Author: Christine Wilson

Choosing Hope: A Vocation for Educators

This post explores the relationship between vocation and hope, arguing that very nature of a purposeful vocation obliges us to cultivate hope in our lives and our work. Especially as educators, we are called to choose hope in our work with students and create meaningful learning experiences that allow them to do so the same.

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You will not find hope in the headlines. A daily reader of the news and a parent of children ages four, six, and nine, I confronted this paralyzing fact when I read this headline in early September—“Minneapolis Catholic school shooting leaves 2 children dead, 21 people injured.” As I began drafting my concluding post to this series on the theme of hope, I wondered: How do I write about hope in this context? I faced an especially steep challenge, one that had already felt formidable months ago. As I mourned the tragic shooting, I came to see more clearly: hope is, in and of itself, a chosen vocation. It requires practice, strength, and imagination—a wholehearted willingness to keep envisioning new possibilities, even when the odds feel long. Truth be told, it is the harder choice.

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Interdisciplinary Minors: Bridging Core Curriculum and Vocation

The post discusses the intersection of systems thinking and liberal arts education. It advocates for integrating core curriculum with vocational studies, suggesting that a well-designed interdisciplinary minor can enhance students’ understanding of interconnected challenges. This approach fosters critical thinking and moral ambition, preparing graduates for modern workforce demands while addressing global issues.

My husband built his career in a Big Four consulting firm. Over the 16 years we’ve been together, I’ve learned a secondhand vocabulary of corporate buzzwords and skill trends—some useful, most, not so much.

Recently, after attending a leadership conference, my husband came home energized about “systems thinking,” which Forbes calls one of today’s most crucial leadership skills. At first, it sounded like the latest in a long line of self-aggrandizing slang—but the more I listened, the more I appreciated it.

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Bridging Vocational Theory and Practice through Teaching Environmental Stewardship

The author reflects on designing an impactful course for students that emphasized experiential learning and environmental stewardship. By integrating a campus transportation campaign and aligning with Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si’, the course transformed student engagement, encouraging them to connect academic work with community service and cultivate their skills, thereby fostering a sense of agency and hope.

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In my first year as a full-time faculty member, I designed a course that aligned with its stated objectives even as its ultimate outcomes extended beyond my control. I embedded a campus transportation campaign into the course, uncertain whether it would succeed. In hindsight, it was an ambitious undertaking—one that reinforced the challenges and rewards of experiential learning. Such an endeavor is not for the faint of heart, but its impact was transformative, particularly in the ways it shaped my students’ understanding of vocation and their engagement with the common good. Through their participation in the campaign, students began to see their academic work as more than an isolated exercise; it became a way to contribute to a larger community, address real needs, and effect tangible change.

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Embracing Vocation as Environmental Stewardship: A New Year’s Reflection

As the new year begins, the Christine Wilson encourages embracing environmental stewardship through reconnecting with nature, which fosters clarity and purpose. While sharing personal experiences, she emphasizes small daily actions towards sustainability, such as mindful consumption. The journey involves nurturing values in ourselves and our children, promoting a sustainable future together.

As the new year begins, many of us re-evaluate habits and set new goals. Amidst the barrage of “New Year, New You” messages, I’d like to counter with a simpler alternative: “Same Me, More Vitamin D.” Consider spending more time just being outdoors. Immersing yourself in nature can provide clarity, inspire creativity, and align your work with your values, fostering a deeper sense of purpose and sustainability in both your career and personal life.

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The return is tenfold: in addition to gaining deeper insight into our callings, being in nature connects with and impacts our happiness, stress level, and even pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. To be candid, I hope it’s the latter that sprouts as a byproduct for you and even inspires your vocational calling. As Kathleen Shea writes in “Professing Vocation by Caring for the Land,” “Environmental stewardship should be part of everyone’s vocation. The protection of nature is a universal value.”

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