Vocation Interview

Vocation Interview

Determining one’s career choice can be challenging, as people end up selecting occupations that they are not qualified for or they do not like. Many factors influence the decision regarding profession selection, including the community role, the nature of the commitment, society’s perspective, parent’s wish, and salary. While some choose a vocation based on their education qualification, others believe that God has provided everyone with a special gift as a role to be played in their lives. They believe that these gifts influence their career choices, and they should align their academic proficiency with these capabilities. Therefore, an individual should understand their abilities, talents, and interests in the early stages of their lives to help shape their careers (Hardy). However, many misunderstand a vocation as being static and as the only one a person should pursue to find meaning in life (Cunningham). This assumption is untrue as one’s profession may change at different stages of life. People in their thirties can be seen studying in search of a vocation that makes them happy. The reason behind late self discovery is because of the changes in the environment as well as technological advancements. The materials we expose our children to at a young age influence their career decisions. We therefore become what we read and see. For this reason, people are allowed to be unsure about the career path they want to take because human beings thrive at different times. The story of a basketball player at the University of Dayton demonstrates factors that determined his choice of vocation.

I interviewed a senior basketball player at the University of Dayton who preferred to remain anonymous. I requested for the interview via email while highlighting its significance in my coursework. When he agreed to be interviewed, I asked for his permission to record the interview, which he also agreed to. The interview lasted approximately forty minutes. The interviewee is excelling in his career, and I wanted to discover what motivated him and drove his choice of becoming a basketball player. First and foremost, it is evident from Placher’s teachings that a career is similar to a vocation. It just depends on how you define vocation. The term vocation has evolved over time to take up more meanings and accommodate career paths other than the universal definition that was based on a religious calling. Even having derived meaning from Christianity, Placher discourages one from being overdependent on career paths because that is not ones purpose on earth. We therefore need not rely on skills taught but rather maximize on the god given talents we have. What I deduced from the basketballer is that one should enjoying doing what they do for a living and look forward to doing it every day and not feel miserable.

Growing up, his father was a big fan of basketball and took him to all major National Basketball Association (NBA) competitions. This decision influenced his choice of becoming a basketball player. His father’s idol was Michael Jordan, whose portraits he hanged in their house. His father would play basketball with him at home during their free time. Moreover, his parents provided what he needed to play basketball. The family’s support grew his interests. Besides, his father aspired that his son would become a professional basketball player in the future. This motivation helped the interviewee in pursuing what his parents wished for. He became a professional playing as a forward at the University of Dayton basketball. He still hopes that he will acquire a contract with a major club to contest at the National Basketball Association, a league which he enjoyed with his father while young. His family’s wish fostered his decision to become a basketball player.

He also grew up in a neighborhood where basketball was considered a major sport, and he could compete with his peers. The players challenged him because they were better skilled than him, particularly in making the best jump shots, hook shots, and free throws. As they were always practicing with his father, he developed his skills to emerge the best. Moreover, pressure from the community pushed him to pursue his talent because they believed in his abilities to become a professional basketball player. He never knew he would one day play basketball in a league as it had only been a hobby. However, the feedback from the community following his prowess while practicing and his family’s wish that he should one day become a valuable player changed his views. With the community’s beliefs and expectations, the interviewee’s passion and interests developed. He started aspiring for more and was determined to join the National Basketball Association later. He would later join his high school basketball team, where his career began.

The interviewee believes that everyone possesses gifts from God, and they should love and serve their communities through their talents. He comes from a Christian family, and every member of his nuclear family attends church service on Sundays. He grew up knowing the existence of God and learned about God’s will in one’s life through Christian teachings. He believed that before considering paid occupations, people should first understand their passions, interests, and talents, and align them with their career choice. Passion-driven individuals will always deliver extraordinary results that benefit them and society.

The player perceives that his father being a Christian and a basketball fan was not coincidental. He is convinced that God used his father to prepare him for a great career. He developed interests in basketball despite excelling in academics. When he was young, he wanted to become a computer specialist because he was interested in understanding the devices and their use in easing communication worldwide. Hence, he could have pursued information technology as a career. However, his parents’ intervention changed the direction of his life. His passion for playing basketball grew more than his interest in being a computer specialist. This decision took an unexpected turn, and from his mother’s confession, she never believed he could consider changing careers as young as he was (Cavanaugh). God used another channel to prepare him to pursue a career that would bring love and unity to the community. As much as people claim to have made the wrong career choices since they strayed from what was expected of them, no career path is good or bad in religion. No matter the career path one follows, they would still be able to assist their community with the skills they acquire from that vocation. If the basketballer had chosen information technology, he would still have assisted his community.

When I asked him whether he would switch careers later in life, he confirmed that he would not. He reiterated that he aspires to excel like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and the late Bryant Kobe. He wants to play for either the Los Angeles Lakers or Toronto Raptors. Moreover, he intends to coach when he retires from professional basketball. He is also inspired by how Anthony Duvale Grant manages the University of Dayton’s basketball team. The interviewee plans to remain in this field where his passion, motivation, and life are founded. He is happy with his career, which benefits him and his family unites the community.

Reflection

The interview demonstrated that parents could shape one’s vocation. Family members’ encouragement and support can help one to identify their gifts and nurture their talents. Children in most families follow their parents’ guidelines because they believe that they want the best for them. This interview has proven that at least one child of a professional footballer will follow suit to preserve their parents’ legacy. The same applies to other occupations, such as nursing, teaching, and military. A child’s vocation is shaped by the family to preserve and continue their legacy or to fulfill the family’s wish.

The society also influences an individual’s vocation. When one’s talent involves the public, the community becomes an essential motivator to pursue one’s goal. It drives the talented individual to become what the people want (Placher). The indirect pressure from society compels one’s desire to serve the family and the community. The public wanted to be associated with the interviewee in case he agreed to play basketball.

Vocation also depends on an individual’s interests, passions, and talents. One can be born gifted in specific fields and requires little effort to choose and excel in their vocation. However, others are driven by interests based on exposure and personal experience. One can easily define their life’s direction through their passions, interests, and gifts. They may not emphasize aspects such as income that may elicit negative implications on their choice of vocation. Hence, they pursue a vocation that fulfills them and brings happiness into their lives.

A critical lesson from the story of the basketball player is that people are interdependent. The interviewee notes that he was utilizing his gifts that were given freely by God to serve others. This argument is valid because he was interested in computers during his early years, and his dream was to become a computer specialist. However, God used his Christian parents to prepare him for a new vocation by taking him to NBA matches and providing resources he needed to become a better player. God manifests Himself through people, and He used the player’s father to prepare him for a vocation that would serve and benefit society (Badcock).

The story is both inspiring and informative, especially regarding talent. The player did not face many challenges because he had the support of his parents and the community. Some people lack caring parents and friends and select occupations they do not like. They do not have mentors to advise and guide them in their career choice. For instance, my career was not my parents’ choice. They wanted me to pursue a different profession, but I chose otherwise because I felt they were making me choose that career path for their sake. A decision that still affects me today. However, from the interviewee’s story, I have learned that one can change careers. I shall consider looking for professional advice and support from my parents and friends because I wish to change my occupation. The interviewee’s story confirms the arguments encountered in the readings that family, society, talent, and personal interests shape the choice of an individual’s occupation.