by Jay Acosta (B46)
Before becoming part of JVP, I was a fresh graduate seminarian from St. Joseph Seminary College. Like many seminarians who wrestle with the question, “Am I worthy of this vocation?” I, too, carried a deep sense of unworthiness. Throughout my formation, this question lingered in my heart: “Am I truly worthy of the mission God is calling me to?” Even after graduation, it never left me.
During my regency year, I chose to take a step forward and join JVP. In June, I was sent as a volunteer teacher to Kalahan Academy, an IP school in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, where I was immersed in an indigenous community. It was a journey into the unknown “filled with uncertainty” but one I embraced with faith, believing I was placed there for a reason.
Throughout this journey, I realized that vocation is not about becoming extraordinary. Rather, it is about allowing God to work through our ordinary lives so that, in our own simple ways we may bring hope, learning, and inspiration to others.
Yet, in that unfamiliar place, my sense of unworthiness deepened. I questioned how someone like me—young, still growing, and full of doubts— could be able guide and teach others. Standing before my students for the first time, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility entrusted to me.
But as days turned into weeks, my students began to teach me lessons no classroom ever could. I witnessed their resilience, their determination to learn despite hardships. I saw how deeply they valued their culture, their community, and their dreams. Many of them walked long distances each day just to attend school, yet they arrived with joy, hope, and unwavering spirit.
In them, I encountered a quiet but powerful truth about vocation.
Vocation is not about being the most capable, the most prepared, or the most confident. It is about saying “yes” with humility and trust—even when we feel inadequate.
“God does not always call those who feel ready. More often, He calls those who are willing; willing to grow, willing to serve, and willing to walk alongside others.”
My experience as a JVP teacher taught me that my mission goes beyond teaching lessons from books. It is about accompanying my students in their journey, encouraging them to believe in their dreams, and affirming that their culture, identity, and stories are gifts to be cherished.
Even now, I still encounter moments of doubt. But I have come to understand that feeling unworthy does not mean I am not called. Sometimes, it is precisely in that feeling where I am reminded to stay humble, to rely on God, and to serve with sincerity.
Throughout this journey, I realized that vocation is not about becoming extraordinary. Rather, it is about allowing God to work through our ordinary lives so that, in our own simple ways we may bring hope, learning, and inspiration to others.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesuit Volunteers of the Philippines. Thank you for trusting me, even when I struggled to trust myself. Thank you for giving me a space where I could grow, serve, and discover my true purpose.
JVP not only sent me in mission, it immersed me in a life that formed and challenged me. It walked with me through growth and uncertainty, teaching me that vocation is not measured by perfection, but by love, service, and steadfast faithfulness.
And for that, I am truly grateful.