Integration One Maria Finan Moreau First Year Experience October 11th, 2021 Changing Lives for the Better I believe that my purpose is to connect people and lead people in the right direction when they are down. I am someone who is very outgoing, and usually likes to think positively about other people, and try to lead them in the direction they need to go, but I am also someone who beats myself up over my mistakes, which is one thing that I need to work on for myself. But, this is why I lean on my strengths and try to be the natural leader that I am. Especially on the soccer field, my leadership instincts take over, and even as a freshman I have become a voice on the men’s club soccer team here at the University of Notre Dame just because I feel that someone always needs to fill that void, and connect people by bringing them forwards. In Brené Brown’s ted talk, she says “Connection is why we’re here, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). Sometimes people have trouble breaking out of their shells, and it can take time and a good leader and role model in order to do so. Everyone needs connection in their lives, and being a leader can make that possible. I believe that my community should prioritize eulogy virtues even though it may not be our first thought. Especially in the United States, there really is no true way for most people to prioritize resume virtues, in which this applies more to how much money they will make, their future jobs, and grades. But, what does this cost? This costs a constant competition between people, and even though it can be healthy it can also be toxic in other occasions, and also just https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=3 people focused on fending and being successful for themselves. In David Brooks’ ted talk, he says “And most of us, including me, would say the eulogy virtues are the more important of the virtues. But, at least in my case are they the ones that I think about the most? And the answer is no” (“Should you live for your résumé ... or your eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). Even though I say as a community that we should change our virtues, that also includes myself, as I am someone who needs to focus on building it. A lot of the time, I care most about my performance, whether it is grades in the classroom or wins on the soccer field, and I need to change myself for the better in order to even start a community in doing so. I believe that I am responsible for those who aren’t as fortunate and lucky as me. Coming to the University of Notre Dame, I am someone who was very fortunate to grow up in a good school system, have a good system of support and have a good mindset to work hard for myself. Some people may not be so lucky. Some come from unfortunate neighborhoods where they don’t think about applying to a school like Notre Dame, a poor family life, and school systems that don’t prepare them for escaping their homes and becoming more involved throughout society. Thus, I think with being fortunate comes responsibility for those who aren’t. Father Pete talked about how we won the lottery in life, and that we need to do something with it and do good in the world, and also how importance it is to have some sort of foundation in faith (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Fr Pete McCormick - Moreau FYE Week Three). I think faith is what pushes us forward, and I have faith that I was put here to do something with everything that I have, and not just use it for myself. Throughout society, there are too many people that sit at the top 1% and keep everything for themselves, and morally I think we have an obligation to help those who are not as fortunate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=UniversityofNotreDameCampusMinistry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=UniversityofNotreDameCampusMinistry I believe in the importance of healthy relationships because of the way it can benefit both you and the other person. Some people go through mental health issues their whole lives solely because of the people around them. Without a good support system around you, some people may be driven over the edge and go on a downward spiral because of those individuals, and sometimes all a person needs is a hard shove towards the right people in the right direction. In the “that's not love” video, it demonstrates how many people’s lives feel it’s just a “rough patch”, when they are constantly arguing, doing things behind each other's backs, and yes there may be love there but it isn’t right to let it just happen naturally, as it is okay to ask for help in counselling or something similar (“Because I Love You, Double Whiskey” by One Love Foundation - Moreau FYE Week Four). Alongside the negatives of not having healthy relationships, there are positives to having them. You are able to help one another when you need someone, and just both genuinely enjoy each other’s company and doing things together, rather than a toxic one where usually at least one person is genuinely unhappy at times. I believe that there needs to be more goodness in this world. At my high school, there was a saying that we would “pursue goodness as well as knowledge”. I was taught to help and do good wherever I was needed, and to help others in need. In the Notre Dame Laetare Medalist Address, Carla Ann Harris, the recipient of the award, talks about how she was a “proud product of Catholic schools” where she was taught to do anything to help people whenever you can (“Notre Dame Commencement 2021: Laetare Medalist Address” by Carla Ann Harris - Moreau FYE Week Five). This was one of the things that attracted me to Notre Dame, because above learning is being a good person, just like the high school that I came from. I believe that everyone has a background worth sharing, and this can bring good into the world. When writing the “Where I’m From” poem, I thought about how everyone’s background https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQ5ur9OZ-g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4 and poems were completely different from mine. Especially on a college campus, everyone comes from completely different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and it is rare to find someone just from the same town as you. In George Ella Lyon’s article, she says “No one else sees the world as you do; no one else has your material to draw on” (“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six). This demonstrates how we always have room to share different perspectives in our lives. In my opinion, the best way to improve, whether it be in the workplace, a sports field, or just in the real world is having different perspectives, and this is one way we can do it. I believe that there is always room for improvement within people. One of the biggest problems within the world today is there constantly being stereotypes and judging people by their appearance. I truly believe that when you realize how wrong you can be about someone, it changes your perspective entirely. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche says “So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become” (“Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche - Moreau FYE Week Seven). I think in order to solve this problem we really need to steer away from social media as a society, as this is where most of this comes from, and there are always ways to change our minds. At first, my perspective of my soccer coach was very flawed, as I just saw someone with tattoos all over his body, but this man ended up being one of if not the most influential person in my life. Needless to say, people can always improve and change their perspectives. Even when times seem down, there is always light within this world. Whether you need help, or your realize someone around you does, there is always a way to help, and change this world for the better. http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story