Wynnie Zhao is an HBA '22 Candidate and Sustainability Certificate student pursuing a dual degree in Global Gender Studies.
HBA students in Ivey’s Sustainability Certificate Program gathered virtually earlier this month for the Purpose Statement Social. This was an opportunity for us to collectively reflect on the creation of our purpose statements, a working description of our values and goals.
We were joined by two inspiring speakers from Ivey’s MBA program, Raissa Espiritu and Michael Messenger, who retraced their own personal and professional journeys towards finding purpose in their lives. Raisa is the current Director of Partnerships at the Centre for Social Innovation, and Michael is the President & CEO of World Vision Canada. To summarize the experience, I have selected three words that came up frequently during the evening and that resonated strongly with me.
Story
Michael began by framing the approach to finding your purpose through the lens of storytelling: viewing your life as a series of events unfolding, and not always in a linear fashion. It is through this story, often at moments of sudden change or conflict, that we are able to reflect on and draw out what really matters to ourselves.
Alignment
Another common theme discussed was the work of finding alignment between your body, mind, and soul, and reflecting that into your purpose statement. Establishing a clear outline of your values and priorities will thus enable you to make professional and personal choices that feel organic and true to yourself.
Choice
The purpose statement was also described as a framework that can be used to make important life decisions at various points of our life journey. Once you are able to define what drives and motivates you, that understanding can be applied to help you decide what matters in conflicting moments of life.
The night ended off with some advice from the speakers: consider your calling, lean into uncertainty, and build in time to reflect. I left this event with an innate sense of gratitude and excitement for the future. As young adults, the ongoing negotiation of our sense of self and life goals can be difficult, but it often also reflects a deep sense of privilege. The ability to take time to reflect and successfully carve out our own paths may seem like a daunting task, but it also represents a great deal of freedom. This event left us all feeling inspired and humbled. Thank you to Raissa and Michael for your vulnerability and taking the time to share your stories.
