My Personal Mission Statement: Many want to know what people see when they look at them. The image we project is one of the driving forces to the way that people act. How people I do not know think of me is of little concern to myself; however, the way that I present myself to the people I care about most is one of the things that I tend to orient my life around. My goal in life has always been to make the people around me proud of the person that I have become and the happiness that I have obtained. I am the youngest of three in my family, with two older sisters leading the way ahead of me. They are six and seven years older than me, so my relationship with them has not always been extremely close. We never went school together, and they were out of the house, at college, by the time I was 13 years old. Although they are a lot older than me, I love them beyond all measure, and I strive to be as successful as they have become in the future. The love that I have for my family is something that always pushes me to be a better person, because, as I mentioned earlier, I strive to make them proud. I will always orient myself around my family because they are who my life revolves around. I have made some friendship that I hope will last the rest of my life, and I will do everything in my power to keep those friendships, but one thing that I know will never leave me, regardless of any circumstance, is my family. Although to some, orienting your life around a group of people may be an unhealthy way of living, the life that I desire as a result of my family’s values is as healthy a way of living as there is. I know that the life that will make my family most proud, is the life where I am most happy, and I know that my family will be by my side as I strive towards the best, most joyous life that I am able to lead. The Almighty Prize By John Graney This is my mission and goal in life. To be a man the people I love can be proud to know. If I can look back at my life, and know that I made the people around me happy, I will then be a truly happy man myself. To become this man I have devised a three step plan: love the world around me, find my place to make a change in the world, and open myself up to its endless possibilities. With the help of my Moreau First Year Experience course, I can gladly say that this process has already began and I can also say that the path the rest of my college career and life will lead has become a lot less clouded as a result of the knowledge I’ve gained during these first two semesters. With this three step plan and my personal mission fueling my life going forward, I am confident I can obtain the priceless prize of a life well lived. Appreciation: There are people in this world whose lives have gone through torment that we can hardly ever imagine. People such as Dr. Kim who lost his ability to walk as a result of a freak snowboarding accident. Before the accident Dr. Kim was a young man who dreamed of opening his own sushi restaurant. After the incident; however, that was no longer an option for Kim. There were two reactions that this could have had on him. He could have given up, lived off his social security and been upset about the things that he had lost, or he could persevere and strive to better himself and find peace in his situation. I took a quote from this video that summarizes a point of view that we all should try to incorporate into our lives. “We often focus on the things we do not have” (5 Minutes by Aria Swarr- Moreau FYE Week 6). This story and quote spoke to me as a Gateway perhaps more than the average person, in that many of my fellow Gateway classmates feel mistreated by the Notre Dame community. They get upset with how we are treated in comparison to full time Notre Dame students as they look through their instagrams and feel resentment towards these students. With this point of view, how could you be anything but sad and angry? In week one we read an article by Pico Iyer which speaks about the chaotic society that has been created by technology. He states that “The need for an empty space, a pause, is something we have all felt in our bones;” (“Why We Need to Slow our Lives Down” by Pico Iyer- Moreau FYE Week 1). Instead of feeling sorry for myself, wishing I were a full time ND student, I have tried to focus on the wonderful opportunity that the Gateway program has bestowed upon me and my many Gateway friends. During my next three years at Notre Dame I am going to keep positive by taking time in my day to step away from the pressures of the world and take a moment to truly be grateful for all that I have. These moments of pure appreciation are vital to gaining a more complete perspective on life and it is going to be something I plan on integrating into the remainder of my college career. The glass-half-full point of view is something that we all need to carry along with us as we travel through the remainder of our Notre Dame careers, and our lives as a whole. Comment by Taylor Kelly: Thanks so much for making this connection to your experience as a Gateway student this year. Well done! Comment by Taylor Kelly: I agree that a glass half-full perspective one is a helpful one to have. Can you be specific about how you plan to bring that perspective over the next three years? What will that look like for you on a daily or weekly basis? Making a Change: For a while I struggled with how I could make an impact on the world. I didn’t see a way that I could make a worthwhile difference, and it truly bothered me deep within myself. When we attend a University with figures like Father Hesburgh leading the way, it is hard to feel that we could ever live up to such an unbelievable standard, and the truth is, we don’t. We don’t all have to be public figures that Father Hesburgh was, but the important thing that we should all carry along with us is the message that he was trying to give to us. “If it’s (government) is doing things that invades peoples’ rights or won’t advance human rights, then the civil rights commission ought to speak out and say something.” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley- Moreau FYE Week 2). This quote comes from the Hesburgh documentary back in week 2 of Moreau. This quote was said by none other than Father Hesburgh himself and it is a testament to his message that we should stand up for the things we believe in. Of course not all of us are in the position to make changes on the level of the National government, but that is not the point. We are all in a position to make a change in this world, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. “I cannot do this alone. Each of us must do what we can, wherever we are.” (I am George Floyd. Except, I can Breathe. And I can do Something. By Dean G Marcus Cole, Moreau FYE Week 12). Although he was making such magnificent strides I think that Father Hesburgh would agree wholeheartedly with this quote from Week 12 and it transitions nicely into the most impactful changes I have made in my life. The way that I have found my way to make a change has been through the inclusion of others through education. Throughout high school, I partook in a variety of different community service events, but the one that stood out to me as the place I could make the most impact was while volunteering for the Challenger Baseball League. This league taught children with special needs how to play baseball. This event not only created the temporary effect of a great day, but the everlasting love and appreciation of the game of baseball that came afterwards. “‘To accompany is to help the person take their own destiny in their hands and allow that their voice to be heard’ ” (Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together by Steven Reifenberg, Moreau FYE Week 9) To leave these children with something they can cherish forever is why we go out and make a difference. I will continue to look for ways in which I can give back to the community during my time here at Notre Dame because bringing people up alongside myself is one of the sure ways in which I can obtain joyous growth going forward. One group in particular I have looked into joining as I move on to Notre Dame’s campus is the Best Buddies Program. This program gives necessary one on one friendships to children with Special needs in the South Bend community and it is a truly amazing cause that I think would a truly rewarding experience. Comment by Taylor Kelly: Thanks again for including another great example that you have already experienced, in this case, you experience with the Challenger Baseball League. Since this paper is supposed to be forward thinking to the next three years, can you be more specific about the ways you plan to give back to the community over the next three years? What are the specific groups you want to get involved with? Opening Up: As humans it is easy to surround ourselves with people that are very similar to us and share our same views and ideologies. These people make us feel comfortable and they reassure our beliefs. Although this is comfortable, are we ever really growing? I think that one of the most important parts of growing into the wise, is surrounding yourself with a variety of viewpoints to develop your own personal perspective, as well as allowing different points of view to express themselves. In week 11, we learned about echo chambers and the dangers that they can have in stifling important, relevant viewpoints. A definition of these echo chambers is described here, “Echo Chamber: a social structure from which relevant voices have been actively discredited. ” (How to Avoid an Echo Chamber by Dr Paul Blaschko, Moreau FYE Week 11). When we allow for only a single point of view to take hold of an area, certain viewpoints are completely disregarded even when they hold value. As I continue to look for opportunities to learn and expand upon my wisdom, I will avoid these echo chambers and place myself in areas where all sorts of viewpoints are accepted. Here at Notre Dame I do feel that we have a variety of viewpoints and this fact is vital to my love for the university and its christian community. The community that has been created here has left a diverse collection of minds in one place and I will continue to be as outgoing as possible in a way that allows for me to take full advantage of the various viewpoints Notre Dame has to offer. A source we looked at in week 12 states that, “One of the essential tests of social justice within any Christian community is its abiding spirit of inclusion.” (Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame Author N/A, Moreau FYE Week 10). This inclusion mention I believe attains to both inclusion of different types of people, but also a variety of viewpoints. This idea of opening up I think has two sides that are equally important to developing the person I am today and want to continue becoming in the future. The first part I went over above involves opening up to all sorts of people and points of view, but the second part involves more opening up to the world itself and the opportunities that lie outside of our comfort zone. Just as we must move outside of comfort in terms of who we surround ourselves with, we must also look outward to find knowledge that cannot be attained within the comfortable town of South Bend. Way back in week 4 we talked about career opportunities, and one of the main pieces of advice was to “ … just get out and experience life! ” (Navigating Your Career Journey by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development- Moreau FYE Week 4). Although it is seemingly simple advice, its relevance should not be lost as we move closer and closer to starting a career. This same message was carried even further by Pope Francis himself in week 7 when he said that “They (fears of never achieving happiness) can be overcome if we do not lock our door to the outside world ” (Why the only Future Worth Building includes Everyone by Pope Francis- Moreau FYE Week 7). This message is especially relevant to folks who are not happy in their current situation. I have seen far too many people remain in an unhappy place due to fears of what going elsewhere may bring. Having such a fearful, closed mindset will do nothing but limit the amount of happiness you are capable of and limit the opportunities you are able to take advantage of. During my discernment conversation with my father in week 5, this was something that he wanted me to make sure that I continue to work on going forward. He mentioned my time as child when I was reluctant to try new things when I wasn’t proficient in the task immediately and this characteristic prevented me from riding a bike for a concerning amount of time. He assured me in this discernment conversation that “it is okay to fail” and expressed to me that only through failure can you learn to be better. I have been training for the last six months to try out for the Notre Dame football team this summer. I know that the chances of making the team are not great, but I know that I have become a better, more healthy person as a result of this journey I have decided to embark on. I am confident that regardless of the outcome, I will be a happy person. I will continue to work on this attribute of excepting failure so that hopefully by the time I die, I will have lived my life with no regrets. Knowing that our lives are finite is something that we must all take advantage of in our day to day lives. Without the known ending that is to come, each day may feel like it has little to no meaning. I like to think about the end when things may seem blue because doing so helps me keep things in perspective. In week 3, we learned about a nun who preaches and practices a meditation on death. She said that “The practice of regular meditation on death is a venerable one.”(Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die by Ruth Graham- Moreau FYE Week 3). Although I wouldn’t go as far to say I meditate on death, having the knowledge and active thought that our lives are meaningful and finite is crucial to living a life worth living. Comment by Taylor Kelly: Thanks for drawing in this example from growing up! Conclusion: As I look into my future here at Notre Dame, and the future that lies beyond my college career I feel excitement. Many feel fear, angst, and discomfort with the idea of the unknown, but as a result of my time here in Moreau I can truly say that I have found a path that will lead me in the foreseeable future. Although this path my have creeks and caverns, I will continue to rely on the people I care about most to build me bridges along the way. I am truly grateful for the experiences this class has given me and I will carry them with me as I strive for the almighty prize that no amount of money or success can buy: A life well lived.