Believe In Yourself
Root Beliefs:
I believe that I can grow as a person by acknowledging my flaws.
I believe that I can mature by establishing certain morals and values.
I believe that I am in search of faith to help guide my decisions.
I believe that I can forge healthy relationships by surrounding myself with real people.
I believe that I can use past experiences to lead me on the path to success.
I believe that I am shaped by family, friends, and home.
I believe that my community should focus on the individual and ignore stereotypes.
Explanation of Root Beliefs:
I believe that I can grow by acknowledging my flaws. I think that it is important to accept your own flaws in order to improve yourself. This will enable you to feel happy and comfortable in your own skin. Having the courage to own one’s imperfections and be vulnerable is an essential part of people who are mentally healthy and well-functioning in society. Dr Brown commented on the characteristics of people who she found to be strong and confident stating, “These folks had the courage to be imperfect. They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). I think by following the words of Dr. Brown, I too can develop into a better version of myself. The thought of improving my imperfections gives me the motivation and drive to become a better person that can have a positive impact on our community. At Notre Dame I am surrounded by intelligent and talented people. It is clear that many of the students use this ideology to flourish at Notre Dame. Together, we can use our flaws to grow and improve society.
Additionally, I believe that I can mature by establishing certain morals and values. Having strong principles that guide your actions are important for every individual. However, it may be difficult to balance your morals and the desire to succeed. Oftentimes, morals and the desire for success can conflict. David Brooks describes this friction claiming that “These two sides of our nature are at war with each other. We live in perpetual self-confrontation between external success and the internal value” (“Should You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). Finding a balance between your two sides in order to be an honest, good person is essential. There is more to a person than what you see on the surface. These internal goals and beliefs are what truly make someone wholesome. At Notre Dame, it is evident that the majority of students have strong religious beliefs and moral values. I believe that this is what makes the students at Notre Dame so special and unique.
Furthermore, I believe that I am in search of faith to help guide my decisions. Those who have a strong sense of faith seem to have a better outlook on life. Remaining faithful and following God will lead you down the path of self-discovery. Professor Fagerberg defines faith in a unique way. He states that “Faith is a transformed mind, a mind being filled with the light of God” (“Faith Brings Light to a Dark World” by David Fagerberg - Moreau FYE Week Three). This encourages me to further my faith and set aside more time for God. Growing up, I never prioritized going to church. Yet, now that I am at Notre Dame, a Catholic university, I want to change that. With mass being so accessible I want to make it a priority to go a few times a semester. I feel like mass will allow me to reflect on my faith and have a moment of peace. It seems evident that by focusing more on my faith, I will be able to see differently, yet have a clearer vision of what I want to achieve.
Next, I believe that I can forge healthy relationships by surrounding myself with real people. On campus there are plenty of students who have similar goals as myself. I think it is important to seek out these people and establish relationships with them. This quote by Olivia T. Taylor in “5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” describes the criteria of a strong, beneficial friendship. She states that “A good, healthy friendship is one where two people are mutually growing and on a path toward becoming better people” ("5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship" by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four). Finding real, wholehearted people and surrounding myself with them, will help me to succeed in life. Additionally, bonding with others who have common interests and habits can lead to happiness and wellbeing. Forging these healthy relationships will enhance my college experience and allow me to grow as a person.
Moreover, I believe that I can use past experiences to lead me on the path to success. Rather than dwell on past failures, I can use these failed experiences as motivation in the future. I understand that I may perform poorly on an exam or project, but I cannot let this interfere with my goals. I want to adopt this strong mindset and use past mistakes and failures to improve myself. Father Moreau demonstrates this perfectly. The first Notre Dame, the one in Paris, France, failed miserably. However, Father Moreau had a vision and used this failure to reshape Notre Dame. Father Kevin Grove describes the situation stating “It was a gamble, one incredibly against the grain. But 170 odd years later you're sitting here as first year students, and the Holy Cross congregation continues as vibrantly as ever” ("Two Notre Dames: Your Holy Cross Education" by Father Kevin Grove - Moreau FYE Week Five). Father Moreau exemplifies the power of using past experiences as a way to achieve success. I’m doing my best to follow Father Moreau’s lead and use my past to transform my future.
Also, I believe that I am shaped by my family, friends, and home. I believe that many of my decisions and actions result from these core parts of my life. While writing a “Where I’m From” poem, it was clear to me that family, friends, and home have a great impact on me. George Ella Lyon describes this poem writing process stating that “The list form is simple and familiar, and the question of where you are from reaches deep” ("Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six). After writing the poem, I felt grateful and appreciative for everything in my life.  I realized how lucky I am to have these things and that I am surrounded by many positives. I hope to continue forward with this positive outlook on life and use that to find happiness and success. 
Finally, I believe that my community should focus on the individual and ignore stereotypes. Most people don’t even realize they have an implicit bias and treat others differently. Keith Payne, Laura Niemi, and John M. Doris describe this situation stating “It isn’t nice to think we aren’t very nice” ( "How to Think About 'Implicit Bias'" by Keith Payne, Laura Niemi, and John M. Doris - Moreau FYE Week Seven). At times, I may be guilty of this as well. However, I can improve by opening my mind and seeing that all types of people are capable of being great. After I do this, I can relate and learn from different types of people.Once again, this is an opportunity for growth and positive change. People may come from different cultures and backgrounds, but that doesn’t take away from the skills and the personality traits they possess.