For several days now, I’ve been taking an online course, the first module of which is titled: “Knowing Yourself to Manage Yourself.” Among the different points covered, one is related to life purpose.

In this regard, it is common nowadays to hear of many young people who change their career path once or twice. Statistics even show that 20% to 30% of students drop out in their first year of studies (Diario Gestión, 24-06-26, Vocational guidance from age 15?).

Likewise, the reasons for changing careers are diverse; however, I believe that the starting point is that the process of getting to know ourselves completely (gifts, virtues, tastes, etc.) has not yet begun.

Following what has been said, I would like to share what our daughter Mariana (currently in her 4th year of medical school) recently told her mother and me via video call.

“In the summer of 2028, I am going to Calcutta, India, and enlist as a volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity for at least two months to help terminally ill patients have a dignified death.”

Upon hearing my daughter’s wish, my immediate response was: if that makes you happy, Mariana, your mom and I support you 1000%.

However, I must confess that I felt a range of fears, anxieties, and other emotions. Recently, Mariana called us again to say that she’s saving part of her monthly salary—she’s been working for months now—for her travel expenses and plane tickets, and that if she doesn’t have enough money, we should help her with the remaining balance.

However, this story isn’t all smooth sailing, and as the saying goes, after the storm comes the calm. She’s called several times to tell us that the program is very difficult, that perhaps it’s not her true calling. But I think it was a way for her to relieve the stress of midterms and finals in subjects like Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology. Because then she would call again and reiterate that this was what she wanted to study and do: help people alleviate their physical pain.

In that sense, reflecting on the points covered in the first module of the course I am taking and what Mariana told her mother and me, I think that many times people naturally and without realizing it, we channel our motivations and talents towards the profession we are studying or we already have our purpose in life in general.

This reminded me that for many years, my family and I would go to the Christmas holidays to support and share with the less fortunate areas of Lima, through initiatives like “Christmas is Jesus” and the “Box of Love.” At the same time, Jessica’s office in Lima also organized similar activities around that time, and employees who wanted to would take their children to Condoray in Cañete to spend a full day volunteering.

At these events, most of the time, the comments received were about how Mariana could naturally display so much joy and be present and dedicated to the elderly or children doing various activities.

However, as I have mentioned in some article, after meeting an elderly man on the pilgrimage from Buenos Aires to the Basilica of the Virgin of Lujan, he offered to visit him in his retirement home, organizing a collection of various products and fulfilling his promise.

I must confess that the idea behind participating in these activities was for the whole family to remember that we are privileged and to learn to always be grateful.

That’s why the phrase from El Chavo del Ocho, “it was unintentional, but intentional,” fits perfectly, because I think we planted a seed.

Based on what we’ve seen, if you’re in the process of searching for your personal purpose and how to connect it with your professional purpose, I’m sharing five paraphrased questions (the first two are about yourself and the other three about others) that were developed by the American theater producer, Adam Leipzig, the same ones mentioned in the course I refer to in the first paragraph.

1. Who are you?
2. What do you do well?
3. For whom and why are you doing it?
4. What do they want and need?
5. How do they change with what you do?

I’ll also share some phrases related to the topic, although you’ve probably already heard them:

• “The purpose of human life is to serve, to show compassion, and to have a willingness to help others.” – Albert Schweitzer.
• “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain.

It’s never too late to realign our personal and professional goals, as the Waze app sometimes suggests (recalculating). Remember: both goals always go hand in hand.

With spirits always high, I remind you: Keep rowing, against the current and out to sea!