The Importance of Balance:

Personal Life, Career, and Passion

The Importance of Balance: Personal Life, Career, and Passion

Discover the fascinating interview with a journalist who strives to balance her professional career and personal life. Learn how she integrates her personal experiences into her work, creating more authentic and meaningful connections. Explore her advice and reflections on building a life where work and passion harmoniously merge. Get inspired to seek balance and fulfillment in your own life as you pursue your dreams.

bárbara campos mochis bags interview

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Barbara Campos, and I’m a journalist, but I’m so much more than that. I grew up in Laredo, a border city between the United States and Mexico in Texas. My childhood and adolescence were marked by going back and forth between the two countries. I’m very focused on my career, and it shapes my daily life.

Acting has always been my passion. I was deeply passionate about the arts. After high school, I decided to pursue a career in acting, which led me to move to Los Angeles. It was there that I realized many things, including how challenging what I was trying to do was. While I was there, I was doing many things, studying, working, and more.

bárbara campos mochis bags interview

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Barbara Campos, and I’m a journalist, but I’m so much more than that. I grew up in Laredo, a border city between the United States and Mexico in Texas. My childhood and adolescence were marked by going back and forth between the two countries. I’m very focused on my career, and it shapes my daily life.

Acting has always been my passion. I was deeply passionate about the arts. After high school, I decided to pursue a career in acting, which led me to move to Los Angeles. It was there that I realized many things, including how challenging what I was trying to do was. While I was there, I was doing many things, studying, working, and more.

That’s when I decided to move to Houston to study journalism. Going to the University of Texas (UT) there, which is one of the best universities in the United States, seemed logical to me. I found many similarities between journalism and the arts or acting, particularly storytelling—telling stories and being able to express oneself visually, of course, but also through words. It allows for more community engagement, giving a voice to others, and more.

I continued my journalism career when I moved to San Antonio, Texas, for personal reasons, and later solidified it when I moved back to my hometown of Laredo. Growing up in a bi-cultural environment and accepting others’ cultures has been my life. Moving back there and being able to integrate that reality into my work was incredibly important. I decided to focus on journalism that allows me to expose and showcase these bi-cultural realities and, of course, immigration, which we know is a significant aspect. My reality and history define my work.

I currently live in Austin, Texas. I moved here to continue growing professionally because, as it is known, the life of a journalist is not easy (just like many other professions). However, I have never forgotten my passion for acting, and here in Austin, I have my agent, auditions, and can pursue both—acting professionally and as a hobby. I’m also learning Italian and studying project management.

That’s when I decided to move to Houston to study journalism. Going to the University of Texas (UT) there, which is one of the best universities in the United States, seemed logical to me. I found many similarities between journalism and the arts or acting, particularly storytelling—telling stories and being able to express oneself visually, of course, but also through words. It allows for more community engagement, giving a voice to others, and more.

I continued my journalism career when I moved to San Antonio, Texas, for personal reasons, and later solidified it when I moved back to my hometown of Laredo. Growing up in a bi-cultural environment and accepting others’ cultures has been my life. Moving back there and being able to integrate that reality into my work was incredibly important. I decided to focus on journalism that allows me to expose and showcase these bi-cultural realities and, of course, immigration, which we know is a significant aspect. My reality and history define my work.

I currently live in Austin, Texas. I moved here to continue growing professionally because, as it is known, the life of a journalist is not easy (just like many other professions). However, I have never forgotten my passion for acting, and here in Austin, I have my agent, auditions, and can pursue both—acting professionally and as a hobby. I’m also learning Italian and studying project management.

Q. What do you currently do for a living?

Currently, I work in Austin as the Director of Communications and Development at the Center for Survivors of Torture. It sounds intense, I know, but it’s a place where we help refugees and individuals seeking political asylum. I assist many immigrants, which is something I have integrated into my professional life based on my personal experiences. At the center, we provide mental health services, social integration, and other support to help them feel comfortable. The most prominent example I have is, I don’t know if you remember the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021 when people had to evacuate and flee the country. It was intense. Well, that’s something we’re still dealing with today. We have many Afghan clients who have suffered greatly, and we’re trying to help them. In fact, we have employed some of these individuals. We call them survivors of torture because of what they have seen and experienced. Now, through journalism, I’m telling their stories, and I’m incredibly happy because it feels like you’re genuinely helping and being the voice for those who don’t have one.

Q. What are your travel essentials?

Truth be told, I can’t go without anything. If I know I’m going for four days, I pack for six. I always want to bring everything—multiple pairs of shoes, different jackets, shirts, and then I want to go shopping! You can imagine; nothing fits. However, I want to start organizing myself since I have some upcoming trips, and I decided to buy suitcase organizers. You know, like these airtight ones that remove the air so I can fit more. When it comes to traveling, I feel like I need everything.

Q. What is your greatest challenge?

My greatest challenge, and not in a negative way at all, is maintaining balance in my life. My career, romantic relationship, personal life, family, hobbies—everything is a giant balancing act, and each aspect requires the right amount of dedicated time to make it all work. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I love doing many things and staying busy. It doesn’t mean that sometimes I don’t wish I could come home and watch Netflix all afternoon, sleep, etc. But for me, the life I lead is much more rewarding.

Q. Any advice for someone who has gone through what you have experienced, someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

The truth is that nothing you choose to do is easy; there will always be challenges in life. Nothing in this life is promised, and that’s why my advice is to always be prepared not to receive everything you’re looking for immediately. You have to work hard, be patient, and never lose sight of your goals.

I think another thing I would like to advise is to know how to balance the things you do in life—work, hobbies, extracurricular activities, etc. Have a career but don’t leave your dreams and passions behind. Be strategic in choosing what to do and when to do it, so you can do everything and have financial security as much as possible.

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