Day 75 - Something I've Written
I was going to wait to announce this, but why wait? I'm impatient on this. :)
This fall I wrote my first article that will be published in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Intersections journal. The publication focuses on faith, learning, and teaching within Lutheran Higher Education. I was introduced to the publication last summer when I attended a conference related to my work with Vocation. The article I put together is posted below and will be printed in the Spring 2015 Intersections issue within the next couple of months. This article is all about helping others discover and claim their callings by looking at our modern day superheroes and our origin stories.
Also below are two drawings I put together for the piece. One or both may be published with the article as well.
Here's your first look at Superheroes and Origin Stories: Tools for Helping Individuals Discover and Claim their Callings! A huge shout out to Amanda Mesirow who helped revise and review what I put together. :)
Superheroes and Origin
Stories:
Tools for Helping
Individuals Discover and Claim their Callings
TJ Warren, Pathways Center
Associate for Vocation and Mentoring at Wartburg College
“How can I decide what to do with
my life when I don’t even know who I am? I feel like I’m walking in a
dream, and nothing’s real, not even me.” – Clark Kent
“Then maybe the answer is to wake
up. There will come a day Clark, when for the very first time, you won’t
have to hold back…a day when you can cut loose…a day when you can finally be
who you truly are…you’re unique in all the world. Extraordinary.
Not just any man…and more than just a man…a SUPER-man.
Live Clark. Follow your passion. Show the whole world what you can
do. Fly, Clark… Fly…” – Jonathan Kent
Excerpt from Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis
The origin story. The stories of
heroes coming to be. Origin stories are
fascinating; this is why we tend to get caught up in them. I can’t tell you the number of times I have
read or seen the origin of Superman, and you know what? I never get sick of it (and apparently,
neither does society as the story gets told over and over again). Origin stories define characters: where they
came from, who they were, what they’ve faced, and how they discovered
themselves, their strengths, and their calling.
When it comes to characters within literature and film, we often times
know of them, but until we know their origin, we do not know them and their
purpose in the world. I am convinced
that discovering one’s origin and referring to the stories of our fictional
heroes can be powerful tools in helping individuals discover and claim their
callings.
American scholar Joseph Campbell defined a theoretical concept that can
be observed within many forms of literature and film. Campbell’s theoretical concept was called “monomyth”
(one myth). As writers and filmmakers
continued studying the pattern, the theory would later be referred to as “The
Hero’s Journey.” Although the pattern
has been debated and modified throughout the years, many agree that the pattern
consists of 12 stages: the ordinary world; the call to adventure; refusal of
the call; meeting with the mentor; crossing the threshold; tests, allies, and
enemies; approach; the ordeal; the reward; the road back; the resurrection; and
the return with the elixir (see figure 1-1).
These stages can serve as a catalyst for helping individuals understand
their origin.
For example, in my own journey (where I’m the hero – which is
fantastic, I must say), identifying my
ordinary world consisted of being a young Iowa boy, who believed he was
meant to impact the world in some way, but he was unsure of who he was and how
he could contribute. Then, my freshman
year of high school, I attended a youth leadership conference called Get a Grip
where I met my mentor. By experiencing this leadership organization,
I discovered that my way of impacting the world around me was by encouraging
people, making them laugh, and helping them realize their true potential. After a few years of being mentored and
continuing to discover myself, I crossed
the threshold by attending college.
This is just one way we can take a look at our origin story. By walking through “The Hero’s Journey”
stages, we can start to pinpoint significant moments in our lives that have
shaped us and that demonstrate what we are good at. This method of reflection can also lead to
other questions, such as, “does your origin story decide your vocation?” For example, does coming from a family of
medical professionals mean you cannot pursue an art degree? The concept itself can at least start the
discussion on a level in which people understand and can relate to.
As I have worked in higher education, I’ve noticed that we tend to make
things incredibly complex as we work with students. More simply, we must strive to find ways in
which we can connect with students on their level. Although college is a time for rigorous
exploration and discovery, we need to find opportunities to meet them at their
level and relate what we are trying to teach with where they are in relation to
their experiences, their interests, society, etc. Once we have their attention, the rigorous
exploration and discovery can commence.
When an individual walks into my office, their attention is immediately
drawn to my Superman and other hero collectables displayed throughout. These items generate discussion. Students, faculty, and staff ask, “Why
Superman?” My response is always,
“Because he humbly seeks to do good in the world using the many talents that he
possesses.” And to the general question
of, “Why superheroes?”, I say, “Because I believe we are all superheroes in our
own way. The hero’s journey lives within
all of us.”
Heroes, however we define them, speak to all of us. Whether they are fictional (Superman, Wonder
Woman, Harry Potter) or real (Rosa Parks, Ghandi, Mother Theresa), they speak. Why do they speak to all of us? We can relate to their failures, their
hardships, and their struggles. We can
also relate to their successes; the moments in which they overcame adversity or
some villainous foe. Heroes inspire us
to do and be something more; to pursue our calling. Therefore, we must find ways to help others
become the hero in their lives.
As higher education professionals, we have an opportunity to mentor students—as
Professor Charles Xavier does with the X-Men—along their own journeys. We get to challenge, support, and encourage
students to focus on their strengths and manage their weaknesses so that when
their true purpose does call, they can, as Jonathan Kent said, “fly.” What an incredible opportunity…when it comes
to claiming one’s calling, we must find ways to connect or relate with students
and meet them on their level.
As you work with students, find stories of heroes that speak to you
(superheroes, heroes, friends, family members, politicians, world justice
figures, etc.). Use these role models,
mentors, and leaders to help others realize who they are and how they can
contribute to society. As you provide
these examples, help others articulate their origin story so they might find
their purpose in the world and “wake up” to take their call.
Sources:
Campbell, J. (1949). The hero with a thousand faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Straczynski, J., & Davis, S. (2010). Superman: Earth one (Vol. 1). New York: DC Comics.
Figure 1-1:
Drawing 1:
Drawing 2:
