Upon returning from a weekend retreat in Monte Rio, California, Ms. Nitschke reflects on life, joy, community, and the people who make it worth it all. In her own words, here is Ms. Nitscke’s insight on finding happiness in vocation.  

I went on the Women’s Called and Chosen Vocations Retreat over President’s Weekend with three juniors; Michaela, Emma, and Olivia. We gathered in Monte Rio, California on the Russian River with students from Mullen HS, Denver, San Miguel HS, Tucson, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, San Francisco, La Salle HS, Yakima, Justin-Siena HS, Napa, Christian Brothers HS, Sacramento, and De La Salle North, Portland. The reason we were there was to figure out “what is it [we] plan to do with [our] one wild and precious life” (Mary Oliver, “The Summer Day”).

We discussed our gifts and talents and the things that bring us joy. We learned about building community and how to find a way to balance all the pressures of being in high school. These pressures include: school, sports, tests, outside activities, family, friends, etc. We learned that a vocation is “an authentic call coming from a voice within us” (Palmer), and when we have found our vocation, we don’t mind the boring parts. A variety of adult leaders spoke about the vocations of married life, single life, and consecrated life. The speakers honestly shared the joys and struggles each vocation brings.

It wasn’t all work. We had time to build community in the lodge and at meals and choose to go to the nearby redwood forest, or wander in Guerneville. We chose to eat ice cream and go window shopping in Guerneville. Also, we almost made it to the Petrified Forest!

Some suggestions that anyone can use to identify a vocation are to keep a daily journal to develop awareness of what we like, what we do well, and to discover the flow of our lives. It was also emphasized that we all need to think about different lifestyles choices (married, single, consecrated) as well as recognizing that each of us is unique and that our gifts and talents are also unique.

So, what is your vocation? “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”