discerning the call

If you are a teen who is discerning the call to the priesthood or religious life, try some of the following before talking to a vocations director.
Spend some time in daily prayer.
Become involved in a ministry at your parish.
Read a good spiritual book.
Study the Bible everyday.
Recite the Liturgy of the Hours.
Spend an hour a week in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Make a list of reasons why you feel God is calling you.

Take an hour and prayerfully write answers to these questions:
Imagine yourself five or ten years from now. Do you want to continue in life as you are now? Imagine yourself as a vowed religious or as a priest ten years from now.
Fantasize by going through an entire day in your future as a religious brother, sister, or priest. Visualize yourself doing what they does. How does your gut react to this exercise?
What is the most satisfying part of your week? What does that say about you?
Shadow a priest, sister or brother for a day. Accompany them through the various aspects of their ministry.
For one week, live as if you decided to enter a seminary or formation program. Notice how you felt. The following week live as if you decided to drop the religious life or priesthood vocation question and dismiss it. What feelings stir up in you?
Imagine Jesus looking you in the eye, calling you by your first name, and saying, "What is it you really want?" Spend time with the question. Tell Jesus all that you hope for in life. Then spend time listening to His response to your dreams. (What is the desire of your heart?)
What was the last major decision you made about your life? How did you come to that decision? Was it a good one? What can you learn from that experience about your vocation discernment?
Make a list of all the reasons it wouldn't be a good idea for you to become a religious sister, brother, or priest. Then make a list of all the reasons why it would be good! Which one weighs more? Bring the list before God in prayer and listen.
What advice would you give someone in your shoes regarding a vocation as a priest or as a religious?
Reflect on religious sisters and/or brothers/sisters who have been mentors for you. Which qualities would you like to imitate if you were called?