Samantha Dunlap
Moreau FYE – Integration One
October 15, 2021
What Do I Believe?
Education or Degree?
This week in my Introduction to Psychology class, we got a new professor, Anré Venter. On his first day, he asked our lecture, “Are you here for an education or a degree?” It took a little bit for those powerful words to sink in and become meaningful. I pondered on this question for the next few hours, trying to 1) decipher what it truly means and 2) reflect on how I will interpret and answer this question in my coming years at Notre Dame.
To me, a degree in this context means receiving a piece of paper at the end of four years of college with no real self-development, growth, or learning. An education involves hard work, accepting your best for what it is, discovering who you are/what you believe in, and authentically becoming who you want to be. As Dr. Brown said in The Power of Vulnerability, “If we all allow ourselves to be the best and most authentic versions of ourselves, what do we have to lose?” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brene Brown – Moreau FYE Week One) While it did not take long for me to formulate my answer, I understand that it will not be easy and will involve many failures and successes. But, I will strive to be positively impacted and changed by my Notre Dame education. 
I believe that God exists and that I am continuing to search for him in life every day. During my short time here so far, my relationship with God has improved drastically. Living in a place where God is cherished, adored, and accessible, I have found it much easier to grow in my relationship with Him. I have started going to mass twice a week, am now a Lector and EM, read the Bible, and actively participate in Theology class. All these resources available have allowed me to find the Lord, something that would have been difficult and uncommon at home. Religion was never spoken about at my public high school, and many people did not believe in or practice any religion. So, being an active Catholic was hard for me because I felt alone and like no one could relate. But, at Notre Dame, I have been continuing to evolve in my faith and explore how meaningful, advantageous, and beautiful it can be. My ongoing relationship with God can be compared to what I spoke about in week four: searching for life-giving relationships and that healthy ones can be achieved through a positive outlook on life, trusting yourself and the Lord, and living in the present. (“Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships,” The Red Flag Campaign – Moreau FYE Week Four) I could not be more pleased with how much I have grown so far and hope to continue this upward path with the Lord by my side.
I believe that living in a community is vital to personal growth. I have felt this way for a while, especially now as I live in the prospering communities of Notre Dame, Lyons Hall, Club Soccer, etc. Being present in these groups has emphasized cherishing and loving instead of just tolerating others, something I strongly value. We live in a unique world of diverse humans that can all benefit significantly from one another, but we must be open to acceptance. Learning by listening to varying perspectives is essential for understanding how yourself, your peers, and the universe works. Here at ND, community is a strong point of emphasis, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to live in an inclusive environment. 
I also believe that presenting your most authentic self to others is just as essential to the community as accepting others. Many are fearful of exhibiting this true version of themselves, but as Carla Harris said, “Fear has no place in your success equation.” I believe that fear is the enemy of progress. If you are timid about something, you will never attack it head-on and therefore not get the most out of it. (“2021 Laetare Medalist Address, Carla Harris, Moreau FYE Week Five) While meeting numerous new people, I continuously attempt to be intentional with my words and actions because that is the biggest form of integrity and honesty. After all, “you are the expert on you. No one else sees the world as you do.” (“Where I’m From,” George Ella Lyon, Moreau FYE Week 6) Everyone is special in their own way, and you are only hiding if you do not shine that light.
I believe that my purpose is to help others be their best self. In high school, I spent a lot of time working with students with disabilities, and it opened my eyes to how unique everyone can be. It also showed me how vital it is to help people understand that they are worthy and important even when they can’t see it. This expands to people of all kinds. I am hoping to continue this passion through service work in South Bend. The media-shaped world we live in today has an alarming and sad impact on how we perceive people different from ourselves. A few negative stories that make the news should not be our idea of an entire place. We need to become much more open-minded and open to finding new possibilities in the world. (“Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, TED, Moreau FYE Week Seven).
I believe that doing what you love will lead you to the biggest success in life, happiness. The idea of education versus degree is very similar to David Brooks’ idea of resume versus eulogy. (“Should you live for your resume or your eulogy?” by David Brooks – Moreau FYE Week Two) Reflecting on his Ted Talk, I realized that to grow as my authentic self, I need to participate in activities because I love them. They will ultimately enhance my personal goals and motivations rather than signing up for something because it looks good on a resume. At ND, I am in a bible study group which is an activity that would not go on a resume, but I participate in it simply because it is enjoyable and enables me to grow in my faith.
I believe that I am searching to begin my steady path of self-discovery. “The greatest journey you will ever go on is self-discovery.” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story, Fr. Pete McCormick C.S.C., Moreau FYE Week Three) Self-discovery is a never-ending road to being and finding your most authentic and loving self. That is not always easy and requires patience, but ultimately is a lifelong journey. It is important to remember that life is a journey, not a destination. We should always be looking to improve ourselves and strive for more rather than being satisfied once we reach that original goal or destination. Here, I am implementing this belief by exploring different minors, seeking my faith, and spending more time on reflection, looking inward.