discernPSU hosts Faculty-Staff lunches each semester, meant to gather the mentors and guides who work with students at Penn State, encouraging them in conversation about “call.” Last year, an adviser from The College of Liberal Arts, Ashley Dorsey, joined us for one of these lunches. Ashley participated whole-heartedly. She dug in over lunch as we asked professional adults to remember out loud their stories of “call,” often with people they may not even know at PSU. Ashley stayed connected with us after lunch, inviting discernPSU into a richer conversation with professional mentors, teachers, advisers, sages, as part of the annual Academic Advising Conference last week at the Penn Stater.
I participated with Ashley and three amazing faculty as part of a panel on Finding a Purpose: Connecting spiritual development and meaning-making to vocational
exploration. While the five of us brought some interesting and engaging thoughts into the room of over 100 people, it was really the wisdom of those who came that struck me. Engaged enough to care and come to this gathering. One thing I know about the advisers at Penn State is that time is a precious commodity for them. These people work hard and spend much more time than they are being paid for, caring for students and helping them navigate the map of their college career. Taking the time to come to this conference and participate in lectures, workshops and collegial sharing benefits the students they work with greatly as they sought to add to their advising toolbox.
I was impressed by their presence, and in awe of their questions and thoughts in response to our presentation. There was a sacredness in their nods, their questions, the diligence in which they approach their work with students at our public university. The advisers I met here were interested in encouraging students to thoughtfully consider their “call” in relationship to their values, tapping into their gifts and hopes to make an impact in the world.
Having such gifted people available is only half of the equation, though. Students at Penn State need also to make the time throughout their college career to build a relationship with their advisers. Not just to ask someone what class they need to take, but come with their real questions and hopes, and a little openness to something unexpected. Students willing to enter into a wholehearted relationship with their adviser, sharing real struggles and fears, hopes and desires for the way they will (are) spending their lives will undoubtedly learn more about themselves, and may even acquire a life skill. Wholehearted Discernment. Meaning-making for life.
-Diana Malcom
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