Young adulthood can be especially difficult navigating the transition from high school to college and beyond. Take in the precarious nature of the last 18 months and there’s even more uncertainty for some than ever.

John Hogg, a Sulphur native, returned home to work when his office switched to a remote work schedule last winter. As a tableau developer, he spends his professional time working with computer software to improve the systems and functions for the advertising company he works for.

The pace of work is a contrast from the hectic schedule he was used to in college.

“In college you’re taking 17 hours, going to labs, studying and I had a part-time job,” but working life doesn’t require quite the same pace, he discovered.

Initially, this frustrated him, he said.

“There was a time, right after college, where I was like, ‘I want my career to take off. I’m going to love my job — push, push, push.’ But what I was really chasing after was success.”

He would later discover that a life focused solely on finding happiness in career proved to be somewhat empty.

“But I do I believe my job is definitely a gift from God,” he added.

He decided to use the slowed pace of life due to COVID-19 and the natural change of pace in professional life to focus more on others, his faith and his church. Hogg volunteers with the media team at his church using his talent in photography and videography and learning new skills like lighting and sound.

It’s been well worth the pivot, he said.

“In this, my attitude has changed. I’m happier and I have more of a purpose.”

Instead of dreading the slowness and the oddities of the pandemic, focusing on servant leadership and his faith has proved to be an important opportunity to invest his time, he said. “I vividly remember deciding, ‘I’m really going to work on my relationship with God, draw near and see what happens because I can’t do this on my own. Any purpose I find, I may not be satisfied. But if I look to Him and serve others, then my purpose will be defined by Him.”