Natalie Camel shines as outstanding student

It was Vince Lombardi who once said, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”

There is no better embodiment of this quote than Louisiana Student of the Year, Natalie Camel.

Natalie, 13, is the daughter of Jacques and Dawn Camel. She is anything but an average student. The talented youth excels at everything she applies herself to. From academics, to extracurricular activities, to her many hobbies – Natalie is the epitome of the all-American teenager.

In mid-January of this year, Maltrait Memorial Catholic Church nominated Natalie to represent their school at the Diocesan level in the competition for Louisiana Student of the Year chosen from non-public schools.

The eight-grader was faced with the task of completing and submitting a portfolio no more than fifty pages long.

The portfolio touched on all aspects of Natalie’s life, including not only her accomplishments in the area of academics, but also her leadership roles in the community. Natalie finished off her portfolio with a two-and-a-half page biographical narrative where she managed to sum up her interests and values.

Natalie writes, “Final inning, bases loaded, two outs. The umpire gives the full count signal and gets in his stance. I walk up to the pitcher’s mound, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I know I have to pitch this girl a strike. I look back at my teammates, who are just as nervous as I am.

“I glance over at the crowd and there is my family, smiling, shaking their signs, and waving their hands in the air. Then there is silence. The batter hits the ball and brings a runner in to win the game 9-8.

Even though we lost, my family was there for me. It’s because of them that I always get back on my feet, ready to give 100%.

“Whether it’s softball or basketball, 4-H or Student Council, BETA Club or TAG, guitar lessons or art classes, they are consistently there to support me. I’m always being encouraged to try new things and follow my dreams. I am who I am because of them.”

At the Diocesan level, Natalie’s portfolio was just one of many which came from non-public schools in an eight parish area encompassing Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion.

Before long, Natalie and her family received word that she had been chosen along with five others to be personally interviewed by the Diocese.

According to Natalie, she wasn’t very nervous preceding the interview.

“I looked over my portfolio to make sure I was familiar with the values and goals and things I would want to specify on during the interview.

“I wasn’t that nervous,” Natalie jokes. “I mean I was going to just talk about myself – so I should know all of that. They asked me about myself, about my portfolio, goals, and expectations of myself. And then a couple of current events questions about the economy and the stimulus package. After that it was pretty much just a conversation. I did most of the talking, it was very open ended.”

Her mother, Dawn reiterates, “She was very cool and calm. I was the one who was nervous.”

Natalie’s composed and collective personality helped her win the title of Louisiana Student of the Year - 2008-2009 in the Nonpublic School District Finals.

Since then, she was invited to meet with Bishop Jarrell. She was also scheduled to travel to Metairie this past week to compete against students from the other six Louisiana dioceses, but unfortunately the flu prevented Natalie from continuing further in the competition. In Metairie, Natalie would have to write an essay in forty-five minutes and participate in another interview. If she would have won there, Natalie would have continued to contend with contestants from public schools districts.

Her mother says, “Our journey had to end there because of the flu. They were very upset and disappointed too. They were very much looking forward to meeting with Natalie. It was a disappointment, but we have to realize where we are right now; making it this far is a very big accomplishment.”

For Natalie, becoming Student of the Year across eight parishes has increased her notability. She was recently invited to speak at a Rotary Club meeting, and was also selected February’s Citizen of the Month by local Councilman Kirk Champagne.

Natalie, and her mother Dawn, both credit Maltrait Memorial Catholic Church as being supportive throughout the years.

Dawn Camel states, “We are really blessed. The school has been like a family to her – the whole way through – she has been there since Pre-K. Everybody is so supportive and helpful, it has been good to have them help us to raise to her with the right morals and values, and have that overachieving attitude. I think a lot of that was instilled not only by us, but by everybody at school.”

Natalie stresses, “Maltrait has helped me become who I am, and they have helped me get here.”

The future is bright for Natalie. Even though she is uncertain of what her future profession will be, there is one thing that Natalie is confident about – whatever college she chooses will be a high-quality school where she can continue her education.

As Natalie so adequately puts it, “My parents often tell me that the road to success is lined with many parking lots. I don’t want to be the one that’s broken down in a parking lot. If I have to stop, it will only be to refuel.”