UM Honors College Dean Offers Advice on How Young People Can Find Purpose

Dr. Ethel Scurlock has a lot on her plate. As Dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Associate Professor of English and African American Studies, Senior Fellow of the Luckyday Residential College, and the pastor at two churches, she understands the demands of a busy life—and that her purpose propels her through it all.

In a recent episode of The Mayo Lab Podcast, Dr. Scurlock shared her advice for young people who haven’t yet found their purpose in life.

1. Trust that your purpose will come.

“Finding purpose is a very personal journey,” Dr. Scurlock said. “I think that people have to believe that purpose is out there even when they do not understand it. Sometimes your purpose is simply to live through the moment.”

Nowadays, it’s easy to get distracted by opinions or comparison, and it can be frustrating to not understand your path. Dr. Scurlock reminds us to practice patience. Only you can author your story. “You’ve just got to believe that you do the best you can at the level you’re on, and … it’s going to open the door to the next thing.” 

2. Believe in the power of resilience. 

Life is full of ups and downs, but trusting that there’s something greater coming because of it all can be comforting. “In some kind of way,” Dr. Scurlock said, “all of your gifts, all of your skills, all of your ups, your downs, your ins and your outs are going to be used in a serviceable way.”

Dr. Scurlock spoke about her grief following her first husband’s passing, referencing Psalm 30’s verse, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Her night of grief, she says, was long. 

She believes in recognizing the strength, tears and struggles it took to bring her to where she is today. Low moments do not last forever. Endurance, Dr. Scurlock says, “is the human experience of how we get to joy.”

3. Lean into your strengths.

There are so many opportunities at college: organizations to join, classes to take, parties to visit. Young people can fall into the trap of wanting to do everything, but that can lead to burnout. Instead, Dr. Scurlock suggests investing time into discovering your strengths and then finding ways to incorporate them into your life.

“If you try to fit this square weakness into a round strength hole, it’s going to force more pressure on you,” she said. She advises young people give themselves the space to use the gifts they have.

Being a young person in college today can be difficult, especially with rising pressures and expectations. Dr. Scurlock hopes students understand the value of continuing the work that is their own and feeding the gifts they were given. In turn, she knows they will find their purpose.