POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Twenty-nine College of the Ozarks students attended the five-day Vocation Trip, traveling to the Kansas City Metro Area to meet with local business leaders and recent graduates, March 8-12, as part of the Thrive Leadership Pathway.

The purpose of the Vocation Trip is for students to discover their unique abilities and to teach them how to employ these skills in their professional fields upon graduation. The course helps students refine their personal mission statement, resumés, and profiles on LinkedIn, while also allowing them to practice their interviewing skills.

“The Vocation Trip’s ultimate goal is to aid students in transitioning out of college in a healthy and positive manner,” said Jim Freeman, director of The Vanek Center for Vocation and Callings at College of the Ozarks. “It aims to introduce students to the value of networking, build their confidence in sharing their stories, and help them understand their identity in Christ. We try to help our students see the bigger picture of what is available and how they can be successful once they move on after graduation.”

The first two days of the Vocation Trip were held on the College of the Ozarks campus, while the remaining days were spent in Kansas City. Students attended “Ted Talks” with successful C of O alumni and also visited several businesses and nonprofit organizations across the Kansas City area, including AdventHealth, City Union Mission, and Swope Health. As an exciting cultural experience to conclude the trip, the students received a personal tour of the Kansas City Chiefs Stadium before returning to campus.

Dawson Hallam, senior business administration major, reflected on the impact the Vocation Trip had on his view of his own vocation and calling.

“The insight and perspective on our vocations and callings was very helpful to me,” Hallam said. “Our vocation is not a narrow or strict path but rather the broader concept of who we are in Christ as we go about our life in different roles or callings. Our identity in Christ, will not change, but our callings can change and will be different throughout our life.”

Hallam’s testimony reflects the intended impact of the Vocation Trip, as detailed by Andrew Bolger, chief of staff and dean of mission advancement.

“Life is about relationships and the personal and professional networks we develop,” Bolger said. “This reality is never truer than when students launch from college. This is exactly why we created the Vocation Trip: to help students thrive after C of O by exploring their God-given vocation and callings and connecting with missional businesses and people.”

More about the Thrive Leadership Pathway

The Thrive Leadership Pathway is a four-year leadership program that aims to guide students along their college journey as they enter and exit the College. As part of this educational experience, students are offered several developmental opportunities during their time at College of the Ozarks, including:

• Character Camp and Base Camp: First-time student introductory programs that help freshmen adjust to the College’s vigorous class schedule and workload.
• The Call: A sophomore leadership retreat that focuses on the various ways different personality types serve as leaders and teammates at the College.
• Big Questions Courses: The Big Question courses challenge students to reflect on societal issues affecting the world. Although the subject matter for these courses changes, the goal remains the same: to empower students to ethically reason and faithfully address issues that impact our culture.
• The Vocation Trip: A preparatory experience for juniors and seniors as they transition out of the College. Students compose a personal mission statement, resumé, and LinkedIn profile. The course culminates in a trip to regional corporations to introduce students to potential employers.