Teach with Callings
Whether you read the book in its entirety or just a handful of chapters, we've created a community canvas course and this guide to make integrating Callings into your course as easy as possible, The canvas course provides chapter summaries, discussion questions, related activities and resources. All members of the campus community are welcome and encouraged to join the course and to reuse content as is meaningful.
It doesn’t even seem like much time goes by. You forget to eat, you forget to get up, you forget to drink water. Everything just goes into suspension. And then fifteen hours later… It just seems like it’s all been a big long dream.
There’s manatees and dolphins that come by. There’s a night heron that sits just below my window all night long every night, except when the algae bloom. And the sunsets and sunrises are like snowflakes—there’s no two that are exactly alike.
That’s when it dawned on me: ‘You have to do what you love.’ So that’s when I said, ‘I’m going to follow my heart and become a teacher!’
It feels like part of me, that I'm supposed to do it, that it's what I am on the planet for. So thank you for being an example of what it is to take care of people.
Thanks, Sue, but I don't feel like a hero. I just was young woman who tried to do the right thing. And given the same circumstances, I would do it it again. I feel like that decision changed my life in many ways, and thank goodness I made it, because it would be so hard for to look in the mirror today if I hadn't.
The book collects stories grouped into six sections: Dreamers, generations, healers, philosophers. and groundbreakers. The book begins with the following sections before moving into the stories.
Dedication
"Dedicated to everyone working to find and follow their calling, may you live with courage always."
Introduction
Dave Isay shares inspiration and process of creating the collection
Epigraph
From Poem 133: The Summer Day by Mary Oliver.
Author's note
Dave Isay shares the process for editing stories in the collection.
Herman Heyn and John Heyn, Street Corner Astronomer
Carl McNair and Vernon Skipper remember Ronald McNair, Astronaut
John Maycumber and Barbara Abelhauser, Bridgetender
Jeremy Hagquist and Storm Reynes, Library Assistant
Steve Stutter and Sharon Long, Forensic Artist
Bob Warburton and Dorothy Warburton, Scientist
Leon Kogut and Marat Kogut, NBA Referee
Anne Brande and Thomas McGarvey, Dentist
Toni Yates and Alton Yates, Aeromedical Field Tester
Dekalb Walcott Jr. and Dekalb Walcott II, firefighters
Efraim Ayala and Olga Ayala honor Artist Ramona Cruiz
Mackenzie Byles and Don Byles, Funeral director
Laura Michaelis and Larry Michaelis, Doctors
Ledo Lucietto and Anne Lucietto, Mechanical engineer
Kathy Bradley and Johnny Bradley, farmer
Phil Kerner, Tool and die maker
Jonathan Pitts-Wiley andRicardo Pitts- Wiley, Actor
Olivia June Fite and Barbara Moore, Bricklayer
Gayle Lain and Sheryl Lain honor Red Lain, Oil Rig Driller
Chassitty Saldana and Noramay Cadena, Engineer and Entrepreneur
John Vigiano and Jan Vigiano honor their sons Joe Vigiano and John Vigiano Jr.
Sarafina Viviano and Dana Viviano, Oncology Nurse
Dave Isay and Austin Chen, OBGYN
Paul Boos and Issan Koyama, Hospice Chaplain
Lillie Colton and Burnell Colton. Grocer
Ken Hopper and Kerry Davis, Ironworker
Maria Anastasia Sefchick-Del Paso and Vito de la Cruz, Assistant Federal Public Defender
Eddie Nieves and Angelo Bruno, Sanitation worker
Pat Hays, Police woman
Nelson Peck and Rich Barham, Veterans crisis hotline workers
Nicole Mendoza and Dawn Maestas, Ink removal specialist
Bryan Lindsay and Rowan Allen, Emergency Medical Technician
Barbara Butler, FMF Corpsman
Jenna Anderson and Michelle Alore, ICU Nurse
Ayodeji Ogunniyi, English teacher
Lee Buono, Neurosurgeon, and Al Siedlecki, Teacher
Judy Knapp and Arnie Knapp, Entertainer coach operator
Cyntia Gomar and Sol Aramendi, Artist and educator
Laura Lane and Paquita Williams, Subway conductor
Clay Culver and Ted Dennard, Beekeeper
Sydney Reed and Jim Clyburn, Congressman
Josh Gippin and Rose Brudno, Bar owner
James Taylor and Darlene Lewis, Employment counselor
Joshua Gubitz and Len Berk, Salmon Slicer
Miranda Louise, Waitress and blues singer
Jerry Collier and Clancy Haskett, Beer vendor
Marc Anderson Lawson and Karen Lawson honor Jerry Lawson, Video game inventor
Sonari Glinton and Dorothy Glinton, Ford assembly plant supervisor
Sue Larson and Clela Rorex, County Clerk
Frank Scott and Warrick Scott honor Wendell Scott, NASCAR driver
Jannette Berkeley-Patton and Eric D. Williams, Reverend
Carly Dreher and Lyle Link, Building contractor
Andrew Fogaty and Laura Martinez, Chef and restaurateur
Farmer: Johnny Bradley
Beekeeper: Ted Dennard
Artist and educator: Sol Aramendi
English teacher: Ayodeji Ogunniyi
Librarian assistant: Storm Reyes
Science teacher: Al Siedlecki
Aeromedical field tester: Alton Yates
Dentist: Thomas McGarvey
Emergency medical technician: Rowan Allen
Fleet marine force corpsman: Barbara Butler
Funeral directors: Don and Mackenzie Byles
Hospice chaplain: Issan Koyama
ICU nurse: Michelle Alore
Ink removal specialist: Dawn Maestas
Oncology nurse: Dana Viviano
Ob-GYN: Austin Chen
Physicians: Larry and Laura Michaelis
911 first responder: John Vigiano Jr. and Joe Vigiano
Assistant federal public defender: Vito de la Cruz
Bridgetender: Barbara Abelhauser
Congressman: Jim Clyburn
County clerk: Clela Rorex
Firefighters: Dekalb Walcott Jr. and Dekalb Walcott III
Fleet marine force corpsman: Barbara Butler
Pastor: Eric E. Williams
Police woman: Pat Hays
Sanitation workers: Angelo Bruno and Eddie Nieves
Subway conductor: Paquita Williams
Veterans crisis line: Rich Barham and Nelson Peck
Bar owner: Rose Brudno
Beer vendor: Clarence Haskett:
Building contractor: Lyle Link
Chef and restaurateur
Entertainer coach operator: Arnie Knappv
Employment counselor: Darlene Lewis
Ford assembly plant supervisor: Dorothy Glinton
Grocer: Burnell Cotlon
Actor: Ricardo Pitts-Wiley
Artist and educator: Sol Aramendi
Entertainer coach operator: Arnie Knapp
Forensic artist : Sharon Long
Nascar driver: Wendell Scott
NBA referee
Sculptor : Olga Ayala
Waitress: Miranda Louise
Aeromedical feld tester: Alton Yates
Astronaut: Ronald McNair
Engineer: Noramay Cadena
Mechanical engineer: Anne Lucietto
Scientist: Dorothy Warburton
Street corner astronomer: Herman Heyn
Video game creator: Jerry Lawson
Bricklayer: Barbara Moore
Building contractor:Lyle Link
Iron workers: Kerry Davis and Ken Hopper
Oil rig driller: Red Lain
Salmon slicer: Leonard Berk
Tool and die maker: Phil Kerner
You may use the spreadsheet to sort by theme, region, book section, employment categories and more.
Alton Yates, Aeromedical field tester
Ronald McNair, Astronaut
Storm Reyes, Library Assistant
Dorothy Warburton, Scientist
Anne Lucietto, Mechanical engineer
Barbara Moore, Bricklayer
Noramay Cadena, Engineer and Entrepreneur
Ricardo Pitts- Wiley, Actor
Issan Koyama, Hospice Chaplain
Vito de la Cruz, Assistant Federal Public Defender
Pat Hays, Police woman
Barbara Butler, FMF Corpsman
Sol Aramendi, Artist and educator
Rose Brudno, Bar owner
Darlene Lewis, Employment counselor
Clela Rorex, County Clerk
Eric D. Williams, Reverend
Laura Martinez, Chef and restaurateur
Dorothy Glinton, Ford assembly plant supervisor
Wendell Scott, NASCAR driver
Herman Heyn, Street-corner astronomer
Sharon Long, Forensic Artist
Marat Kogut, NBA Referee
Ronald McNair, Astronaut
Dekalb Walcott II, firefighters
Anne Lucietto, Mechanical engineer
Ramona Cruiz, Artist
Burnell Colton. Grocer
Ayodeji Ogunniyi, English teacher
Sol Aramendi, Artist and educator
Ted Dennard, Beekeeper
Jim Clyburn, Congressman
Darlene Lewis, Employment counselor
Miranda Louise, Waitress and blues singer
Jerry Lawson, Video game inventor
Barbara abelhauser, a Bridgetender
Sharon Long, Forensic Artist
Thomas McGarvey, Dentist
Barbara Moore, Bricklayer
Issan Koyama, Hospice Chaplain
Kerry Davis, Ironworker
Angelo Bruno, Sanitation worker
Rowan Allen, Emergency Medical Technician
Austin Chen, OBGYN
Dawn Maestas, Ink removal specialist
Barbara Butler, FMF Corpsman
Al Siedlecki, Teacher
Sol Aramendi, Artist and educator
Ted Dennard, Beekeeper
Rose Brudno, Bar owner
Clancy Haskett, Beer vendor
Paquita Williams, Subway conductor
Darlene Lewis, Employment counselor
Miranda Louise, Waitress and blues singer
Laura Martinez, Chef and restaurateur
Herman Heyn, Street-corner astronomer
Marat Kogut, NBA Referee
Alton Yates, Aeromedical field tester
Ronald McNair, Astronaut
Storm Reyes, Library assistant
Dorothy Warburton, Scientist
Thomas McGarvey, Dentist
Dekalb Walcott II, firefighters
Don Byles, Funeral director
Anne Lucietto, Mechanical engineer
Phil Kerner, Tool and die maker
Barbara Moore, Bricklayer
Noramay Cadena, Engineer and Entrepreneur
Artist Ramona Cruiz
Larry Michaelis, Doctor
Johnny Bradley, farmer
Ricardo Pitts- Wiley, Actor
Red Lain, Oil Rig Driller
Joe Vigiano and John Vigiano Jr., 911 responders
Dana Viviano, Oncology Nurse
Issan Koyama, Hospice Chaplain
Rowan Allen, Emergency Medical Technician
Herman Heyn, Street-corner astronomer
Marat Kogut, NBA Referee
Alton Yates, Aeromedical field tester
Ronald McNair, Astronaut
Storm Reyes, Library assistant
Dorothy Warburton, Scientist
Thomas McGarvey, Dentist
Dekalb Walcott II, firefighters
Don Byles, Funeral director
Anne Lucietto, Mechanical engineer
Phil Kerner, Tool and die maker
Barbara Moore, Bricklayer
Noramay Cadena, Engineer and Entrepreneur
Ramona Cruiz, Artist
Larry Michaelis, Doctors
Johnny Bradley, farmer
Ricardo Pitts- Wiley, Actor
Red Lain, Oil Rig Driller
Joe Vigiano and John Vigiano Jr.
Dana Viviano, Oncology Nurse
Austin Chen, OBGYN
Burnell Colton. Grocer
Vito de la Cruz, Assistant Federal Public Defender
Ayodeji Ogunniyi, English teacher
Arnie Knapp, Entertainer coach operator
Jim Clyburn, Congressman
Jerry Lawson, Video game inventor
Eric D. Williams, Reverend
Dorothy Glinton, Ford assembly plant supervisor
Wendell Scott, NASCAR driver
Lyle Link, Building contractor
Rowan Allen, Emergency Medical Technician
Dawn Maestas, Ink removal specialist
Barbara Butler, FMF Corpsman
Ayodeji Ogunniyi, English teacher
Rose Brudno, Bar owner
Len Berk, Salmon Slicer
Paquita Williams, Subway conductor
Darlene Lewis, Employment counselor
Dorothy Glinton, Ford assembly plant supervisor
Lyle Link, Building contractor
Herman Heyn, Street-corner astronomer
Ronald McNair, Astronaut
Storm Reyes, Library assistant
Dorothy Warburton, Scientist
Red Lain, Oil Rig Driller
Pat Hays, Police woman
Ayodeji Ogunniyi, English teacher
Al Siedlecki, Teacher
Jerry Lawson, Video game inventor
Dorothy Glinton, Ford assembly plant supervisor
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