Peggy Hnatusko Moreau FYE October 15, 2021 Belief in the Journey College, in many ways, is an end. It’s the end of living at home, the end of going to school with the same people, the end of seeing the same friends every day. I was the only one from my school to attend Notre Dame and my family recently moved; college was a very finite end to my life in Wisconsin. However, college is the first step to a new beginning: life as an adult. It’s a bridge between two definite times in life. As with any transitional period, college also forces us to view our beliefs more critically. After all, our beliefs are what set us apart; beliefs create intangible bonds and differences between people. As I begin the next step in my journey, I evaluate my beliefs and values so that I can find success in my journey. I believe that people are more than an adjective. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains in her TedTalk that often, individuals are remembered and referenced through a single facet of their personality, rather than their entire story ( “Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Moreau FYE Week 7) . Throughout my life, I struggled with the divergence of others’ perception of me and what I thought of myself. People saw me as a think tank, a brain diminished merely to her standardized test score and intellectual successes. Like Ngozi Adichie, I became a single story, defined simply by my academic abilities. I was expected to always outperform with ease, and I felt the pressure to always be perfect. I am so much more than my schoolwork, yet I am always known as “the smart girl.” I believe that we have to look internally to find fulfilment. David Brooks reminded us of the difference between Adam I, the facet of external success, and Adam II, focused on internal development, and he reiterated the importance of Adam II to the personal journey (“ Should You Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy ?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week 2) . I always felt an obligation to be perfect, almost as proof that I was deserving of the pedestal that people placed me on. Any academic achievement was never a form of pride; it was merely an expectation. Instead, my most memorable moments and achievements came from times of internal growth. I think of my experience with rugby; I was new to the game and wasn’t the best player. I pushed myself to work hard and play to my strengths-- being communicative and a positive teammate. When I was named captain, I felt overwhelmed with genuine pride, for I wasn’t working to become captain; it was simply a product of my efforts. https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102778 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102778 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102692 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102692 I believe that vulnerability is necessary for growth. We must embrace the uncomfortable to reach our goals. In her TedTalk, Dr. Brown puts vulnerability at the core of our negative emotions, yet the birthplace of necessary connection ( " The Power of Vulnerability " by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week 1) . Like Dr. Brown, vulnerability is also my greatest struggle. I spent much of my life truly believing that I wasn’t allowed to fail because that’s what people expected of me. In my mind I needed to prove that I was as perfect as everyone believed me to be. I grew to view vulnerability and emotions as a weakness, so I kept my struggles as my burden to bear. I self-isolated my doubts, and I refused to ask for help. However, on the rare occasions where I did open up, I’ve felt bonded to the people who support me. I’ve connected with friends on similar issues, and I feel more confident facing my problems afterwards. I’m realizing that being vulnerable is essential to my growth in both myself and my relationships. I believe that relationships are the cornerstone to support and security. Relationships are necessary to personal growth, yet they can also be a hindrance. When relationships, romantic or platonic, become uneven, manipulative, or controlling, they become unhealthy or even toxic. In an article for the Grotto, Olivia Taylor lists friends talking about you behind your back, only hanging out with you when it’s convenient, and not engaging in your interests ( "Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Relationships" by The Red Flag Campaign - Moreau FYE Week 4) . Throughout my life, I have had many unhealthy friendships. There were “friends” that excluded me, talked behind my back, and didn’t support me. Throughout these mishaps, I’ve learned what I’m looking for in a friend. I’ve had to let friendships go and truly find who would stick by me, friends who would make me better instead of causing me pain. I believe that we must recognize our journey and growth. Drawing inspiration from George Ella Lyon’s Where I’m From poem, I created my own poem relating to my past and influences ( "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week 6) . I had to look back and assess the most impactful parts of my life, find what helped to shape me into who I am today. I have had my fair share of hardships, and now, looking back, I’m proud of the growth that came from working through those difficulties. I found that my family had a profound influence on how I solve problems and view the world. Oftentimes, I spend too much time looking ahead, and I never stop to realize all that I’ve accomplished. I’m proud not only of my family and my town, but also where I’ve come from personally. I believe that risks and sacrifices are a necessary part of the journey. (Fr. Sorin letter) In Father Sorin’s letter, he writes to Basil Moreau about his journey to found Notre Dame in South Bend. In his letters, he outlined the many hardships he and his followers endured: walking for miles, sleeping on the floor, trekking through cold weather, and much more. Father Sorin made https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/105070 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/105070 https://drive.google.com/a/nd.edu/file/d/0B93cIKOnINCLS1JpUzZ5Q1JseGs/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/a/nd.edu/file/d/0B93cIKOnINCLS1JpUzZ5Q1JseGs/view?usp=sharing https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102760 many sacrifices to found Notre Dame. He was willing to give up his job and livelihood to build and cultivate Notre Dame (“ Fr. Sorin Letter to Bl. Basil Moreau, December 5, 1842” - Moreau FYE Week 5). Father Sorin shows how sacrifices are essential to reaching your goals, and it gives me confidence to take risks in my life. I am unsure of what I want to do after college, and it’s stressful to know that I don’t have a foreseeable plan. Father Sorin reminds me that taking risks is a normal part of life, and I can still succeed so long as I have faith in myself. I believe that we must have faith, both in ourselves and each other. My entire life, I have struggled with religion and Catholicism. I often disagreed with parts of the church, and as I grew older and more analytical, I found myself straying away. I think I surprised my parents by choosing a Catholic university. However, Father Pete spoke of religion in terms of faith. To Father Pete, faith means hope and patience in the face of adversity. Faith means finding the small things in life that you can enjoy, and believing that those things will continue to come ( “ The Role of Faith in Our Story ” by Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week 3) . Since being on campus, I have truly enjoyed the immersion of faith, and I have found myself choosing to utilize masses and the grotto frequently. Instead of straying further away, I am growing my faith in myself and others. I am choosing to have faith in my future. I do not have my journey planned out. My future is a gaping unknown, an overwhelming reality that I am not perfect; I don’t have an end goal. But I believe in myself. I believe in the journey I have taken thus far, I believe in the support group I have built around me, and I believe in the leap of faith I am taking. I believe that I will keep on growing, and I believe that I will end up exactly where I am supposed to be. True, it’s daunting and full of difficulties, but I am no longer hiding my perceived weakness in order to maintain a distorted view of myself; I am taking a risk and having faith that I will find my own fulfillment. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o56woQDq3QrRkziT8eYrvYly5CQaP2Vb/view https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102707 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/27120/modules/items/102707