite a memorable time. The same day he shadowed at Hartfield, he had to catch a flight to New York City to begin his Broadway journey!

He wrote most of the book while living in New York, but finishing and publishing it took time. Camden said Hartfield helped encourage him to stay focused and follow through with what he had started. “Staying deeply rooted in what I set out to do is how Hartfield played a role,” he said.

Outside of acting, Camden stays involved in many areas. He serves as a Youth Ambassador, is part of Mississippi’s MYCouncil cohort, has participated in Young Scholars programs at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and recently delivered his first message at his church. He has also begun stepping into athletics and enjoys challenging himself to learn new things.

Through all of those experiences, Camden points back to God and his family as the foundation behind what he has been able to accomplish. “I want to be my best and give God my very best,” he said. “My family is the reason I have been able to live my dreams.”

Camden hopes My Journey to Broadway encourages other students to pursue the opportunities in front of them, work hard, and trust God with where their gifts may lead!