- Intergration 2 Viggiano 1 Catherine Wagner Moreau First Year Experience 3 December 2021 Michael’s Moreau Exploration of New Ideas and Reflection Through my Moreau journey, I challenged many of my previous beliefs through new information provided and in-class discussions. I believe challenging my views on various topics is essential because, with the latest knowledge, you can either reaffirm and strengthen your belief or change your mind as you see the idea in a new way. This was apparent through each of the last four weeks of Moreau and helped me grow as both a student and person. During Week 9, I encountered examining the uneasy feelings that come with college. When transitioning from high school to university, we are faced with all new challenges. In one of the texts we read, Julian Hogan stated, “Additionally, when you let your self-worth depend on the approval of others, disappointing them feels like the most devastating thing in the world” (“Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit” by Julian Hogan - Moreau FYE Week Nine). She explained that when we create our goals based on what others expect, we are trying to achieve what they want and not what we truly want. In class, we discussed the new stresses that come with college, like not fulfilling the expectations of others and not feeling like you belong. I came into college to get A’s in all of my classes, and I believed it would be achievable if I worked hard enough. However, I realized classes were a lot harder than I expected through the first semester as I struggled in a few. I started feeling like maybe I didn’t belong here and would be disappointing my parents if I didn’t get that perfect GPA. After the class discussion, I found that I wasn’t the only one struggling with this. I now see that everyone goes through these https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/health-and-wellness/letting-go-of-expectations/ Viggiano 2 struggles, and talking about them with others is a great way to realize this. After Week 9, I found it necessary to set my own goals that wouldn’t overwhelm me and block out what others expect me to do. Also, I learned that even if I don’t achieve these goals, that if I worked hard and put my best foot forward, that it was okay. During Week 10, I encountered the challenges that society faces with brokenness and division. We've always have had problems in society when it comes to brokenness and division, but, today more than ever, it is more prevalent. We live in a community with many relevant social injustice issues and a harsh political divide. Therefore, we must look for a way in which we could solve and aid these issues. One quote that embodies this was from Father Jenkins, "Both sides call for change, but each believes it's the other side that must change" ("Wesley Theological Seminary Commencement" by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week Ten). This quote shows that we find more wrong with the opposing side than the topic of disagreement. If, as a society, we could change this narrative and focus more on solving problems than fighting with each other, we could change for the better. In class, we discussed ways in which we can heal this brokenness. The point that stuck with me the most was when we talked about the art of kintsugi. One person brought up how certain things that are broken and put back together are stronger than what they were before they were broken. In the words of Kelly Clarkson, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That was a reassuring point for me because it is hard to see the world's state right now. Thinking that maybe with healing, we can be in a better place than we were before all these problems makes me optimistic for the future. One question I asked myself this week was how I could help in this process of healing? I believe that I can influence others to learn about current social issues in an unbiased political way. If I don't https://president.nd.edu/homilies-writings-addresses/wesley-theological-seminary-commencement/ https://president.nd.edu/homilies-writings-addresses/wesley-theological-seminary-commencement/ Viggiano 3 associate the predicament with either political side, it would be less controversial, and with this, we can work to find change in this world. During Week 11, I encountered the benefits of learning about other communities. I always knew how important it was for me to diversify myself about experiencing new communities; however, I never experienced so many different communities until I got to Notre Dame. Professor Agustin Fuentes states, "Exposure and access to different viewpoints & life experiences offer insight and changes biases" ("Diversity Matters" by Professor Agustin Fuentes - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). This quote expresses the importance of learning from others. In class, we talked about how at Notre Dame, we will encounter various communities. If we take time to educate ourselves about these groups' cultures, traditions, and beliefs, we can come to appreciate them even more. The one thing that I thought was more "black and white" and now more ambiguous is how many groups there are. In class, we talked not just about ethnicity, but beliefs, socio-economic statuses, and more. These factors apply to all people, which means there are more subdivided groups than I thought. However, I feel that we don't have to classify everyone we meet. I don't believe that we have to know someone's socio-economic status to learn what they think and feel as a person. Overall, the week gave me more clarity on learning about other communities but more uncertainty about classifying people. During Week 12, I encountered experiencing and finding hope even in tough times. I have always found hope in looking ahead to the future. I have goals that I want to achieve, and I experience hope by aiming to work hard now to achieve them. However, when times get rough, it blurs your vision, and it becomes more challenging to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When I came to Notre Dame, I ended up finding hope in a place where I would never expect. James B King states, "Striving for completeness means spending one's life as a citizen of this https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=d14a0472-9c0e-44ea-bd39-53c67ee1d436 Viggiano 4 world imitating the person of Christ as the gateway to citizenship in heaven. On this bedrock principle, all faith and thus all human hope rests" ("Holy Cross and Christian Education" by Rev. James B. King, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). While in college, I found that I could find hope through my faith. I grew up as a Catholic, but I never really went to church every week. Since being here, I've been going to Mass every week. I feel that the Catholic traditions of Notre Dame have grown me closer to my relationship with God. Now, I look to him for guidance through tough times in college. The Week 12 work in Moreau helped me realize how much my faith has transformed since being here. I can now clearly see that I will never lose hope in God, which will help guide me through my Notre Dame journey and beyond. At the end of my first semester Moreau Experience, I can look back and appreciate the class because every week brought a new topic to examine. I felt that I slowly better understood myself each week through the readings, videos, discussions, and assignments. I believe that I wouldn’t be as optimistic, knowledgeable, or curious about new ideas if I didn’t take this course. It was a great learning experience because taking the time to examine yourself as you are going through a significant transition can help it seem not as scary. Thank you so much for facilitating the class and being such a great teacher! https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/24970/files/188305?module_item_id=105110