Capstone Integration - The Good Life What is the good life, or a life well-lived? Many philosophers have strived to �nd the answer to this existential question, but each answer is di�erent for each person. I believe that to pursue a life well-lived, I should deepen my understanding, embrace my gratitude, tend to those in need, and achieve a state of mindfulness. Creating a lifestyle around these practices will give me a meaningful life, and sculpt me into a better person. The �rst step to pursuing a life well-lived, one has to live their life. Many people tend to act irrationally to the fear that their days are coming to an end, however, one should focus on making well-thought-out decisions. As Lyer stated, "The very people, in short, 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). One should focus on gaining a radical mindset and making the most of their day. By living each day, with a new purpose, and goal in mind, one can come to achieve small milestones. However, one must know that their time is limited on earth. As Sister Aletheia said, “We naturally tend to think of our lives as kind of continuing and continuing…Remembering death keeps us awake, focused, and ready for whatever might happen — both the excruciatingly di�cult and the breathtakingly beautiful” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). Knowing the limited time that one has, she never turned down an opportunity. We should strive to live like Sister Aletheia to truly appreciate our days and live a life embracing gratitude and mindfulness. Apart from making each day count, one should always put self-care �rst. However, doing it to an extent as one “can spend endless amounts of time in self-re�ection but emerge with no more self-insight than when we started”(“The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau Week Six). One should journal to keep count of the lows, and highs of their days, to become more appreciative of their lives. I believe that with this practice one will �nd what gives their life meaning. After �nding what factors make you want to wake up every morning to pursue your life, then you should work towards keeping them beside you. However, this self-care can only go so far, one must also aspire for self-love, and believe in themselves. As Jacob pointed out, “I think you don’t believe God loves you because you don’t love yourself,” he told me. “You don’t believe you can be loved. You think if people knew the real you, they wouldn’t love you either” (“Growing up Gay and Catholic” by Jacob Walsh - Moreau FYE Week Ten). To have a good life, one must believe that they are good enough for it. If one does not believe in themselves, then how can they believe that they will meet their aspirations in life? One should constantly practice achieving this mindset that they can do anything they set their mind to, and should not close any doors due to fear that they are not good enough. During my time at Notre Dame, I want to nurture this mindset, and not let myself degrade my abilities to strive as a student or person. https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/#:~:text=We%20can%20spend%20endless%20amounts,of%20Sydney%20psychologist%20Anthony%20M. https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/community/reflective-narrative-about-being-gay-and-catholic/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/community/reflective-narrative-about-being-gay-and-catholic/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 Having self-care is good to an extent, however, one should seek towards helping others as well. My mission in life consists of building a better future for younger generations and I will achieve this by helping create a brighter and more peaceful environment. By uniting my community, and seeking my great desire for peace, I will make a ripple in the water, leaving an impact on those who surround me. Just like Father Hesburgh, she “loved to watch people who didn’t agree with anything get in a room and bridge all of that” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley, Moreau FYE Week Two). I want to live a life �lled with peace, even though there is no sign of it. By participating in community service clubs on campus such as Operation Smiles, and Best Buddies, I will be able to make a di�erence, even if it is a small one. I also want to live a life where I strive for equality regardless of one’s ethnicity, belief, gender, and culture. At Notre Dame, I am a woman in STEM, and every day I strive towards pushing down the gender stereotypes inside engineering. I am Director of Social Media in the Society of Women Engineering (SWE), and throughout my time at ND, I want to grow into becoming an in�uential member of the club. All humanity is equal, and no one should be treated otherwise. According to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, “All of us as a single brotherhood are joined in one communal response to the Lord’s mission” (“Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross - 2: Mission, paragraphs 9-14 Search” - Moreau FYE Week 12). There is great importance in surrounding ourselves with those who di�er from us, as that is how one becomes more knowledgeable. According to Dr. Blaschko, we should be "intentional about the information we expose ourselves to…" ("Big Questions 2, Part 4: How to Avoid an Echo Chamber" by Dr. Paul Blaschko, Moreau FYE Week 11). At Notre Dame, I want to interact with people from all walks of life, and ultimately learn from their experiences. To live a life well-lived, one must surround themselves with people who give meaning to their life. Creating friendships with those who cross your path, and never hesitate to take the initiative to be someone one could count on. I want to live by the words of Pope Francis, “The Future You: the future is made of yous, it is made of encounters because life �ows through our relations with others” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” TED Talk by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). I want to create meaningful friendships and become a friend that encourages and motivates others. A life well-lived can not be lived in solidarity with just one person, as humanity is meant to form deep connections and should always be based on goodness and love. At Notre Dame, I want to continue building relations with my peers and strengthen my friendships. I will always work towards the student body conquering challenges academically, emotionally, and spiritually together. Reifenberg states, "The beauty of using accompaniment is blurring the lines between them and us, doctor and patient, donor and recipient, expert and novice. Instead, we are partners, walking together towards a better future." ("Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together" by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). As an engineer, I believe in the importance of teamwork and want to continue growing in being a good teammate. https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://holycrosscongregation.org/holy-cross-resources/constitutions/2-mission/ https://holycrosscongregation.org/holy-cross-resources/constitutions/2-mission/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39639/modules/items/147236 https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit At Notre Dame, I aspire to continue strengthening these virtues and involve them in my everyday life. Through clubs, intramural sports, and classes, I will ful�ll these dynamics, and devote my time and energy to nurturing my mind, soul, and heart. My freshman year has been one of the most important places that will allow me to continually �nd myself, and cultivate my mindset.