“Oh, you know,” I say, “I’d really like to write novels but I mean I totally understand that that’s not really a reliable career path. I know a lot of businesses need communications people… internal publications and all that… I mean ideally I’d love to write the back page article for Newsweek or something but I know I have a ways to go… I just really get a kick out of analyzing British Renaissance poetry, you know?”

Insert a vacant nod, a knowing “Good luck with all that!” or a quick change of the subject and you have the average exchange about My Future. I have a better idea about my prospects than those who think majoring in the humanities is the equivalent of a B.A. in fast food. But not much better. Since I’ve been at UNC, I’ve considered a career as an author, freelance writer, high school teacher, professor, elected official, priest, and attorney. Clearly I have some soul-searching to do.

I’ve often wondered if we are supposed to be called to our professions. I’m not a big believer in destiny and I think of life as a continuously increasing variety of paths. You come to the fork in the road, choose the route that looks best at the time, and leave the other to exponentially divide into nothingness as you make your decisive way forward. A teacher once told me a good goal in life is to “just make the best decision with the information you have at the time.” Wise words from a wise woman, but I question further: why does the decision seem best? Am I called to study literature because God has a plan for me in that field? In all honesty I like to think God is worrying about more important things than my class schedule. Instead I would argue that literature appeals to me because of certain aptitudes God bestowed on me that in turn help guide me down a path that does some good in the world.

My old minister once gave a sermon about 1 Corinthians 12. The different parts of the body are used as a metaphor for the different skills and roles members have in the church. Maybe it would be a little bit cooler to be the heart than the big toenail, maybe my starting salary would be higher if I majored in chemical engineering instead of English, but hey, we’re all part of the body—Christ’s body, in fact. So if you see me at your local McDonald’s in five years, please be understanding when I quote Shakespeare or John Donne. I’m just trying to be the best toenail I can be.