Music meets literature in search for vocation

By Molly McGonigle

If you've ever questioned how your major will translate to a fruitful career or what job to go for in this economy, try taking your professors' advice.

Diane Dreher, a professor in the English department, and Michelle Chappel, a former professor from the psychology department, have teamed up to inspire and educate people of all ages to follow their passions and get involved in careers that keep them motivated.

Dreher believes that people who are content with their professional jobs have the ability to help push society onward.

"Our economy needs people to do what they love and find new solutions," Dreher said. "We need people to believe that new things are possible to change our current economic situation."

Dreher and Chappel hosted a book signing and music celebration outside of the bookstore on Tuesday afternoon. Dreher discussed her book, "Your Personal Renaissance: 12 Steps to Finding Your Life's True Calling," and Chappel performed pieces from her latest album, "Shine."

After receiving her Ph.D. in psychology from Princeton University and working as a professor of psychology at Bay Area colleges, Chappel realized that she wasn't following her true calling. So she gave up her career as a professor and began her new career as a songwriter.

Her music and six albums have served as a source of inspiration and personal fulfillment for her listeners. Her music has also received many awards, such as the 2008 Billboard World Song Contest Award for "No Place Like Home," and topped the charts overseas.

These two women aim to encourage people to follow their own paths, not money, to ensure personal happiness.

"I had been thinking about the idea for a while," Dreher said of writing about personal vocations while studying Renaissance vocations.

She and Chappel had been meeting with a local writers' group when they realized they could bring writing and music together to explore the idea and encourage people to follow their hearts when searching for their vocation.

As part of her personal process in developing the content of her book, Dreher encountered general feelings of apathy from her students concerning jobs and college.

Most students expressed an interest in having nice cars and houses after college and didn't factor in personal or professional satisfaction in their desire for comfortable wealth, she said.

"That made me feel so bad," Dreher said. "You know people are happier, healthier and more content when they are doing something they love." In the struggle to get by from day to day, people can get caught up meeting financial needs and forget how to best take care of themselves and their happiness, Dreher said.

Even in the midst of high unemployment rates and major economic cutbacks, Dreher urges students to keep pursuing their dreams. "Our economy poses a lot of challenges to people," Dreher said. "The worst thing is when people collapse in fear because then they can't think clearly and don't see what is actually right in front of them."

Dreher thinks that people who don't just fling themselves into jobs, but actually work at something that keeps their motivation and passion alive, will be major contributors to our evolving society.

She also believes that the people who are content with their jobs will be able to think outside of the box and come up with new ways of solving the problems that plague our country right now. "If you think about it, finding our vocations is an act of patriotism," Dreher said.

Next year's core curriculum has a pathway specific to vocation exploration, in which professors will focus on helping students find what their life path should be.

"Your Personal Renaissance" is on sale for $15.95 in the bookstore. Learn more about "Shine" at www.michellechappel.com.

Contact Molly McGonigle at mmcgonigle@scu.edu.