Tu vocación siempre te va a encontrar | Martin Celis | TEDxSurco

Quick Overview

Martin Celis, Captain of the "Santiago Apóstol de Surco 134" Volunteer Firefighters Company, shares his personal journey of discovering that his true vocation was service, which he realized after spending 26 years in a career path (Mechanical Engineering/Accounting) that did not align with his desires, concluding that vocation is found through service to the community and others.

Key Points: Martin Celis is the Captain of the Volunteer Firefighters Company "Santiago Apóstol de Surco 134" in Peru. Celis studied Mechanical Engineering (Fluids) and later Accounting, but neither felt right; he realized his dreams were not aligned with his career choices. He spent 26 years in a career path that did not align with his desires, leading to a personal crisis where his life depended on a single thread. He identifies three key elements for professional vocation: Skills, Dexterities, and Tastes (Gustos). His vocation is service, exemplified by the motto of his firefighting brothers: "Entramos juntos y salimos juntos" (We enter together and leave together). Celis emphasizes that the firefighting institution provided him with the necessary foundation to consolidate his true vocation of service to the community and his neighbor.

Context: This TEDx talk is a personal story delivered by Martin Celis, Captain of a volunteer fire brigade in Surco, Peru. Celis recounts his long journey of pursuing professional careers in Mechanical Engineering and Accounting, neither of which brought him fulfillment, leading him to question whether one chooses their vocation or if it chooses them. The narrative centers on his eventual discovery of his true calling: service.

Detailed Analysis

Martin Celis begins by acknowledging the audience and introducing himself as Captain of the Volunteer Firefighters Company "Santiago Apóstol de Surco 134". He frames his talk around the question: Does our vocation choose us, or do we choose it? Celis shares that he spent 26 years in a career path that ultimately distorted his vocation. He initially studied Mechanical Engineering (Fluids) at the National University of San Marcos, followed by Accounting, but neither felt right. He recounts a personal crisis where his life felt dependent on a thread, which led him to re-evaluate his path. He identifies three factors that define professional vocation: Skills, Dexterities, and Tastes (Gustos). Celis found his true calling in service, inspired by the firefighters who, despite facing perilous conditions (like a fire where his mother was nearly lost), always entered and exited together, forming a bond he calls "Hermanos de Fuego" (Brothers of Fire). This spirit of teamwork and service helped him cement his vocation. He notes that his professional vocation is now a blend of professional skills (Risk Management and Disaster Assessment) and service (Emergency Medical Response). He concludes by affirming that his vocation, which he initially didn't recognize, was always there, supported by the firefighting institution that never abandoned him.