Mark Padilla


To Embody That Which I Am


I believe that I am searching for acceptance, a sense of belonging, and for the next four years to be something I can call the best years of my life. Vulnerability is something that I most certainly struggle with during times like these, however, I believe that after getting past all of the stress and negative emotions, we will eventually find the joy or light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that one needs to build up the courage inside to become vulnerable to those around them, which most likely leads to a sense of belonging when they are finally understood or acknowledged. According to Brene Brown, “ They believe that what made them vulnerable, made them beautiful. They didn't talk about vulnerability being comfortable, nor it being excruciating, as I heard it earlier in the shame interview, they just talked about it being necessary. They talked about the willingness to say I love you first. The willingness to do something where there are no guarantees.” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One) Being vulnerable isn't something that can magically come with ease; however, it is something that we can work towards showing because getting past all of the uncomfortable and bad feelings inevitably leads to emotions like joy. With this, I believe I would be able to find what I am searching for throughout my time at Notre Dame.

I believe that I forge life-giving relationships by simply being myself and socializing. I believe that trying to project yourself to being something you’re not can be very detrimental to the well-being of a person, because, at that point, the person may like you but not for who you truly are. The initial step of starting a conversation, which is likely the hardest part, is over. What’s next is growing along with those people and slowly building up a connection. In the text, it says, “If the majority of the things that come out of your friend’s mouth is a complaint or has some sort of a negative angle, you’re probably not having the most fun with them.” ( 5 Signs You're in a Toxic Friendship, by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four) Those people who share similar values as you will most likely stay and become your best of friends. At Notre Dame, joining clubs are a good way to meet great people. Once you have a sizable amount of people you know, you can start to filter those that will look out for you or not. I believe that by continuing to be yourself, you get to filter out all of the people that don’t necessarily have to be in your life. I don’t mean to say that those filtered out are bad people, however, they may not be the best fit for you to keep a long-term relationship with that person.

I believe that I grow by being surrounded by those who care about my wellbeing. Those that are doing well themselves can provide the assistance I need to stay on track. Surrounding myself with people who show mutual care for our success can not only help me grow but they grow as well. I believe that my community should be the best it can be at any time, any place. I believe that a sense of community is essential when it comes to the overall growth of a person or group of people. A sense of community can greatly affect how a person performs in any setting. With a sense of community, one feels more involved, and when we help those in the community, the community as a whole flourish. Back at home, we all encourage each other to go beyond our comfort zones and try new things. I not only enjoy being a part of a supportive community for myself, but I also enjoy helping other students of color in my community. When a community is truly invested in helping its youth succeed, brilliant things happen. I have seen many classmates and friends from church overcome the odds and make it into the college of their choice. Despite coming from a poor African-American and Hispanic neighborhood, our community keeps pushing for a better future. Similarly, I wish to see something like this because I believe it helps me and those around me grown exponentially. 

I believe that I pursue truth by always questioning things while keeping an open mind. I believe that always keeping an open mind is beneficial because doing so allows you to listen to others’ perspectives on things and allows for your actual knowledge to grow. We can never be too sure about what we know about a subject because there is always something new to learn from others. There is a certain danger that comes from only knowing a single story. A single story is best defined as one side of two possible stories. By knowing only one side of the story, argument, or debate, you are bound to have a bias over the one you were told. One can become ignorant due to only being told a single story and can miss out on different perspectives that can further mold your own. Only when you truly know both sides of the story will you be able to share your perspective confidently. According to Chimamanda Adichie, “My roommate had a single story of Africa: a single story of catastrophe. In this single story, there was no possibility of Africans being similar to her in any way, no possibility of feelings more complex than pity, no possibility of a connection as human equals.” (Danger of a Single Story, by Chimamanda Adichie, Moreau FYE-Week Eight) Knowing only one story is problematic due to the ignorance it causes many people to have. Many stereotypes go around without having any shred of truth behind them. This is why I strive to listen to multiple viewpoints before deciding on what my opinion is on the subject.

I believe that my purpose is to empower others and become the sort of person worthy of being a role model for my family. I like to believe that everything happens for a purpose and if I got here at Notre Dame it is because I belong here. Of course, there will be doubts, I still have them, yet deep down I know that I worked hard to get to where I am currently at. Imposter syndrome can happen to everyone but it’s the way we deal with it or overcome these doubts that matter. I believe that I am made to help others in whatever they may need. Ever since I was a kid, I found myself to be the mediator in any setting. I believe that my urge to help people is not a habit or accident. I genuinely feel a need to help those that I can in anything that they may require. Additionally, I believe that I am responsible for the image I portray myself to be and the impact I have on those around me. I know that I am not completely invisible and that anything that I do can affect those around me and in my life. I believe one is responsible for such actions that may potentially harm those that stay near us because they care. 

I am the result of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. I am worth everything and anything if I wish for it. The world is a huge place and there is still so much to learn. I believe that I have everything in me to succeed and become the best version of myself that I can be. I am here at Notre Dame to embody that which I am.