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    My Vocational Calling - Lindsey Pazdziorko

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    This document is a student paper discussing their vocational calling to become an occupational therapist. In the introduction, the student defines vocation and discusses how work is fundamental to human existence. In the main body, the student explains why they are drawn to occupational therapy specifically, noting talents like problem solving, communication and empathy. The student also analyzes how their career choice applies to teachings from Pope John Paul II about work serving the common good. In the conclusion, the student reflects on how writing the paper reinforced their calling to help others through occupational therapy.

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    My Vocational Calling - Lindsey Pazdziorko

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    This document is a student paper discussing their vocational calling to become an occupational therapist. In the introduction, the student defines vocation and discusses how work is fundamental to human existence. In the main body, the student explains why they are drawn to occupational therapy specifically, noting talents like problem solving, communication and empathy. The student also analyzes how their career choice applies to teachings from Pope John Paul II about work serving the common good. In the conclusion, the student reflects on how writing the paper reinforced their calling to help others through occupational therapy.

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    This document is a student paper discussing their vocational calling to become an occupational therapist. In the introduction, the student defines vocation and discusses how work is fundamental to human existence. In the main body, the student explains why they are drawn to occupational therapy specifically, noting talents like problem solving, communication and empathy. The student also analyzes how their career choice applies to teachings from Pope John Paul II about work serving the common good. In the conclusion, the student reflects on how writing the paper reinforced their calling to help others through occupational therapy.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    45 views5 pages

    My Vocational Calling - Lindsey Pazdziorko

    Uploaded by

    api-694875626
    This document is a student paper discussing their vocational calling to become an occupational therapist. In the introduction, the student defines vocation and discusses how work is fundamental to human existence. In the main body, the student explains why they are drawn to occupational therapy specifically, noting talents like problem solving, communication and empathy. The student also analyzes how their career choice applies to teachings from Pope John Paul II about work serving the common good. In the conclusion, the student reflects on how writing the paper reinforced their calling to help others through occupational therapy.

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    of 5

    Lindsey Pazdziorko

    Dr. Jamie Fornsaglio

    Setorian Seminar- SLA 400

    November 1, 2023

    My Vocational Calling

    1. Introduction

    Aristotle is quoted saying; “where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there is

    your vocation”. Vocation is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a summons or strong

    inclination to a particular state or course of action”. The Bible does not specifically refer to work,

    but it is apparent that it is fundamental for human existence since Genesis “be fruitful and

    multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). The Catholic Church uses this term in

    relation to finding one’s calling, how God calls you to serve Him, this is done through doing

    work or having an occupation. It is our job to find our vocational calling to best help the world

    around us, in this essay I will be finding mine.

    2. My Vocational Calling

    When I think about my sense of vocational calling I have always known that I was drawn

    to help those around me, especially at a young age. This could be done through many means;

    through the medical field, in the business world, in community service or non-profits. However,

    for me I am most drawn to help people in a rehabilitation setting as an occupational therapist. I

    am drawn to this profession because of the relationships that occupational therapists build with

    those they are helping. Surgeons may check in with their patients after the surgery and

    physicians meet with their patients once or twice a year, but it is those in the rehabilitation field

    who build relationships and help them get back on their feet. I am specifically drawn to
    occupational therapy because of the kind of rehabilitation that is provided. Occupational therapy

    is often compared to physical therapy but there is one key difference; while physical therapy

    helps the client get back to where they were prior to their injury, occupational therapy helps the

    client find their new normal after something like a stroke or amputation.

    Some of the abilities and talents that are needed to be a good occupational therapist that I

    feel I possess include; problem solving, communication, patience, observation and empathy.

    Through this profession I will continue to develop these in many ways. Every patient that we

    encounter is a new puzzle to solve, as I continue through this career I will be able to relate

    patients to previous people I have been able to help find their new normal. Communication is

    incredibly important to many professions but especially in occupational therapy because the

    patients that they see often are working with several doctors and they need to be in constant

    communication with one another to provide the best care possible for them. Depending on the

    patients an occupational therapist sees, patience is key. Working with certain populations of

    clientele may be more trying than others, some occupational therapists have a difficult time

    working with geriatrics because they are more stubborn and do not want to do physical activity

    while others have difficulty working with pediatrics because they have to keep their patients

    interested and engaged in what they are doing for prolonged periods of time. Observation is

    important for an occupational therapist because it is how we assess how a patient is progressing

    and evaluate the work that we are doing with them. Empathy is arguably the most important trait

    an occupational therapist can possess. Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what

    other people feel, see things from their point of view and put yourself in their place. It is

    massively important for occupational therapists to be empathetic towards those they are helping,
    to put yourself in their shoes and understand the pain they are going through even if you have

    never experienced it yourself.

    Laborem Exercens was written by Pope John Paul II in 1981 to celebrate the 90 year

    anniversary of the publication of Rerum Novarum, a book written by Pope Leo XII which

    expresses the Roman Catholic position on social justice in relation to the problems created by the

    industrial revolution. Our country has undeniably come a long way since the industrial revolution

    and Pope John Paul II aimed to reaffirm the position of the Church, we are made to serve the

    community and improve the common good. Pope John Paul II says “Rightly understood, this

    kind of growth is of greater value than any external riches which can be garnered ... Hence, the

    norm of human activity is this: that in accord with the divine plan and will, it should harmonize

    with the genuine good of the human race, and allow people as individuals and as members of

    society to pursue their total vocation and fulfill it" (26). As I enter into a career in occupational

    therapy, I believe wholeheartedly that I will be doing just this. I will be helping those around me

    to help better their lives and serving the greater good.

    How does what Pope John Paul II wrote apply to my vocational future? Pope John Paul II

    does not solely refer to work as something man does. Rather, work is something that we are

    designed for, a calling from God that only the individual can fulfill. “As a person he works, he

    performs various actions belonging to the work process; independently of their objective content,

    these actions must all serve to realize his humanity, to fulfill the calling to be a person that is his

    by reason of his very humanity.” (Paul 6). I have been drawn to build relationships and help

    those around me become the best version of themselves. I was always the child on the

    playground getting everyone involved because I didn’t want anyone to be left out or feel bad, I

    was the teenager who was friends with everyone from the athletes to the mathletes to the drama
    club and I am becoming the woman who is the first to reach out to those in need. I have been

    called to this profession all of my life, it is what I believe I was designed for.

    3. Reflection

    Writing this essay made me truly think about the career I am going into and my call to it.

    It is interesting to see how the Church views work as more than just a means to make money, but

    a calling from God and a means to serve the greater good, a purpose. It makes me feel that the

    occupation that I am going into can truly make a difference in my community and I can serve

    those around me to the best of my ability. Whenever I am asked about the career I am going into

    I often say that I have known I would go into the rehabilitation setting since middle school, it

    was always something that I have been drawn to. With this being said the idea of being called to

    a profession is not new to me and it is rather quite welcome to hear this since most seem to not

    know what their calling is until later on in life.


    Work Cited

    “Genesis 1: ESV Bible: Youversion.” YouVersion | The Bible App | Bible.Com, 2023,

    www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.1.ESV.

    Paul, John II. “Laborem Exercens.” 14 Sept. 1981.

    https://www.cacatholic.org/teachings/catholic-social-teaching/social-encyclicals/laborem-

    exercens-human-work.

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