# Tu vocación siempre te va a encontrar | Martin Celis | TEDxSurco Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAUYDsxykQI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/rAUYDsxykQI Generated: 2026-01-09T18:03:03.329+00:00 --- ## 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. ![Screenshot at 00:09: Martin Celis is introduced as Captain of the Volunteer Firefighters Company "Santiago Apóstol de Surco 134", with his talk's theme displayed: "Tu vocación siempre te va a encontrar" \(Your vocation will always find you\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-00-09.jpg) **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. ### Introduction and Core Question - Martin Celis introduces himself as a Fire Captain and poses the central question: ¿Nuestra vocación nos escoge o nosotros la escogemos? - He spent 26 years on a path that didn't fit, leading to a personal crisis. ### The Three Pillars of Vocation - He identifies the three necessary components for finding vocation: Habilidades (Skills), Destrezas (Dexterities), and Gustos (Tastes). - His studies in Mechanical Engineering and Accounting did not align with his tastes. ### The Vocation of Service - Celis found his true calling in service, inspired by the firefighting brotherhood. - Key concept: "Hermanos de Fuego" (Brothers of Fire) and the motto: "Entramos juntos y salimos juntos" (We enter together and leave together). ### Consolidating Vocation - His current work combines Professional Vocation (Risk Management Specialist) and Service Vocation (Emergency Medical Services Specialist). - He realized that his true vocation was service, which was supported by his mother and the institution. ### Conclusion - He leaves the audience with the question of whether we choose our vocation or if it chooses us, concluding that his path was one of service. ![Screenshot at 00:04: TEDx Surco sponsors listed: Universidad Ricardo Palma, Webtilia, Gáliz Producciones, Industria e, and one other logo.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-00-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:02: The central question of the talk is displayed: "¿NUESTRA VOCACIÓN NOS ESCOGE O NOSOTROS LA ESCOGEMOS?"](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-01-02.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:43: A photo slide showing firefighters in red uniforms, labeled "LA CASA DE LOS TIGRES" and "BIENVENIDOS A LA RESIDENCIAL F.A.P.", dated 01/01/2002.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-01-43.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:37: A slide outlining the components of Professional Vocation: HABILIDADES, DESTREZAS, GUSTOS.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-04-37.jpg) ![Screenshot at 11:44: A slide summarizing Vocation of Service: HERMANOS DE FUEGO \| TRABAJO EN EQUIPO \| "ENTRAMOS JUNTOS Y SALIMOS JUNTOS".](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/rAUYDsxykQI/00-11-44.jpg)