Photo Credit: Raven Schley
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Amanda Head
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College of Arts & Sciences
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ATLANTA — When Sebastián Camacho (M.A. ’25) arrived in Atlanta from Colombia four years ago, he only planned to stay briefly. The Bogotá native was visiting family who lived in the Peach State, but something about the city changed his mind.
“I don’t know what happened,” Camacho said. “I really liked Atlanta — the vibe, the city, being with my family. So I went back to Bogotá, quit my job, sold my car and put all my savings into coming here to learn English.”
Camacho, a former writer for Colombia’s weekly magazine Revista Semana, was looking for a place where he could not only learn English but also pursue a master’s degree. His first real introduction to Georgia State came on a campus visit with his cousin. He remembers standing near the Greenway, looking at the large Georgia State letters and feeling a spark.
“I was like, wow, I would really like to study here,” he said. “But at that moment, it was just a dream.”
That dream quickly turned into a plan. He enrolled in GSU’s Intensive English Program (IEP), studied for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam and began building relationships with instructors who recognized his potential.
“In Colombia, I never had close relationships with professors,” Camacho said. “But here, they were so supportive. They knew I wanted to pursue a master’s and pushed me toward it.”
Camacho credits several IEP instructors with encouraging him, writing recommendations and helping him refine his application materials.
Camacho started his master’s in digital media strategies in the Department of Communication. The program helped broaden his vision of what journalism could be. He discovered a passion for digital media, video editing and broadcast storytelling — areas he previously hadn’t explored.
“When I came here, I only wanted to write,” he said. “But I learned to edit videos, produce podcasts and even anchor. Now, I love editing — thanks to Professor Bill Chapman.”
One of Camacho’s early video projects profiled two Afghan students who had fled their country and enrolled in the IEP.
“If you think you are suffering, you are not suffering,” Camacho said. “They had to leave everything behind. They don’t know when they’ll see their parents again.”
The piece later aired on GSUTV, the university’s Emmy-winning TV station that trains students in broadcast production and airs content statewide and on public television networks nationally. Camacho called it a milestone in his academic journey.
He also produced a story about a Colombian triathlete, using it as an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and highlight the work ethic and spirit of Colombian people.
“I always take the chance to show who we really are,” Camacho said. “Hard-working, kind and joyful — even if people have only heard the negative.”
Camacho said what impacted him most during his time at Georgia State was the support and affirmation he received from faculty.
“I used to think not hearing ‘good job’ was normal,” he said. “But here, professors like Carrie Whitney pointed out things I hadn’t noticed and told me what I was doing well. It gave me confidence.”
Nearly four years after first arriving in Atlanta, Camacho is set to graduate with a master’s degree in communication with a concentration in digital media strategies from Georgia State University.
He said professors have continued to advocate for him as he prepares for life after graduation — reviewing his résumé, offering job leads and staying in touch.
“They don’t have to help,” Camacho said. “But they do, and that makes me feel like I belong.”
Camacho is applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work in the United States in their field for up to a year. His goal is to stay in Atlanta.
He hopes to build a career that blends his interests in international affairs and sports, ideally through digital or broadcast journalism.
As he wraps up his studies, Camacho said he’s most grateful for the relationships he’s built.
“I hope my professors remember me as a good student and a good person,” Camacho said. “Everything I achieved was possible because they believed in me and gave me a chance.”