Week 14-Capstone Integration Three Peter O’Connor Moreau FYE Mr. Retartha 29 April, 2022 A personal mission statement is a declaration of the things that matter to you. It outlines what is important and what drives you. It is a collection of goals and morals that you adhere to everyday. My personal mission statement encompasses my experiences of the first nineteen years of my life and projects what I want for the future. In the past year my life has changed dramatically. Adjusting to college, living away from my family, meeting new people, and taking on new responsibilities. The following is a collection of advice on how to live a life well lived. The digital age is something unique to my generation. Everything we have ever done and ever will do will be recorded on the internet. We have unprecedented access to information and this has given us unbelievable opportunities and has also exposed us to unthinkable mistakes.“The amount of data humanity will collect while you’re reading The Art of Stillness is five times greater than the amount that exists in the entire Library of Congress.”(Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). Everyday we process an incomprehensible amount of data and information. Working on a computer provides us with more information than anyone else in history. In order to adhere to my mission statement and live the life I want to live it is important to have safe practices on the internet. No matter what you do, someone on the internet is going to hold you accountable. This new culture will always be prevalent and forces us to be our best selves as much as possible. We can take this as a https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ problem or as a challenge. I try to put my best foot forward everytime I venture on the internet and to shape my digital footprint the way I want to. The current age we live in is one of progress. The ability to shape the future and create a better world for everyone that lives in it is an inspiring fact. We have reached unprecedented levels of equality in all aspects of society and we will only further that in my lifetime. ”Father Hesburgh was one of the giants of the Civil Rights movement”(“Hesburgh” by Correta Scott King - Moreau FYE Week Two) To know that my university is forever connected with one of the greatest endeavors in American history is something that inspires me. Father Hesburgh was truly an American hero and someone that all Catholic and Notre Dame students should look up to. His drive for change is something that I want to see in my own life and something I want to bring to the world. Life is nothing without joy. It is what we strive for everyday and it is what makes life fulfilling. Joy can be found in the things that truly shape our lives. “Joy, on the other hand, is much deeper and much more central, it comes from within, and it’s a genuine rightness of how one lives one’s life.”(“Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three) A life well lived is not complete without a true sense of joy. Some things that bring me joy include my family, my friends, and Notre Dame. To achieve true joy is not an easy task but it is a rewarding goal. Joy can be found in reflection. Joy can be found in prayer. Joy can be found in the relationships I form. I look forward to finding joy today, I look forward to finding joy tomorrow, and I look forward to finding joy in my life. My career is always going to be an integral part of my life. Your job is where you spend most of your time in life and if it is something you love you will be a very happy person. “Planning your career is much like planning for a trip”(“Navigating Your Career Journey” by https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ Merulo Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). I know my desired career will be a difficult journey but is a journey I am excited to undertake. Doing multiple internships, networking with different people, and growing my technical skills are all important aspects of what I want to do. I want to have my career so I can provide a life for the people I love and accomplish the goals I have set for myself. The University of Notre Dame is going to enable me to achieve these career and life goals and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I have been given here. Reflection is an essential aspect of living a life that fulfills. Taking time out of your day to disconnect and focus on your personal growth is essential to be successful.“This means that the act of thinking about ourselves isn’t necessarily correlated with knowing ourselves.” (“The right way to be introspective( yes, there's a wrong way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). It is very easy to get caught up in what bothers you and what holds you back. It is important to think things through and analyze the bigger picture in your life. The journey of life is never going to be black and white and there are times where you will struggle. Knowing what matters to you and what drives you will make you a much better person and a much more understanding person. Taking the time to know yourself is an investment that is guaranteed to be successful. The most important thing in life is happiness. There is no doubt in my mind that happiness should be prioritized above all else. “Happiness can only be discovered as a gift of harmony between the whole and each single component” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Happiness comes in many different forms and many different ways. You can find happiness in the people you meet, the places you go, and the things you enjoy. Happiness and joy https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ 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 have a very interconnected relationship. Some things that bring me happiness are the New England Patriots, The Fighting Irish, the Boston Red Sox, my family, my friends, and the beach. These are all essential components to my life and things I want to prioritize. These things contribute to my overall happiness and are things I seek out in life. Compassion and empathy are essential qualities in anyone that thinks of themselves as a good person. “Look beyond your immediate concerns; show compassion and accompany one another.” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together ” by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine) Having an understanding for those around you and caring about other people in your life can be a source of joy for yourself and others. Listening to people’s feelings, helping in your community, and donating time and money to charities you care about is a great way to live a life well lived. Community service is something that has helped me grow as a person and is something I encourage everyone to undertake. The state of racial equality in this country should worry every American citizen. While we have made exceptional steps in the search of equality we still have a considerable distance to go. “If you are white I urge you to take the first step — let go of your racial certitude and reach for humility.” (“What It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” byRobin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten) It is undeniable that white people have been given a considerable advantage in life. Regardless of your economic situation white people have had an easier time with the justice system and police. The way to change this comes from a widespread change in culture. We must take steps to change the system and the way we view race and our own biases. A life well lived is not complete without racial equality. We have the ability to change things in this life and we must try. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit Today’s approach to political discord is dangerous. The two sides are further apart than they have ever been and this comes from lack of dialogue. ”Echo Chambers are more dangerous than bubbles” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber ” by Paul Blashko- Moreau FYE Week Eleven) We do not talk to people the way we used to. Everything is a competition and the otherside is always out to get us. Hyperbole and dishonesty are far too common in our current political state and must change. The best way to do this is to drop our biases and our reservations and try to have productive conversations with the people we disagree with. Many people do not realize how similar we all are and would rather live in a state of conflict because it is convenient. In the past three years we have lived through some truly life changing historical events. The COVID-19 pandemic and the summer of 2020 will be analyzed in history textbooks for generations to come. “Yes, I am alive, and George Floyd is dead. I can breathe; he cannot. But just because a police officer did not murder me or my children does not mean that he did not harm us.”(“I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something” by Marcus Cole- Moreau FYE Week Twelve). It is impossible to ignore the need for change and progress in our country. We cannot allow tragedies like George Floyd’s to be commonplace. We have the ability to change and we must. Overall, a life well lived is something achievable for all of us. We have our own individual hopes and dreams that we will try and achieve. We know what drives us and what is important. Our life has just begun and we are alive in the age of progress, technology, independence, and wonder. We know what we must do and I must say that I am excited to do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/