You’ve made it to the end of the school year! Congratulations!
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1b
For my final message of the year, I’d like to give encouragement as you take the next steps for your future. Throughout your life, you will be asked, “what job do you do?” You may even have been asked a similar question when you were a kid, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Many of us said we wanted to be an astronaut or a firefighter or professional football player, or even president! Society places a lot of value on our occupation- the “what” we do in life. It’s the work we do because we must.
On the other hand, vocation is the work we feel called to do. Coming from the Latin word vocare, which means “to call,” vocation goes deeper than just the work itself. Rather, it is the “who” we are meant to be in life. As you mature and come into your own personhood, it’s important to think beyond the job you want to do. You have been gifted with a combination of skills, personality, and character that is unique to you. As a fellow member of society, we all have a responsibility to contribute to making the world a better, safer, kinder place.
1 Peter 4:10 says, “God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor. “
You have been called to make a difference. The best life is when you can combine your vocation with your occupation, so you have purpose in joy in what you do each day. As you make career decisions, remember that you have been created and called to accomplish good things! To our graduating seniors, we applaud your academic accomplishments and wish you all the best as you embark on this new journey!
Sincerely,
Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay
