Joseph Campbell's Heroes Journey is an outline of the basic pattern that virtually all stories have followed. Since its origin in the late 1940's, it has been analyzed and overanalyzed a million times. Chances are, if you are in college reading this, it isn't the first time you've heard of it.
Although it is applied to the many stories and epics of our ancestors, the Heroes Journey can also be seen in our own lives. Recognizing and understanding The Heroes Journey in your life can lead to a better understanding of yourself and your life. College can be a time where these steps become most apparent as so many things are changing in our lives.
The first few phases of the Heroes Journey make up the Separation. This is when the Hero leaves his home and decides to venture into the unknown.
The first part of the Heroes Journey in College is the Call to Adventure. This is the first step on the monomythic cycle written about by Joseph Campbell. This is the stage from which all other steps and actions of the hero originate. The biggest part of the call to adventure is the acceptance of the call. It can take some people years before they realize that the call of adventure has been right in front of them the entire time.
For college students the biggest call to adventure has been the decision to attend college. For everyone just going to college it's an adventure into the unknown. It's our first time living alone and attempting to be as self-sufficient as possible. By taking this risk and accepting this call we take the first step in bettering our own lives and enhancing ourselves.
Throughout college there are also smaller calls to adventure that must be accepted or rejected. Changing majors can be one of the most stressful and frightening things you can go through in college, but by accepting that Call to Adventure you may discover something you are truly passionate about that will benefit you through the rest of your life. You might find a Call to join a club, or walk on a sports team. You might be Called to be a leader on campus or your Call might take you to another country. One of your biggest jobs in college is to recognize these Calls to Adventure when they come into your life and either take action on them or let them go.
Refusing the Call can be a big a part as accepting it. Maybe the timing isn't right to go abroad, or maybe getting that second minor won't really fit in your schedule. Not every Call can be accepted in life, but deciding which ones are important to you is imperative to be successful in college and in life
After the Hero accepts his Call to Adventure, he is given aid by a supernatural mentor. This mentor often gives the Hero a gift or special item that will help him on his Journey. Unfortunately, supernatural mentors don't exist in college but they can sometimes take the form of an uninterested and unsympathetic academic advisor. Your job in school is to find those people who can serve as your mentors. They may be teachers, a boss, or maybe someone a few years older than you in the same major. These are the people who have been in your shoes and you can learn immensely from the successes they have had and the mistakes they have made. Always be actively searching for new mentors. Through them is your path to success. Your mentors don't even have to be someone you know personally. Youtube is full of videos created by great men and women whose advice can change your life.
Just like everything you do, make sure you use every resource at your disposal. This step is crucial to the advancement of the Hero through his Journey.
Part 2 Next Week...
