Seeing The World Through Language

Christian Sampsell plans to use his love of language as a vehicle to take him around the world. “Since the 10th grade I’ve wanted to move abroad. At first I was thinking about France, but near the end of my senior year I became infatuated with Japan and Japanese culture. I feel like immersing in a culture and foreign language is like an outlet of wisdom in a sense. It’s very fulfilling to experience things like that.”

While attending Cicero-North Syracuse High School, Sampsell earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in English and French. The recognition is given to those who attain a high level of proficiency in the three modes of communication (interpretive, interpersonal, presentation) in English and one or more world languages. “I was required to do research on French culture and write a story in French based on the research. I also had to give a 12 or 13 minute presentation in French on my research. The teachers would ask me questions in French and I would have to answer in French. It was a rigorous assessment."

After graduating from C-NS in 2020, Sampsell decided to step away from school. He was burned out and needed a break. He went to work in the food industry and took every shift he could get his hands on, often putting in between 50 and 70 hours a week and saving money to go to college one day. “While I was working I realized I enjoyed linguistics, the study of language and its essence. I really like the scientific study of language.”

In the fall of 2021, Sampsell decided to go back to school and chose Onondaga Community College because of its affordability and location. He’d been a good student in high school, but became an outstanding one in college. “I came to school every day because I wanted to, not because I had to. It made such a difference.”

Sampsell earned membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He tutored fellow students in Biology, Chemistry, and Philosophy at the Learning Center, tutored English in the English Language Institute in Coulter Library, all while teaching himself Japanese. 

He will complete his degree next month, and plans to transfer to a four-year school where he will major in Linguistics with a minor in Japanese. Sampsell is grateful for OCC’s Faculty and how his professors contributed to his success. "I really enjoyed it here. I liked talking to professors. They really wanted the best for their students. Everything was very inclusive and professors helped students try to have that mindset. They wanted the best for what the future community is going to be."