SNF Paideia Program hosts University Chaplain to discuss book on ‘uncovering’ life paths

The SNF Paideia Program and the Du Bois College House co-sponsored a book talk on Nov. 21 featuring Penn’s University Chaplain Rev. Charles Howard to discuss his latest work “Uncovering Your Path.”

At the event, which was open to all students, Howard shared the personal stories behind his book and then answered audience questions. He highlighted his journey at Penn — from undergraduate to faculty — and emphasized the importance of discernment compared to traditional decision-making.

“Uncovering Your Path,” published in May 2025, is a collection of spiritual reflections designed to guide readers to find their path. In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Howard explained that the book was born out of journaling. 

“When you write without concern about reception, I think it is a pure kind of thing,” Howard said. “I’d like to think that it reads like a journal, and people invited in a little bit.”

He used basketball as an analogy for life choices when speaking to the audience about his work.

“I can teach the rules of the game — but I’ve found that the hardest thing to teach in basketball is decision making,” he said. “It’s hard to make decisions; it’s hard to know what to do.”

He went on to stress the importance of trusting one’s community, acting without fear of making mistakes, and avoiding destructive perfectionism. He also reflected on the pressures placed upon students in an academically competitive environment such as Penn and the subsequent impact it can have on well-being.

“It’s a lot of pressure, and you’re not allowed to make any mistakes in life, and that pressure creates an anxiety and a sadness that ends up being pretty destructive,” Howard explained. 

Because of this, he highlighted the importance of communities making it clear to young people that they love them “without a why.”

During his undergraduate years, Howard lived in Du Bois for three years, and he expressed his gratitude to Du Bois for co-sponsoring the event during his talk.

“I loved Du Bois, and Du Bois really loved me,” he said to the audience. “It was much more than a place to lay my head — it is the difference between a house and a home.”

SNF Paideia Director of Undergraduate Education & Innovation Rhina El-Amin explained that the book talk was hopefully the first of a bigger series within the program. 

She added that the program tries to hold events that are “relevant to what students are going through.”

“What draws students in is the opportunity to have an open expression dialogue — the opportunity to be heard and to be in community with folks who really just want to listen,” she said.

---