Moreau Integration One The Power of Beliefs October 10, 2021 Root Beliefs: 1) I believe that my purpose in life is to bring others joy through creation. 2) I believe that I am responsible for my attitude about life. 3) I believe that I forge meaningful relationships by listening to others. 4) I believe that family is the cornerstone for all of my actions. Beliefs Debrief: 1) I believe that my purpose in life is to bring others joy through creation. When determining one’s purpose in life, the question is nothing short of grand and daunting. To consider the primary reason for my creation is a large task, from one of which the answer lies in the things I have done and accomplished over the years of my life. This belief is formed from some of the most influential projects I have created over the course of my existance, and these include my custom Lego Creations and Roller Coaster Models. Each year, there is an annual Lego Convention in my home city of Chicago, which draws custom Lego creators from all over the world. I have displayed creations at three events, and can say through my interaction with others, this is a major reason I am alive and strive to be the best I can be every day. At the most recent convention, I displayed my life-size, fully operational custom Lego Pinball Machine–the first in the world–and let all onlookers play the model and interact with the build. Being a purely mechanical creation, the machine is slightly fragile, but I had hundreds of visitors and strangers play the machine over the weekend long event. It was through this creation and these interactions that I made unforgettable memories, as the major takeaway I and many others had is that the medium of Lego, and even creation, was being shifted from static to dynamic. Altering the montra of “look but don’t touch” to “interact and enjoy” was something very few builders before me had been able to accomplish, and this idea has stuck with me to this day. In life, I want to not only build creations and machines which others can interact with, but also teach people that they can build amazing creations too. As Father Pete McCormick explained, “The greatest journey you will ever go on is one of self-discovery. On this journey, success, productivity, and failure are an afterthought” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story“ by Father Pete McCormick - Moreau FYE Week 3). When I create machines and models, I do so not just for myself, but always with others in mind, whether it be the question of how I can teach them or how I can let them enjoy what I have created. This idea is central to my entire life, and makes me believe that my purpose in life is to bring others joy through the process of creation. 2) I believe that I am responsible for my attitude about life. Throughout the many facets of life, including school, relationships, religion, and anything in between, having the right frame of mind can make a world of difference. While we as humans are not in control of every circumstance or outcome in life, we are in control of the ways in which we react to certain scenarios and events. Understanding how to utilize the power of the mind and shaping attitudes, and turning this ability into a strength, has been a focus of mine through my time here at Notre Dame. As David Brooks said in his impactful TED Talk, “Adam 1 is built by building on your strengths. Adam 2 is built by fighting your weaknesses” (“Should You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week 2). When it comes to using my attitude as a strength, one example, as simple as it may seem, is how I interact with others when engaging in small talk and simple conversation. Instead of simply answering “good” or “fine” to the question of “How are you?” I try to make the conversation more interesting by replying with a less common answer, such as an enthusiastic “I’m great, thanks for asking!” which usually brings a smile to their face. Trying to make a positive difference, even in small ways, is very important when determining my outlook on life. In a slightly different vein, during my time at Notre Dame, I’ve noticed the wide variety of people with different ethnicities, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM genders, religions, and backgrounds than my own. In engaging with people different from me, it can sometimes be difficult to overcome Implicit Bias, or the preconceived notions we carry about others based on their background. As one article described it, “One reason people on both the right and the left are skeptical of implicit bias might be pretty simple: it isn’t nice to think we aren’t very nice” (“How to Think About ‘Implicit Bias’” by Keith Payne, Laura Niemi, John M. Doris - Moreau FYE Week 7). This closely relates to my own attitude on life, because as the quote highlights, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that we as humans are not perfect and need to realize we are not always nice. Taking time to myself and thinking of ways I have not been good to others helps shape my attitude in a positive way, as I can develop a deeper understanding of the things I think and how I can harness them for the better. 3) I believe that I forge meaningful relationships by listening to others. One of the more challenging aspects in my transition to Notre Dame and college life has been forming new friendships with people both similar and different than me. In high school, I was hardly on the social spectrum, and preferred to keep to myself in terms of engaging with other people. Especially with the COVID-19 outbreak and being forced to learn from home for almost a year and a half, my social interactions were very limited up until my arrival to campus. Being completely in person, going to class, and living with people my age has been a drastic change of pace from what I had been used to, and I needed to reevaluate how often and why I formed relationships. From the first week of the course, I realized the power in the quote, “They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first, and then to others, because as it turns out, we can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brene Brown - Moreau FYE Week 1). Meeting people from time to time is one thing, but making strong bonds and friendships with new people was a skill I needed to improve, and the major way I went about this was by focusing on listening to others. My stance on the matter was that since people like to talk about themselves and their own interests, I could make https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-think-about-implicit-bias/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=2 friends and meaningful connections by simply asking questions and letting others speak about themselves, and we could engage in powerful conversations about matters that were important, as opposed to empty dialogue. As one quote expertly described, “A good friend should never make you feel like the things you’re saying are unimportant and uninteresting. Great, fruitful conversation comes from two people engaging in one another’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences” (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week 4). Coming to Notre Dame, I wanted to focus on putting other people first when it comes to conversations, and I have done so by asking questions and actively listening, and the results have been spectacular. 4) I believe that family is the cornerstone for all of my actions. Even in the midst of the most chaotic and intense weeks of my life, I have still made the time to talk with my family every single week, often more than once. Transitioning to college, while it has gone smoother than I initially anticipated, has still been difficult, and knowing my family has my back at all times is unbelievably motivating. Before coming to Notre Dame, they had prepared me for all sorts of circumstances, big and small, and ensured I was prepared for the wealth of changes which I would be experiencing in a new environment. As written in my own poem during week six of the course, “I am from family, / who does everything as one, / in good times and bad, / always finding reasons to stick together” (“Where I’m From” by - Moreau FYE Week 6). Not only did my parents teach me the raw skills and mindset to have when coming to college, but they also taught me a set of morals which have always been on my mind in making decisions and determining the ways in which I lead my life. For instance, one of the beliefs that has been passed down from my parents to me is the idea that whenever someone is in need of assistance, always stop to offer a helping hand. This idea has manifested itself in a variety of ways thus far on campus, including helping students with homework and holding doors for others, just to name a few small examples. Since I am here, at one of the most https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/15QL99SJWgICmml_d6M6iBtdDDfgnCe9C1gDBB6bWYCk/edit?usp=sharing prestigious universities in the world, I want to give back to the community in any way I can, whether it be directly helping others or staying engaged with my faith by becoming a lector at the Basilica. As one quote expertly explained, “I rejoice because we have all learned how precious time is, and that it is the most important asset that you have” (“2021 Laetare Medal Address” by Carla Harris - Moreau FYE Week 5). Since time is the most important asset we have at our disposal, I want to ensure I not only use it to better myself, but also improve the lives of those around me. With the beliefs of my family which have been bestowed upon me, in conjunction with the opportunity to become an engaged member of the Notre Dame community, every day I strive to make a positive difference for those around me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4&feature=youtu.be