by Kate White<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t think much about the Center for Faith and Vocation after my first visit. The staff and students were welcoming but I thought that the CFV wasn\u2019t essential to my Butler experience. Like most freshmen, I didn\u2019t comprehend what the Center was and what went on there. In hindsight, I know that the Center helps students \u201cdiscover a life of meaning, purpose and contribution.\u201d They\u2019re there to help you through your growing pains, search for answers and provide a safe place for you to sort through whatever\u2019s on your mind, ultimately for you to leave Butler as a better person. By sophomore year, I was unhappy with my Butler experience and disconnected with my faith. I knew I needed to make a change and the CFV was exactly what I needed.<\/p>\n
I met with Judith Cebula, CFV director, to discuss getting more involved with the Center and the rest fell into place. I started working at the CFV five days a week, keeping the house open and promoting events as a communication intern. The work I did at the Center repaid tenfold. That\u2019s one of the unique aspects of the CFV. Most student clubs or organizations ask you to devote your time and efforts to their cause; the benefit you gain is professional experience and some form of enjoyment. The CFV is directly geared toward your personal growth for a lasting fulfillment that extends beyond your collegiate years. The time you spend there benefits you and your future. <\/p>\n
Not only did I gain personal fulfillment about my faith and vocation, but I found a new community of friends. At the CFV I was welcomed into a home of spiritual believers who cared about each other, regardless of their obvious differences. Their pleasant demeanors provided a calming and agreeable atmosphere. It\u2019s the content mentality that there\u2019s a higher meaning to life than the busy hum of writing papers and weekend social gatherings. The CFV gave me a home base to reorient myself if I ever felt off track or needing encouragement. <\/p>\n
As you can expect, I also learned a great deal about communications over the past semester, promoting the Center on campus:<\/p>\n
First and foremost: there\u2019s a great need for communication. In our busy culture and especially at Butler, there\u2019s a lot of information and clutter that we face daily. The biggest question is: how do we stand out? Advertising comes in many different forms such as social media (Facebook, twitter, blogs, websites), posters, emails and signage. I found that Facebook is good for reminding students last-minute about events and email is best used sparingly for important reminders and details.<\/p>\n
After we determine the medium, we have to discern our message. Personally, I knew that students had misconceptions about the CFV and reservations about approaching the Blue House. We needed our messaging to reflect our purpose and communicate the less tangible philosophy of our organization. We reinforced our main goals to \u201cdiscover a life of meaning, purpose and contribution.\u201d Our messaging also clarified misunderstandings about less common terms such as \u201cvocation\u201d and \u201cbaccalaureate\u201d to dispel apprehensions about our programming. We further considered the volume and timing of our messages: frequency, time of day, proximity to the event, medium, etc. <\/p>\n
Additionally, I gradually started to understand the programming issues at Butler and how to circumvent them. Butler students simultaneously do everything under the sun, yet there are too many events for them to attend. It\u2019s best to merge two events or common causes such as Demia, the feminist group, joining the CFV to discuss woman\u2019s role in religion. Coming together for one event reduces programming and draws in a larger crowd. Similarly, the CFV is looking to combine its programming with academic courses to give students incentive to attend our programming. Further, we found that rather than promoting the same events that we\u2019ve had in the past, it\u2019s better to ask the students for feedback. There\u2019s no sense in forcing a program that\u2019s unnecessary in the first place.<\/p>\n
Overall, I felt like I made progress with my skills and helped the CFV to solidify its position on campus. I learned how to maintain a Facebook page and interact with students. I clearly communicated the Center\u2019s mission and the services they offer. I worked with the directors to adjust programming to better suit the students\u2019 needs and gathered feedback. I additionally benefitted spiritually from my time at the Blue House and I feel better equipped to find my vocation and build a meaningful life beyond my college experiences. I\u2019m excited for my next two years at Butler. I would highly recommend the Center for Faith and Vocation and encourage you to try it out for yourself. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Kate White I didn\u2019t think much about the Center for Faith and Vocation after my first visit. The staff and students were welcoming but I thought that the CFV wasn\u2019t essential to my Butler experience. Like most freshmen, I didn\u2019t comprehend what the Center was and what went on there. In hindsight, I…<\/p>\n