Moreau FYE
Mike
Capstone Integration
4/23/22
 
October 12, 2002--Present: The Development of ’s Faith, Academics, Family, and Athletics
 
 
As a man of faith, academics, family, and athletics, I strive to promote the well-being of all who I encounter. I try…
 
As a brother in Christ, I try to grow deeper in my faith with my fellow Catholics. I try to embody the life of Christ as much as I can, and help others do the same. When they fail, I help them get back on track; when I fail, I accept their embrace. I try to help the poor, just as Jesus called us to do. I try not to judge others for their difference of opinions, and instead accept the diverse community that God created. I try to maintain a good relationship with God, never pushing him off for other things.
 
As someone who enjoys growing in knowledge, I try to diversify my intellectual capabilities as much as I can. I try to learn about different cultures, languages, subjects, and areas of the world. I try to spread my knowledge to others so as to help them grow in perspective. I try to gain knowledge and experiences that will help me achieve my dreams.
 
As a family man, I try to make the most of time spent with my family. I try to create new experiences with my family, so that we can recall the fun times we had. I try to help my family if they are in need because of the help they have given me. I try to make my family proud in my own, independent ways. I try to thank my family as often as I can.
 
As a runner, I try to enjoy the beauty in the world. I try to maintain a constant speed, just as in life. I try to not get tired, although sometimes I do. I try to keep hydrated so that I may comfortably enjoy the rest of my run. I try to encourage others who are struggling through the marathon that life is. I try to keep a constant heart rate.
 
I try, so that when it is all said and done, I can confidently say “I tried my best.”
 
 
        	Different people have very different opinions of others. My roommate has a different opinion of me than my mom, and my mom has a different opinion of me than my brother (Discernment Conversion Activity - Moreau FYE Week Five). Not everyone sees all sides of me, but I am a shape with several different sides. Throughout my entire life, I was surrounded by Catholics. My dad was Catholic, and many of my friends were, too. I never recognized what being Catholic was until my junior year of high school. I was invited by one of my lifelong friends to a youth group. I accepted her invitation, but was hesitant. In short, this one trip turned into dozens of weekly prayer nights, many retreats, and an incredible group of friends. I specifically remember one retreat when all we did for a straight week was go to impoverished communities and serve them in some way. This service week stuck with me, and I have tried to implement it the best I can at Notre Dame. For example, I am an active member in TESOL club. Every few weeks, I go to English Conversation Tables, during which we help acclimate immigrants to their new community. Many people need help, and do not always express it. “When challenges [for these immigrants] occur, as they always do, walking together, you’re less likely to be arrogant and think you have all the solutions” (Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). We are all human and need help in one way or another. Notre Dame has taught me that being a Catholic means putting others before oneself, and rooting God in all that one does. Although these immigrants are vastly different from myself, I try my best to understand where they are coming from, and the problems that they are having. I have made several deep connections with immigrants who regularly attend these conversation nights. It is incredibly heartwarming to see the progress that these people make week in and week out. Although these people have undoubtedly gone through more struggles than I have, I avoid this fact by treating them for what they are: human beings.
        	In accordance with serving others, I try to spread my knowledge to the best of my ability. As a prospective doctor, my future job will certainly involve making others feel comfortable about rather complex diseases, surgeries, etc. I have tried to develop my capacity for helping others in a health-related setting here at Notre Dame. So, I became involved with the Brain Exercise Initiative, a national organization that desires to help keep the minds of elderly people sharp. I have made several trips to a local retirement home, where I run through various exercises with elderly people who are experiencing dementia. Having had a line of family members develop Alzheimer’s, this work was very personal to me. I am sure many elderly people feel lonely. Jacob Walsh described his experience with loneliness as a gay Catholic (Growing Up Gay and Catholic by Jacob Walsh - Moreau Week Ten). He highlighted the fact that it only takes one kind person to change the life of someone who is experiencing loneliness. Although sometimes this work seems redundant and even useless at times, it may give an elderly person a great sense of joy. While it is sometimes difficult to find meaning in life, it can undoubtedly be given by strangers. Repeatedly interacting with these eldery people and performing various activities with them may be the reason they smile that day.
        	Along with supporting strangers, I try to support my family. This past year has thrown my family for a loop: my dad finished a lawsuit from four years ago; we sold our house in the county after having it on the market for two years; we moved into a tiny apartment in the city; my grandma died 3 days before I came to college; we had a pet die; my family bought a house, had second doubts, and sold the house…twice. Having moved to college, it was a lot harder to check up on my family members. But, checking up on them this past year was more important than ever. I needed to remember that “suffering is always a part of our life…it is how you handle it that counts” (5 Minutes by Grotto - Moreau FYE Week Six). Although I was busier than ever, I needed to make sure the people who supported me my entire life were happy. I call my mom, dad, brother, and grandma once a week, even if I am super busy. Sometimes I am going through a rough patch, and sometimes one of my family members is going through a hard time. These calls are mutually beneficial, and make me even more grateful for my family when I am five hundred miles away. Further, “Suffering and death are facts of life. Focusing only on the ‘bright and shiny’ is superficial and inauthentic. ‘We try to suppress the thought of death, or escape it, or run away from it, because we think that’s where we will find happiness,’ she said. ‘But it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them” (Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). The struggle and happiness that life will undoubtedly consist of is part of what makes us stronger. This past year has proven to make my family tighter than ever. 
        	While balancing all of these important facets of my life, I need to create a life of balance. I need to recognize that I cannot do “it all.” Moreover, I need to know when to further my faith family, serve strangers, help my family, and give myself a break. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and a limited number of years that a person has. What one chooses to do in that time period is up to them. However, one needs to try to achieve a balance between one’s passions in life. While we are all very different, we can try to connect in one way or another. One may ask, “what do they care about that I care about that I can leverage to move them in my direction” (Passion Isn't Enough by Hidden Brain Media - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). My year in college has helped me balance all of the important aspects of my life: classes, calling my friends and family, football games and tailgates, and my faith life. While it has been challenging at times, it has helped me discover more about myself and my priorities. Specifically, I have come to realize that I can not work nonstop; I need time to rest, time to pray, and time to hang out with friends. I can be as successful as I want in my schoolwork. Yet, that will get me nowhere if I am unhappy, and I have no genuine experiences, both with my friends and with God. Notre Dame has made God, knowledge, friends, and fun readily available to me. While I struggled to balance these in the first semester, I have grown to develop a sense of balance, which I am sure to use throughout the rest of my life.
In conclusion, a life under the golden dome has guided me into a life of faith, academics, family, and athletics… “I am committed to doing three things to change this world for the better. Please join me” (I am George Floyd. Except I can breathe. And I can do something by Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). As I continue throughout my college career, I hope to develop my cultural awareness through TESOL; I hope to continue my passion for running and physical activity; I hope to further my relationship with God with my fellow Duncan men; I hope to grow in knowledge so that I may use it to bring good health to my future patients; I hope to give back to my family in a meaningful way once I have a job, while also continuing my bond with them throughout my college years; I hope to strengthen my friendships in my dorm, classes, and throughout the campus community. In reflecting on all of these things, I recalled the balanced life as Father Hesburgh did. He changed the lives of all those around him in a meaningful, lasting way (Hesburgh Film by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). By bringing my passions to Notre Dame, and bringing Notre Dame into my passions, I hope to make a lasting impact on the Notre Dame community, as well as on the world. Father Hesburgh’s impact was not restricted to Notre Dame’s campus. Rather, it’s heart was placed on Notre Dame’s campus, but his knowledge, love, kindness, and impact was spread throughout the world. The Notre Dame community, along with many others, are forever grateful for the lasting impact that Father Hesburgh left on the world. I too, hope to have this effect when it is all said and done