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Tag Archives: Midcareer

Coming to HDS as a Mid-Career Student

02 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by HDS Admissions Blog in Considering HDS

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Midcareer

Editor’s Note: As admitted students discern whether HDS is right for them, it can be helpful to hear why current students decided to come here! Please enjoy this short piece by Sally Hammel, a second–career MDiv student planning to work in hospital or hospice chaplaincy. 

Post by: Sally Hammel, MDiv ‘21 

When I meet people and I tell them I’m at Harvard Divinity School, they politely ask how I decided to come here. The question always surprises me—until I remember that I’m sixty-one years old, so not your typical graduate student.  

Photo courtesy of SALLY HAMMEL

I am an almost native New Yorker, having lived my whole adult life on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Employed by the same company for about thirty years, I’ve had a robust career in advertising. While I enjoyed the benefits of my demanding career, I wanted more balance in my life and found myself signing up for various retreats, workshops, and online courses to help fill a spiritual need. In 2014, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma—breast cancer. Following treatment, I took a thirty-day sabbatical and walked the Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile walk across Spain. During this trip, I connected with many other seekers, and realized I really wanted to explore and grow my spiritual connection.  

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Moving Midcareer: From Seattle to HDS

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Melissa Bartholomew in Transitioning to HDS

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Classmates, Faculty, Family, Law, Libraries, MDiv, Midcareer, Ministry, Open House, Staff

“Mommy, I need to go to the potty.” That was the statement our four-year-old daughter made repeatedly throughout our eight day journey across the country in August 2012. She resisted leaving Seattle, the only home she knew, and all of her close friends, especially her best friend from across the street. The only thing that motivated her to get to Cambridge was the brand new Curious George store that had just opened in Harvard Square. Continue reading →

Going Back to School Midcareer

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Melissa Debono in Transitioning to HDS

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Academics, Classmates, Diversity, Family, MDiv, Midcareer, Ministry, Workload

Eagle-crested lectern. Photo by Chris Alburger

Eagle-crested lectern. Photo by Chris Alburger

No milestone ever fully marks the completion of a journey, and development doesn’t stall out when a child reaches her adulthood. I had begun mothering and pastoring at the same time, both ministries of ephemeral moments that are over in a flash, fist steps and first sermons. The work of parish ministry—worship, discipleship, and pastoral care—all disappear in a weekly cycle, along with the hours spent in preparation. At times, the densely packed milestones of child development felt so close at hand, while my own development sometimes seemed like a distant memory. I knew I needed to grow. In the middle of my career, and the middle of my parental journey, it was time to prepare for the next stages. HDS has been a place of tremendous growth of the intellectual framework of my ministry. Continue reading →

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Twitter Updates

  • “There’s always something good going on. Focusing on that keeps me grounded as I continue trying to improve the liv… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 8 hours ago
  • In a special pop-up episode of Harvard Religion Beat, we speak with @HarvardDivinity visiting professor @EJDionne t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 day ago
  • HDS Alum @q_driskell4 takes a look at @ReverendWarnock's historic senate win in #Georgia, the Capitol insurrection… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 2 days ago
  • “Chaplain, can you do an exorcism?” This is a question psychiatric chaplain Jeremy Sher, MDiv ’16, is sometimes a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 2 days ago
  • Amazing piece by @HarvardRPL's @LaurenRKerby on the Capitol insurrection. A must read for the moment!! @TheAtlantic twitter.com/LaurenRKerby/s… 6 days ago

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