David Lassen
Moreau First Year Experience
3/4/2022

Chasing Our Passions
	What is a life well lived? Is it, perhaps, one that you find professional success? Is it one where you feel loved or happy? Or is it, instead, more about what’s left behind-- the legacy that lasts? Today we are gathered together to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of . She was many different things to different people: a friend, coworker, mother, boss, sister, business partner, wife. Yet in every role she filled, she did so with spirit, confidence, and kindness. She exemplified how to live life well. Her life embodied her mantra: find your passion in all that you do, and always follow the path it leads you on.
	Maggie was always a bright student. She loved to learn, and she excelled in school. She constantly asked questions and tried new things. Maggie believed in doing anything that made you happy; she believed in following her passions. She joined business clubs, performing groups, even her high school rugby team. Father Michael presented three basic questions to guide people on their path: “What gives you joy? What are you really good at? What do the people around you really need?” (“Three Key Questions” adapted from Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau Week 3). Father Michael suggests that choosing our vocations is much more simple than most people make it out to be, and Maggie did her best to embody that. She spent a lot of time reflecting on what she wanted out of her life and what was important to her. Maggie wasn’t perfect; she struggled with self growth like the rest of us. The difference is that she never gave up. Maggie turned to Tasha Eurich’s advice for self reflection: asking not why, but what. What kind of person did she want to be (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6)? Amidst a lot of confusion of what path she should take, she instead focused on who she would feel most proud of being. She felt passionate about both music and business, so she followed a path that combined the two so that she was happy, she excelled, and she helped others.
	Maggie’s path was not an easy one, and she struggled to find her way many times. With her close friends and advisors, she began opening up about difficult decisions or problems she couldn’t solve. She trusted that an outside source would give her a perspective she couldn’t see for herself. She discussed what was important to her, her strengths, and her weaknesses. She valued other’s opinions and listened to their advice (Discernment Conversation Activity - Moreau FYE Week 5). Her friends assured her of her ability to connect with people and defend her positions, so she took chances in her job, sticking up for venues and art corporations she believed could be successful. She spent time on-site in theaters, or working with artists on contracts. However, Maggie knew her limits. Even with so many responsibilities, Maggie always tried to make time for herself. She truly believed that self growth was the greatest form of success, so she also gave herself time alone to unwind. This tradition started her first semester of college: once a month, she would plan a night completely to herself. No matter what her friends or family were doing, she would make a cup of tea, read a book, or watch a movie. She spent time with herself to relax and reflect. Maggie would always say that being busy is not a reason to ignore self reflection, but it demands it. She would always joke about the fact that Gandhi would meditate for two hours instead of one on his busiest days, but Pico Iyer’s article proves that to be true. He writes, “it’s precisely those who are busiest who most need to give themselves a break” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1). Maggie worked hard to balance a demanding schedule with a need for her mental well-being, and she taught us all to do the same.
	Beyond any personal or work successes, Maggie’s biggest devotion was to the people surrounding her. She worked to foster collaboration and community, both at work and at home. At her job, she was a frontrunner for cooperative teamwork in business. She believed in the importance of having mentors for advice and guidance. At Notre Dame, Maggie was exposed to a large network of talented, successful people who wanted to impart wisdom to later graduates. Meruelo Career Center at Notre Dame urges students to take advantage of their resources to “reap the benefits and establish a satisfying professional life” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4). She connected with alumni, older students, guest speakers, and professors to help her learn more about the business world and how to navigate its difficulties. Not only did these connections help her to choose the best path for her talents, but they also proved the importance of community. Maggie truly felt it was her obligation to create a community of people she was proud to be a part of. Pope Francis said, “each and everyone's existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). Pope Francis believed that solidarity was the key to positive change. Likewise, Maggie promoted teamwork at her job and collaboration on difficult projects. She was supportive and kind, and prided herself on being someone her community could count on. She cared about the people around her; the center of her life was always focused on her friends and family.
	So what is a life well lived? It looks different for many people, but the most important part about a life is the impact it left. A life well lived is someone who used their talents to improve themselves and their world. Take Father Hesburgh, former president of Notre Dame, Maggie’s alma mater; he helped to ratify civil rights laws, turn Notre Dame into a prestigious school, and even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. According to the movie “Hesburgh”, Father Hesburgh “belonged to the side of a fundamental belief in the redeemability of mankind. I think he truly believed that he had lived the life the Father wanted him to do.” To Father Hesburgh, a life well lived was using your talents to leave a lasting impact (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2). Maggie did the same; she used her drive and intuition in business to grow the arts, and promoted collaboration through service and her work. However, the most important thing she did was for the people around her. She believed in personal growth. She believed in supporting others. She believed in diving headfirst into what you were passionate about. The legacy she leaves behind is just that; Maggie taught us all how to follow our passion in life, learn from our mistakes, and support others as they do the same. To me, that is a life well lived.