Grace McKenna
Professor Taylor
Moreau Experience
18 April, 2022
A Mission Turned to a Journey
My mission starts with others.  It is the reason why I am here and part of the reason why I am who I am.  Family is extremely important to me and I will always never leave their side.  I will continue to build deep personal relationships with all I meet.  I see each day as a clean slate, to not only start fresh, but to improve from the past.  To know the present is a true gift and both the good and bad build memories and shape or even reshape character.  I am a responsible student, teammate, and cadet who strives to challenge myself and those around me to be better.  I have the guts to fail, the love of risk, and understand that when I do fall, to not fall back, but to fall forward.  I will be a leader who learns from their mistakes and is decisive in decisions so I can serve a bigger mission.  A mission to serve a nation of people.  I know this purpose is bigger than myself, but due to my faith, support system, strong work ethic and discipline, I believe I can live the life I was intended to lead.  One where I hope to conquer my fears, to build relationships to last a lifetime, to be decisive and intelligent, but most importantly to grow in selflessness and humility.
Many values make up a life well lived.  Whether it be faith, family, love, and trust, or hope, humbleness, time, and community, it is often difficult to balance every trait, but even more difficult to stop and think about the situation before acting on it.  For one could stay motivated and work hard, two important values in living a good life, but if they do it in an arrogant way neglecting humbleness and the support they received, is it really a worthy victory?  As a result, life becomes much more complicated than what lies on the surface.  However, having role models is a good first step.  Modeling after Father Hesburgh, a man where “everywhere you looked, he was always there and doing,” one can follow an example of someone who accomplished so much by simply remembering the core values of a successful life ("Hesburgh" by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley-Moreau FYE Week 2).  He was a great leader who helped bring the University of Notre Dame alive, advocated for the civil rights movement, met with many other leaders to learn, advise, and bring the world together, all while staying down to earth and true to his first concern: the students at Notre Dame.  Though he was extremely busy, he always had time for his students and focused on building strong relationships with those who were open to it.  However, many in this world fail to recognize the importance of relationships and instead, as Pope Francis stated, “people’s paths are riddled with suffering, as everything is centered with money and things, instead of people” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis-Moreau FYE Week 7).  With every new generation, society becomes more technologically advanced, prices go up, competition continues.  People lose sight of the true meaning of life and instead place their priorities in material goods that can never provide happiness.  
Ironically, it is “the very people…who have worked to speed up the world are the same ones most sensitive to the virtue of slowing down” ("Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer-Moreau FYE Week One).  In Silicon Valley, the location of the biggest technological companies where that same competition and materialism has sparked, employees have done the opposite that society teaches.  They take breaks to meditate, have quiet hours to reflect, and some do not even own the Iphones or the other devices they create.  They understand the importance of taking time for oneself as well as others, specifically in the way they place reflection as a key to personal growth.  This self-reflection allows for one to have a greater self awareness of their actions, helping them to pause and understand what really matters in their life.  However, according to psychologist Anthony Grant, “introspection can cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a whole host of unintended consequences” (The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There's a Wrong Way) by Tasha Eurich-Moreau FYE Week 6).  Though self-reflection is necessary to develop self awareness, sometimes looking internal can cause mental instability or a fixated mind.  It becomes a mental game where reflection turns into doubts and a “why me” mindset.  This is why people need strong relationships to provide different perspectives to eliminate tunnel vision and focusing only on one side. Maybe it is a deep conversation with a loved one to get back on the right path or a simple wake up call screaming, “God doesn’t make sh!t” ("Growing up Gay and Catholic” by Jacob Walsh, Grotto-Moreau FYE Week 10).  With every unique person that is special and perfect in God’s eyes, one can realize their importance in humanity and respect all who cross their path.  Though some people will teach you how not to be, while others will stay in your life forever, all people should be valued, accepted, and loved. 
However, just like society is consumed in wealth, status, technology, it too has built habits that have neglected specific groups of people.  It teaches to “surround ourselves with people who agree with us,” and as a result,  “we lose our sense of how someone might reasonably disagree” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul Blaschko -Moreau FYE WEEK 11).  Instead of learning from the opposing view, we outcast them immediately.  Losing the self-reflection, the tunnel vision resumes and relationships become strained and even some segregated.  Yet, a respected lawyer at the University of Notre Dame G. Marcus Cole provides a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that turns the complex system of racism into a simple one.  He quotes King saying, “I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other, and they don’t communicate with each other because they are separated from each other” (“Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.” by Marcus Cole, Dean of Notre Dame Law School-Moreau FYE Week 12).  Humanity fails to simply have the conversation, to bring people together.  This is a huge issue in the world today and even harder to reverse.  However, like everything in life “it’s not a one-step process,” but rather “every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at that time or not” ("Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development-Moreau Week 4).  Even though racism is such a deeply rooted issue, small steps to bring people together and have the hard conversations, can then lead to relationships that can reshape the world.  For it is through relationships that creates the shout amongst the whispers, the unique amongst the crowd, the change amongst the ordinary.  As Professor Steve Reifenberg explains, “Solidarity is about our relationship with the other, and through the practice of accompaniment we make it real and move it forward” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9).   Though solidarity is described as standing in union with another, it also serves a bigger purpose.  One that society desperately needs.  It is not just for the people who can speak for the voiceless, but for the voiceless to gain their voice.  Only then can a new voice be heard to break the stereotypes and for all to learn for the better. 
Simply put life is a broad spectrum of so many different opinions, values, people, perspectives, issues, beauties, and more.  However, by breaking each phase down, life can be simple.  Like Sr. Theresa Aletheia, a sister from the Daughters of St. Paul preaches everyday in life that “you are going to die,” we all must try to live to the fullest each day ("Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die" by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week 3).  Though some view this message as a morbid thought, life and death are connected.  Time runs out and people are left with wondering what they did or accomplished.  If society welcomes death in a new way—wasting no time so one can live to the fullest—then all people can be more motivated to reach their goals, say yes to new opportunities, and engage with people or situations they never thought they could.  Whether it be remembering Father Hesburgh, taking time to self-reflect, building long lasting and trusting relationships, or breaking society’s stereotypes, humanity has the power to improve, change, and affect the world in a positive light.  It is in this power where one must choose to take risks, say yes, reach out a helping hand, but most importantly, to keep a personal mission statement close to their heart, editing and deleting along the way, on the mysterious, difficult, and wonderful path we call life.