UD Odyssey Finding Your Vocation Guide

UD ODYSSEY
Finding Your
Vocation
bit.ly/udodyssey

Let's Get Started!
"The Journey that stirs you is
not far off."
- ODYSSEY, BOOK II, 285
UD Odyssey is a program that seeks to guide you
through exploring vocations, connecting with
mentors, and serving the community. With the
support of campus and community partners, you'll be
given ample access to explore and discover your
purpose and deep calling in life. We believe that
your vocation is found when you discover where your
deep happiness and the world's deep needs meet.
Career Development
udallas.edu/opcd
bit.ly/udodyssey
UD ODYSSEY IS A PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM CIC AND THE LILY ENDOWMENT.
UD ODYSSEY | LET'S GET STARTED

Finding
Your
Vocation
Finding your vocation is a journey - it's
your very own UD Odyssey! This guide will
help you begin exploring the intersection
of what you love to do and what the
world needs and how that becomes your
calling.
We’re here to guide you along the way by
connecting you with a community of
students, faculty, staff, and alumni who
can help you understand who you are,
what kind of person you want to be, and
what the future holds for you.
Vocation:
Where your deep
happiness and
the world's deep
needs meet.*
Vocation is more than just your job. It's an
internal "push" toward a particular kind of
work and an external pull toward the
needs of your community. It is your purpose,
meaning, career and everything in
between.
*ADAPTED FROM A QUOTE BY FREDERICK BUECHNER: THE PLACE GOD CALLS YOU TO IS THE PLACE WHERE YOUR DEEP GLADNESS AND THE WORLD'S DEEP HUNGER MEET."
UD ODYSSEY | FINDING YOUR VOCATION

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
As you begin your vocational journey, you'll need to ask yourself some questions so that
you can get to know yourself and your community. Here are some things to think about.
What do you love doing?
(No rules--it can be anything!)
What are you good at?
(Include anything here - even if you don't particularly like to do it.
What can you get paid to do?
There are lots of jobs out there so keep an open mind, but think practically.
What does the world need?
The world includes your campus, your community, and your country, too.
UD ODYSSEY | ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER
Take your answers from the previous page and place them on this diagram.
What you
love to do
What you're
good at
YOUR
VOCATION
What the
world needs
What you can
get paid to do
Reflection
Is there overlap?
Are there blank spaces?
Do you have the same thing in more than one area?
Are there areas you're not sure about?
How can you learn more about each area?
What do you need to learn about yourself or about potential vocations
in order to fill in these areas?
UD ODYSSEY | BRING IT ALL TOGETHER

LEARN ABOUT
YOURSELF
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2
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Get Involved
Connecting with the UD Community
is a great way to find out which activities you
enjoy doing and what kind of work fulfills you.
Check out this link to connect to clubs and orgs
and other activities on campus.
Focus 2
Focus 2 is an online major and
career matching tool that can help
you decide which majors and careers might
interest you. Scan the QR code for instructions
on how to log in. Once you’ve taken the quiz,
make an appointment with your career advisor
to talk about the results.
Study What You Love
Still deciding on a major? Scan this
QR code for a list of UD’s majors &
concentrations. If you’ve already decided
on a major, talk to your academic advisor
about a concentration that will help you
explore new paths or gain more insight into
subjects you love.
UD ODYSSEY | LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF

LEARN ABOUT
YOUR COMMUNITY
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Serving On Campus
UD Campus ministry connects all
students with a wide variety of
service activities to help you connect to both the
UD and Irving communities. Charity Week, the Big
Event, Clash of the Classes, and other clubs and
org events provide opportunities for you to serve
others alongside others in the UD community.
Serving In The Community
There are countless nonprofits
in the Irving and Dallas communities.
Volunteering for one of these organizations will
help you recognize the important ways your work
can benefit your community.
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Jobs & Internships
Working in a job or internship while
in school can help you explore the
kinds of work you enjoy while learning about
possible vocations. You may work or intern
somewhere that just doesn’t feel “right.” Try to
learn from those experiences as you explore
what “meaningful work” means to you.
UD ODYSSEY | LEARN ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY

Looking For
More Resources
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02
03
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FACULTY MEMBERS
Faculty members can help you sort through which
classes will help you explore subjects you love. They've
advised lots of UD students just like you and can
provide wisdom and insights to help you make
important academic decisions.
MENTORS
Working with a mentor can help you learn how others
have found their vocations. And lots of different people
can mentor you - faculty members, UD Alumni, spiritual
advisors, upperclassmen, family, even friends of your
family. Ask your mentors questions about their own
career journeys and the decisions they've made along
the way.
CAMPUS ACTIVITES
UD academic departments host events throughout the
year inviting speakers from a variety of professions and
research fields. Attend as many events as you can and
make a note of which fields sound rewarding to you.
OPCD ACTIVITIES AND ADVISING
APPOINTMENTS
The Office of Personal Career Development has
activities scheduled throughout the year to help you
explore your vocation, including workshops, career
and volunteer fairs, and employer visits. Our career
advisors are also available for one-on-one
appointments to help you explore which vocations
might be right for you.
Don't
Forget
Finding your vocation is
a journey - it’s your UD
Odyssey! And like
Odysseus, you’ll face
obstacles along the way.
You’ll solve problems,
explore strange
environments, and make
discoveries that will
eventually lead you to a
life of purpose and
meaning, no matter
what path you choose.
UD ODYSSEY | LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES

VOCATION WORD SEARCH
calling
experience
Handshake
major
odyssey
reflection
volunteer
career
exploration
internship
mentoring
passions
service
execution
focus
journey
mission
purpose
vocation
UD ODYSSEY | VOCATIONAL WORDSEARCH

"THE JOURNEY THAT STIRS YOU NOW
IS NOT FAR OFF"
- Odyssey, Book II, 285
UD ODYSSEY