- Integration Two - Responding to Personal and Societal Challenges Santoso 1 Dr. Lassen Moreau FYE Section 17 3 December 2021 Responding to Personal and Societal Challenges At Notre Dame, an institution with an academic and athletic reputation, I am constantly surrounded by people with so much potential. Although it is inspiring to see, it is also easy to feel inadequate in an environment with high-achieving people. As I have experienced, this is an unhealthy habit. This semester, I met people already involved in multiple research positions and internships. I frequently met students in my classes who managed their time so well that they had extra time to spend with friends or do what they loved. Witnessing their work ethic, dedication, and time management skills were inspiring, but it eventually led me to develop feelings of inadequacy. I failed to recognize and give credit to myself for all that I have accomplished so far because I set my standards unreasonably high. I reached a point where I felt like I did not deserve to be at Notre Dame. Imposter syndrome, which is very common among college students, makes us feel as though we are not worthy of all that we have achieved (What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? by Elizabeth Cox - Moreau FYE Week Nine). When others expressed the same feelings of inadequacy, I realized that what I was experiencing was normal. I learned that being surrounded by talented people should not degrade my self-worth but motivate me to improve in the areas that they excel in. I now see a great deal of talent present on campus as opportunities to grow. My life relationships have grown in importance. I strive to surround myself with people who have diverse perspectives and gifts so that I can grow alongside them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQUxL4Jm1Lo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQUxL4Jm1Lo Santoso 2 Over the past few months, discrimination has become increasingly apparent to me. In my psychology class, I learned that stereotypical negative attitudes lead to discrimination from ignorance, conservation of mental effort, social approval, and management of the self-image. My desire to live my faith with the hopes of improving the world has become more important to me. One of the reasons I came to Notre Dame was for the opportunity to deepen my faith alongside my education. Christopher Devon is the president of Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, New York. He stated that in Catholic Social Teaching, the concept of imago Dei "holds that each human person is created in the likeness and image of God and is therefore deserving of dignity and respect”(Should Catholic Schools Teach Critical Race Theory? by Christopher Devon, Moreau FYE Week Ten). This idea reinforces that God sees all of his children equally. Our society could improve how we treat one another if we recognize that truth. This quote emphasizes that we are all morally obligated to see one another as our brother or sister, regardless of superficial differences. It reminds us to regard one other with the same respect and dignity that we would like to experience ourselves. I have become increasingly motivated to improve the disparities in our society. Being part of the supportive community present at Notre Dame and the communities that I will encounter in the future have become very important to me. Growing up, I was always an emotionally and intellectually independent child. Coming to Notre Dame, I was used to managing stress, studying, and making decisions independently. Throughout my life, I hardly sought help from my parents and friends. However, being quarantined due to the pandemic during my senior year of high school brought unexpected challenges to my mental health. At that point, I needed support— from my family, friends, and teachers. After years of navigating life on my own, it was hard to be vulnerable. During this semester, there have been several low points https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/06/03/critical-race-theory-catholic-high-schools-black-lives-matter-240792 Santoso 3 that I could not get through alone— I sought support, understanding, and empathy from those around me. They empathized with my struggles, pushing me to realize how important it is to hold onto each other so that we can all succeed. Parker J. Palmer epitomized the lesson learned from this experience. He stated that “when I flourish, it is easy to maintain the illusion of separateness, easy to imagine that I alone am responsible for my good fortune. But when I fall, I see a secret hidden in plain sight: I need other people for comfort, encouragement, and support, and criticism, challenge, and collaboration. The self-sufficiency I feel is a mirage” (13 Ways of Looking at Community - Parker J. Palmer - Moreau FYE Week 11). This insight reminded me that it is impossible to go through life alone. There is something beautiful about being vulnerable and humble enough to give oneself to others—to trust that life will get better solely because of the people around us. I am grateful to be part of the Notre Dame community, and I hope I can give others the support I received when I needed it the most. Serving my community has grown in importance. I have become more knowledgeable about the issues that others face. In my psychology class, I learned that the shortage of psychiatrists prevents many people from getting necessary medical treatment. I also learned that there are no cures for any mental disorders, but only medications that reduce the severity of symptoms. As mental health is an issue near and dear to my heart, I began researching opportunities to get involved and serve the South Bend community. I came across research conducted by Dr. Theodore Beauchaine and Dr. Brooke Ammerman in the Department of Psychology that focused on teaching children and adolescents emotional management skills and using technology to reduce risk factors for suicide. I hope to contribute to the research conducted in the Suicide Prevention Initiative— Research, Intervention, & Training in the Department of Clinical Studies Building, strategically off-campus and accessible to the community. In addition, http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/ http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/ Santoso 4 I applied to be part of the Notre Dame Medical Observers (NDMO) program, which gives students interested in medicine to shadow a resident at Memorial Hospital in South Bend for six hours each week. My desire to serve underserved communities has become a significant part of my life. I am motivated to pursue a medical career because of my passion for improving the lives of others. The paper “Hope - Holy Cross Education” describes the life of Father Basíl Moreau, who founded the Congregation of Holy Cross. Father James King, C.S.C. mentioned that “Moreau looked upon the spiritual wreckage of his native France and felt called to become an educator in the faith” (“Hope - Holy Cross Education” by Father James King, C.S.C - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). Moreau took the initiative to observe his society, recognize its problems, and find a way to improve it. I aspire to emulate Moreau—to never give up in the attempt to leave the world better than I found it. By striving to make a difference, I would accomplish the goal of a Holy Cross Education and build a better society for future generations.