Source: Cal Poly Alumni Facebook
Nothing was going to stop this 22-year-old from
graduating college on time.
When Camille Chabot was just 19 years old, she found out she had cancer. The college student had been diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma right before starting her sophomore year of college at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo.
Chabot was determined to fight her cancer and not let it get in the way of her studies.
“
There were so many family and friends who told me, ‘Just slow down and graduate next year. You’ll look back in 10 years, and you’ll be happy that you did,’” Chabot wrote on her school’s website.
Chabot did not let her cancer slow her down. During the last four years, the 19-year-old went through several surgeries, chemotherapy sessions, a bone marrow transplant, and a relapse. On top of her medical treatment, the college student kept up with tests, midterms, and finals to stay on track with school.
“Honestly, it was always my goal to finish with the people that I started with (in 2013). I wanted to be able to say, ‘I had cancer twice, and I graduated in four years — with a minor in French,’” Chabot explained on her school’s website.
The college student worked hard and continued her studies during her chemotherapy sessions. Her teachers worked with her and she was able to complete a majority of her work online.
“During my second and third year, I missed several classes and three quarters, but my advisor, Dr. M. Dolores (Lola) Berber-Jiménez, and professors were very helpful and communicative. I would not be graduating on time if it were not for them, ” Chabot wrote on her school’s website.
Chabot also had the help of her family and friends through her entire journey. Together they created T-shirts and the hashtag #CamilleStrong to help raise awareness about her story.
“President Obama wore my shirt,” Chabot wrote online. “We just had this cool, awesome support group all over Facebook. It was a great community, and they were my motivators. I wanted to put on a tough face and be a positive influence because of them.”
Just last weekend, Chabot was able to prove she could do it all. After beating cancer twice, Chabot graduated with her class and earned a liberal studies degree.
Now that Camille Chabot is cancer-free, she plans to spend the summer in Paris finishing up her French minor.
In the fall, the 22-year-old will return to school to begin a multiple-subject credential program. The program will help her with her goal of eventually becoming an elementary school principal.
