Feng 
 
Moreau FYE
29 April 2022

Anita’s Recipe for a Life Well Lived 
(Serves: 1)

Mission Statement:

I am dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and intellectual stimulation while also maintaining emotional availability and a level of emotional maturity that allows me to fulfill a high moral calling. I strive to use my privilege and skills for the benefit of others, especially those that are underprivileged or suffering, by being generous and approaching the challenge of doing so with humility. 

I am also dedicated to building and strengthening relationships with those around me that inspire me and support my journey to being the best version of myself. In return for their support, I hope to use my natural inclination to be introspective to create an environment of vulnerability and acceptance that facilitates relationships built on trust and mutual respect. 


	As this academic year comes to an end and I begin planning for next semester’s classes and activities, I inevitably reflect on the successes and failures of the past eight months. To actively digest formative experiences and extract lessons from them is both a time-consuming and mentally consuming task that, for better or for worse, must be done if one wishes to grow. I hope to take the task of writing this essay as an opportunity for me to do this reflection and set goals for the next few years with the above mission statement in mind (Writing a Personal Mission Statement Activity – Moreau FYE Week Thirteen). 

	The first aspect of my mission statement describes the pursuit of excellence and intellectual stimulation. While my parents were never extremely strict on me when it came to academic success, seeing their success as immigrants from impoverished regions of China inadvertently inspired me to set similarly high standards for myself at school. Taking this inspiration into college, my wish to make them proud and their efforts “worth it” has been the most effective motivation for me to perform well in classes and actively engage in the communities around me. 

This is not to say that I do not frequently fall short of my own expectations and disappoint myself as a result. For example, given the large overlap between social media and popular culture, it is near impossible to remove myself from technology if I hope to be socially aware and up to date on trending topics and discourse. While I have recently made process in this regard after actively taking steps towards improvement, I still struggle with having a short attention span and getting easily distracted by social media. These habits detract from the time I can spend consuming meaningful material but are only perpetuated by the social pressure to stay “cultured” and knowledgeable of trending events and topics, especially in America, where popular culture is pervasive and dramatized. Moving forward, if I hope to upkeep a level of intellectual stimulation, I must be mindful of my relationship with technology. (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week One)

	On the same topic of consuming stimulating and meaningful information, I also must acknowledge stagnancy in the sources of conversation around me, in both casual and classroom settings. Recognizing when I am in, or even instigating, thought bubbles or echo chambers, is the first step to creating a more well-rounded and diversified environment. If I exclusively converse with people that share similar values and perspectives as me, no exchanging of ideas will occur (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by ThinkND – Moreau FYE Week Eleven). Not only is this very dystopian and Orwellian, but it is counterproductive to the pursuit of excellence and intellectual stimulation. Instead, I must take advantage of the diversity in thought that Notre Dame, and even the Internet, has to offer, by expanding my horizons and stepping out of my comfort zone.

	The second facet of my mission statement discusses my dedication to helping others, especially people of underprivileged backgrounds, with a humble attitude (“Teaching Accompaniment” by Professor Reifenberg – Moreau FYE Week Nine). I must attribute most of my success to the generosity and gratuitousness of others, who supported me when I was undeserving. Similarly, I hope to support those that are not as fortunate as I am on a relational level, with my inclusion, and on a systemic level, with my future career. 

	A life well-lived cannot be isolated but is interconnected with others. Therefore, to truly live a life well-lived, you must support the journeys of other people who hope to live a fulfilling life as well (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis – Moreau FYE Week Seven). There is an assumed responsibility of active inclusion in this statement. “Others” includes everyone, regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality (“The Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame” – Moreau FYE Week Ten). One cannot live well if they are arbitrarily persecuted or excluded. As a frequent recipient of exclusion due to my race or gender, I can empathize with others who experience similar kinds of discrimination and am therefore committed to creating an environment where no one feels belittled, misrepresented, or disrespected for those reasons. Inclusion, or ending separation, is one way to end the cycle of hate, according to Dean G. Marcus Cole (“I am George Floyd…” by Dean G. Marcus Cole – Moreau FYE Week Twelve). 

	I am currently interested in working in a field related to sustainability, specifically one that is also involved with policymaking and research. Doing so combines my values – helping others and protecting the environment, interests – academic research and policy, and skills – advocacy, communication, and collaboration (“Navigating Your Career Journey” – Moreau FYE Week Four). I hope to mitigate the effects of climate change that disproportionately affect those in impoverished communities. Even if my career interests change, I hope to always keep my values at the forefront of my mind.

	The last component of my mission statement is my devotion to strengthening my relationships with those in my immediate community. Specifically, I hope to use my natural propensity to be vulnerable to develop strong emotional connections with those around me and eventually, establish a relationship with a strong foundation of trust and mutual respect for one another. The simplest way to do this is to be selective with who I welcome into my immediate community in the first place. Surrounding myself with people that are inspiring, uplifting, and equally supportive of me will surely make the transition into building strong connections seamless and effortless (“Hesburgh” – Moreau FYE Week Two). I am grateful to say that the support system I currently have at Notre Dame, and at home, is one that is made up of people who are motivating and encouraging. Their good intentions make it easy for me to not only take their advice but their criticism as well when it comes to emotional matters (Week Five Discernment Conversation Activity – Moreau FYE Week Five). In the upcoming semesters, I hope to take further advantage of Notre Dame’s strong dorm communities and alumni network to find people that can provide social and academic support, respectively. 

	While this mission statement is a goal, it should not be an expectation that I must always hold myself to. I must recognize my imperfections and weaknesses, and be patient with myself when I seemingly fall short due to unforeseen circumstances or simply, my nature as a human (“The right way to be introspective” by Tasha Eurich – Moreau FYE Week Six). Over the next three years, I will inevitably come across obstacles and challenges that will frustrate me and discourage me. In those instances, I must remain hopeful and confident in my efforts and find joy in being dissatisfied (“Three Key Questions” by Father Michael Himes – Moreau FYE Week Three). Regardless, I am excited to see what the future holds, and how I will manifest this mission statement into action over the next three years at Notre Dame.