Discerning a vocation...

[BuphiloCatholic]

I am 35, single (never married), male,college educated (BA, MA, ABD), I am working on finishing a doctoral degree right now. But I don’t feel “called” whatsoever to be an academic (in fact given that in my field there are at least 500+ applicants for every tenured job opening, I doubt very much I’ll ever have a tenured academic job after completing my studies). I am certainly not called to religious life, as I once hoped in my youth (too much debt for that). And, I must admit I have never felt particularly “called” to marry or parent (I come from a broken home and parenting terrifies me). So what remains? I am not trained for any non-academic profession. Manual labor? I was a pretty good line cook as an undergrad?

More importantly, i find the whole notion of “calling” somewhat suspect. I don’t hear voices. or see visions. So, am I supposed to wing it? I got into academia for personal reasons, and to avoid manual labor. not from any sense of calling. Do I quit the program and wait for God to tell me where to go? (I could always take a leave of absence for a year).

Any thoughts would be appreciated. (and yes I am looking into getting into spiritual direction).

 

[Just_Lurking]

Are you ABD making steady progress towards finishing your dissertation, or are you ABD floundering around with no clear path towards finishing?

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

I am 35, single (never married), male,college educated (BA, MA, ABD), I am working on finishing a doctoral degree right now. But I don’t feel “called” whatsoever to be an academic (in fact given that in my field there are at least 500+ applicants for every tenured job opening, I doubt very much I’ll ever have a tenured academic job after completing my studies). I am certainly not called to religious life, as I once hoped in my youth (too much debt for that). And, I must admit I have never felt particularly “called” to marry or parent (I come from a broken home and parenting terrifies me). So what remains? I am not trained for any non-academic profession. Manual labor? I was a pretty good line cook as an undergrad?

More importantly, i find the whole notion of “calling” somewhat suspect. I don’t hear voices. or see visions. So, am I supposed to wing it? I got into academia for personal reasons, and to avoid manual labor. not from any sense of calling. Do I quit the program and wait for God to tell me where to go? (I could always take a leave of absence for a year).

Any thoughts would be appreciated. (and yes I am looking into getting into spiritual direction).

My dear friend

I strongly recommend Opus Dei both as a possible vocation which can be as a single layman, a numerary, and also for the best spiritual direction. They’ll help you a great deal in all ways and assist you with finding your vocation whether it’s with them or elsewhere.

Check opusdei.org/

And writings from their founder escrivaworks.org/

God bless you and pray for me please:thumbsup:

John

 

[Dorothy]

It is not necessary to hear “voices” or see “visions” to know that one may be called to the religious life.

Most of the time it is a strong inclination that keeps coming back, and one way it can be tested is by a good spiritual retreat.

It is good that you plan to speak with a spiritual director.

 

[BuphiloCatholic]

Are you ABD making steady progress towards finishing your dissertation, or are you ABD floundering around with no clear path towards finishing?

at the moment, I’m in the middle, in the very early stages, still have to defend the prospectus.

 

[Just_Lurking]

at the moment, I’m in the middle, in the very early stages, still have to defend the prospectus.

I was roughly at that stage when I left my first Ph.D. program. (Actually, I failed my proposal defense and was looking for a different topic.) I spent 4 years in industry before I went back to school to try again. I ended up going to a different school, and had to repeat the entire Ph.D. program - none of my previous work transferred. I ended up finishing the second time.

I spent another decade in industry after that, and now I work in a research institute as opposed to being on the faculty.

The Myers-Briggs personality test was helpful for me in confirming my career path. Maybe career counseling at your university would help.

 

[BuphiloCatholic]

I was roughly at that stage when I left my first Ph.D. program. (Actually, I failed my proposal defense and was looking for a different topic.) I spent 4 years in industry before I went back to school to try again. I ended up going to a different school, and had to repeat the entire Ph.D. program - none of my previous work transferred. I ended up finishing the second time.

I spent another decade in industry after that, and now I work in a research institute as opposed to being on the faculty.

The Myers-Briggs personality test was helpful for me in confirming my career path. Maybe career counseling at your university would help.

Thanks for the suggestion, I’m not even sure my school does that sort of counseling for grd students, but I will definitely look into it.