Exploring a Sense
of Life Calling and
Purpose within
First Year
Programming at a
Public University
26th Annual Conference
for the First Year
Experience and
Students in Transition
Bill Millard, Indiana Wesleyan University
Ellen Pate, The University of Alabama
Both public and private school students
are on a journey of life discovery
The Life Calling Model can serve as a
road map—even in the public sector
The public sector road may hold more
travel regulations or even road blocks
A comprehensive plan provides students
the opportunity to discover their own way
The Life Calling Model gives meaning,
significance and hope to the journey
Students discover
meaning for the
choices they
make
CONCEPTUAL MODEL
Recognize that all students have
foundational premises
action
Personal
Mission
world
vision
confidence in an
overriding
compassion
purpose
for my
life
Foundational
Values
PREMISES
character
experiences
Unique
Design
strengths
passions
Some discover this purpose and calling along a religious path.
Others find it along a philosophical path. Still others discover it
along a scientific path. No matter the path, however, the three
components will be critical to the discovery.
Help students stay aligned
See the value in the past, present, and
future
Students
understand the
significance of
their life
Value the uniqueness each student brings
Promote a new way of thinking
Identify the unique student make-up of
your specific institution
Students have
hope to reach
their goals or
destinations
Apply the appropriate action
Learn from those already on the path
Teach lifelong learning skills
Can public
universities
provide a life
discovery tool for
students?
Without a guiding atlas students can feel
lost, insignificant and hopeless
The Life Calling Model helps students
discover their own life direction
Public institutions can use the Life Calling
Model to promote students’ self-discovery
Begin to help
your students
find meaning,
significance,
and hope in
their journey
Ms. Ellen Pate, Career Consultant
The University of Alabama Career Center
330 Ferguson Center, Box 870293
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0293
[email protected]
205-348-4837
http://www.career.ua.edu