Annette’s Mission

My mission is to always work towards a fulfilling life, one that not only serves myself but others
I will prioritize my mental and physical health before all else, for health is the foundation I must build upon
I will seek to listen about the experiences of others as listening is the key to empathy 
I will be a good daughter, supporting and spending time with my parents as they grow older
I will be a good sister, offering advice to Estelle when she needs guidance
I will be a good friend, one who chooses laughter and vulnerability over superficial connections

I want to live a life of gratitude, one where I am forever thankful for all the beautiful people and experiences I have been blessed with
I want to become flexible, allowing emotions to come as they come, realizing that I will be fine
I want to be a light of positivity for others, spreading joy and receiving joy in return 

My mission is to fight for my freedom and the freedom of others
I will use my education and profession to advocate for those who have had their voices silenced

My mission is to take life one day at a time, to realize that I need to be mindful about each moment, to spend time with my loved ones wisely… 

How do I pursue a Life Well-lived?

	One of the first things that I write about in my mission statement is the importance of prioritizing my mental health before all else. Today, in the world of constant notifications, social media, and technology overall, it has become increasingly difficult to take time to simply be in the moment and relax. But in order to take care of my mental health, this is exactly what I should be doing. During these next three years, I will work on realizing that I do not need to respond to every bombarding phone notification. I have the right to take time to myself where I can focus on practicing meditation and thoughts of gratitude. As Pico Iyer said, “It’s precisely those who are busiest, who most need to give themselves a break.” It is important I work on these healthy habits as they will only improve the way I live my life. 
(“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One)

The second to last section of my mission statement describes how I long to fight for my freedom and the freedom of others, to use my education and profession to advocate for those who have had their voices silenced. Needless to say, there is a lot of political and moral chaos during this critical time in history. Unfortunately, as I will inevitably experience and witness racist, sexist, and homophobic interactions in the future, I hope that I do not back down ut instead speak up for those who need my support and allyship. One quote that was spoken about Notre Dame’s Father Hesburgh stated that “He belonged to the side of decency, he belonged to the side of a fundamental belief in the redeemability of mankind.” My mission statement reflects this very sentiment of fighting for the right side of history, a sentiment that I shall always look back on for the rest of my life.
(“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two)

Another core belief in my mission statement emphasizes how  I want to become flexible, allowing emotions to come as they come, realizing that I will be fine. Although this is a hard mindset to practice, it’s crucial that I realize that life isn’t always so happy. There will be hard moments, times when I feel that the darkness is forever. But I should learn to understand that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that my mission statement can remind me to frame hard things in a way that ultimately serves me. I want to work even harder to start finding the humor in everything, even the most stressful situations because you’ll realize that in the big picture, they aren’t so life-threatening after all. 
(“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three)

The first sentence of my mission states that I hope to  always work towards a fulfilling life, one that not only serves myself but others. This is a very important goalof mine that I must always remember when thinking about the career that I want to pursue. Sure, it would be great for me to choose a job that harnesses my talents, but it would be even greater for me to find a job that harnesses my talents for the good of the world. AS I grow older, I must actively think about the way my career is affecting both me and the society around me. Am I working only for my own gains, or is my work making a positive impact on other people? With this self-knowledge and awareness, I will be able to succeed in whatever field I choose to be a part of.  
(“Navigating Your Career Journey” from the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four)

	Recently, as I’ve started to live independently away from my family, I’ve grown to really understand how much they mean to me. In my mission, I write “I will be a good daughter, supporting and spending time with my parents as they grow older.” I hope to work on feeling more comfortable about sitting down and talking to mom and dad, not just about how school is going, but about the kind of person I am and the kind of person I want to be. These conversations may seem like they would be awkward, but I know in my heart that they will be greatly rewarding. My parents know a lot about me and can help guide me to the goals I want to achieve. Allowing them into my life will help me realize that they understand the things I am going through a lot more than I would think. Furthermore, it can help us build a stronger relationship of trust with one another, one that I will value increasingly as we all become older.
(“Week Five Discernment Conversation Activity” - Moreau FYE Week Five)

While I mention gratitude and mindfulness multiple times in my mission statement, it is crucial that in my gratitude and mindfulness I am actively careful with the way that I introspect. Self-reflecting is important, but I must be aware of how I am reflecting because doing so in the wrong way can leave me feeling trapped in victimhood. One quote I heard from a TED talk that resonated with me said this: “Introspection can cloud and confuse our self-perceptions, unleashing a host of unintended consequences.” To avoid this, I will remind myself to ask “what” not “why” questions. I feel that I’ve realized good introspection isn't as easy as I thought this year. And in the years to come, I know that it is not just enough to be alone with your thoughts but to be proactive with them - to actively work on yourself and redirect to a positive direction.
(“The Right Way to be Introspective” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six)

	Going back to the first sentence in my statement, I hope to further understand that being a good person isn’t as simple as being kind and donating to charities when can. The most meaningful service often comes with personal sacrifices.  Mother Teresa once that  "One cannot love, unless it is at their own expense." As I graduate college and expand my bubble of privilege, I must work to use my privilege to help others, not to simply benefit myself. I can not do what is just easy or convenient. This will be difficult and will often mean that I’ll have less time or money to spend on myself, but only when we love at our own expense is it, true love. 
(“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven)

Throughout my mission, I talk about the importance of listening to others and participating in service. While I write about how I want to exemplify these qualities, there are many moments in my life when I choose to be negative instead, criticizing the lack of effort or change. But I realize now that “to not be optimistic is just about the most privileged thing you can be.” Being wholly pessimistic is basically deciding that there’s no hope for a whole group of people who can’t afford to think that way. In the future, it is necessary that I balance being able to recognize what needs to be criticized but not being so quick to give up on such an issue entirely. I must not forget the main goal in the first place, which is to help the community around me. So while it is important I am honest about where my action is lacking, I must be sure that this reflection is followed by actual corrective work that contributes to helping others. This is the only way we can work to live a life well-lived.
(“Teaching Accompaniment - A Learning Journey Together” by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine)

	At the beginning of my statement, I mention that “I will seek to listen about the experiences of others as listening is the key to empathy.” There are many experiences that I will never truly understand because of the identity that I hold. Still, this does not mean that I should not actively work to hear and listen to these perspectives in order to grow my empathy and gain a larger awareness of the world. Though I do not identify with the LGBTQ+ community, I hope to continue to be an ally to the community. Outdated notions of religion and homophobia have no place in my future of a life well-lived. Instead, I will work to champion inclusivity and love among all different types of people. 
(“Growing up Gay and Catholic” by Jacob Walsh - Moreau FYE Week Ten)

	As my mission states multiple times, I long to use my voice and place of standing to advocate for others who have had their voices silenced. One way that I can do this now that I am older is by actively participating in politics. For many Americans, politics has become more of a hobby than anything else. I myself have also been guilty of making it a hobby at times, especially when I was younger and felt that I didn't have the ability or means to make an actual difference. Now, however, I am of age to vote and can have much more of an impact inmy academic and professional life. I must use these privileges to advocate for what I believe in. Only when I am using my power to make a change in what I believe in will my life be fulfilling. 
(“Passion Isn't Enough” by Hidden Brain Media - Moreau FYE Week Eleven)

Combining the multiple themes I’ve mentioned in my mission statement, I want to emphasize again the importance of listening and being empathetic to others in order to enact genuine change. In the next few years at college, I hope to adopt this mindset and implement the specific steps I can take to live a life well-lived. It is not enough to just have a vague idea of what kind of person I want to be. Someone like Dean G. Marcus Cole is an inspiration to me as he has worked on specific  programs at the University of Notre Dame, such as restoring the Master of Laws in Human Rights, funding fellowships for the Juris Doctor program, and establishing a new Exoneration Law Clinic to make a difference in what he believes in. I don’t want to be someone that is all talk - only saying that I’ll listen to others and make a difference. Instead, I will work to be a person of action. 
(“I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something” by Dean G Marcus Cole - Moreau Week Twelve)