May 2024 Newsletter
In this edition:
- President's Message
- Innovation Grants Vice Chair
- Save the Dates
President's Message
Dear JASPA Colleagues,
Years ago I had the privilege of joining Boston College's Halftime Retreat for rising juniors. There I encountered questions for the first time that have become as familiar to me now as my own reflection. In a three-part video, the late Fr. Michael Himes laid out Three Key Questions for vocational discernment:
- What brings me joy?
- What am I good at?
- Does anybody need me to do it?
Simple questions, yes, but ones that lead to profound clues about who we are and who we are called to be in this world. These questions are a reflective take on Frederick Buechner's concept of vocation: "Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." From the Latin vocare, meaning to "call," vocation sits at the intersection between our gifts and talents and the needs in our communities.
One of the things I like about Fr. Himes' explanation of vocation is in the second question: What am I good at? Fr. Himes explains that finding what we're truly good at doing usually requires input from those who observe us and recognize our gifts and talents long before we do.
At Halftime, student leaders shared inspiring stories about mentors who helped them see themselves in ways that opened the doors to vocational discovery. Their stories underscored how important faculty and staff are in the process of our students becoming more fully themselves. Their stories go straight to the heart of the 8th of the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities, which asks us to guide students on their vocational journey:
Assists students in discerning and developing their vocational directions and guides students in reflecting on how their gifts and talents connect with the world's needs.
When we exercise this 8th Principle, we are not introducing students to things they don't know about themselves so much as we are holding up a mirror -- a mirror that will help them see themselves and how they fit in the world more clearly. We accompany students and help them grow in confidence about deploying their gifts and talents toward the needs of the world. What a gift that is!
I've often heard people say that student affairs is not a career, it's a way of life. In other words, student affairs is a vocation. In our roles, we have the privilege of putting our gifts and talents toward the growth and development of young people who will change the world for the better. I don't know about you, but for me this is an immense source of joy in my life. I'm betting that the journey that led you where you are now began, in part, with someone recognizing something in you and pointing out that you could do a whole lot of good on a college campus. I hope it's also true for you that at every step of the way, someone has been in your corner inviting you to put your gifts to good use. Give thanks for these champions in your life, and pay it forward by being that champion for students today.
As we move into summer's more relaxed pace, I hope you have plenty of moments of peace to reflect on your own vocational journey and the countless opportunities you have in your work to accompany today's students on theirs.
Wishing you every joy,
Michele Murray
President, JASPA
Senior Vice President for Student Development and Mission
College of the Holy Cross
Innovation Grants Vice Chair
If you are interested in volunteering with JASPA, our Innovation Grants Vice Chair position is available! Learn more about JASPA Innovation Grants. Patrick Rogers (College of the Holy Cross) is our Innovation Grants Chair so the Vice Chair would work directly in tandem with him.
Please contact Tedd Vanadilok at tvanadilok@scu.edu (JASPA Vice President for Technology and Communication, Santa Clara University) if you are interested in this volunteer role.
Save the Dates
2024 National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference
July 16-20, 2024
@ John Carroll University
2025 JASPA 5-Year Institute
June 23-27, 2025
@ Loyola University New Orleans
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