When selecting a major, choose natural interest

Editor,

What subject should I study and what field of work do I want to enter into? What do I value, and what goals do I want to accomplish? How do I grow as a person? These questions can be summed up into one question: What is my vocation?

The great Polish linguist, philosopher and theologian Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II, wrote on the subject of vocation in his book Love and Responsibility. The first thing he stated is that choosing a vocation is a distinctly human act. Human beings, creatures with intelligence and free will, have the ability to direct their lives in the direction of their choosing. A fundamental human power is the ability for self-determination rather than being the passive object of outside forces. The word vocation means to be summoned or called to commit oneself to a particular purpose.

There is an external call and an internal call. The external call comes from an institution such as the director of an organization, or it can come from God. The internal call comes from the person himself. The internal aspect of vocation implies that "there is a proper course for every person's development to follow, a specific way in which he or she commits his whole life to the service of certain values." How does a person discover what direction his or her life should take and what values are particularly important to him? Discerning one's vocation can be aided by the following question: 'What is my vocation' means 'in what direction should my personality develop, considering what I have in me, what I have to offer others, and what others -- other people and God -- expect of me?' To discover your vocation it is important to know what subjects you have a natural interest and talent for; to know your personal strengths and weaknesses and to know what others will expect of you. Discovering the subject and work one is interested and talented in can be difficult. This is why most colleges require students to take introductory classes in a variety of subjects. It also helps to speak to professors about the subject and potential work and obtain information from people working in the areas you are considering. Seek the knowledge of those with experience in order to be more confident in your decision. Once one's vocation is discerned it is vital that there is a firm commitment of one's whole life to this purpose. Wojtyla stated that "committing oneself accordingly is one of the decisive processes in the formation of the personality -- and it is even more important to the inner life of the individual than his or her position amongst other persons." One of the primary purposes of an education is to discern what is valuable and to shape yourself into the person you want to be.

Benjamin P. Sanchez

UNM alumnus