- Integration Three


Finding purpose in life can be a very difficult task. A life well-lived is something each

and every person should search for throughout their journey of life. A life well-lived can be very

difficult to define. This is why it is so difficult to find our purpose in life. In ’s life,

there were only a few things that mattered. These included finding things he was passionate

about and ways to impact his community in a positive way all while surrounding himself with

people who loved him. Life is most fulfilling when we are surrounded by those who love us

because if we do not have them around, life is not as enjoyable. Dan truly believed this as he was

a great father to his 3 children as well as a loving husband to his wife. In addition, he made sure

his work contributed to society in a positive way. “He contended that career satisfaction/success

depends in part on how well a person can identify and implement his/her career self-concept,

which is comprised of your values, interests, personality, and skills” (“Navigating Your Career

Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four).

Dan took his love of math and STEM into the field of engineering where he was able to work for

Uber and contribute to the self-driving cars that we know today. From a young age, Dan found

things that he was passionate about that carried with him into his adult life. “I have always

believed that when I find something I am truly passionate about, I jump fully into it and get very

excited about it. My mom tended to agree with me on this point. One thing she brought up in this

conversation that she has always said is that I have a passion for math. Even as a kid, I always

had a passion for it and she has pushed me in the direction of my passions” (“Discerning a Life

Well-Lived” by Daniel Schrage - Moreau FYE Week Five). However, math was not the only

thing he was passionate about. He also believed very strongly that every man and woman should

have the right to equal opportunity in our society. He incorporated this value into his work where

he was able to manage a wildly diverse group of people. He was able to do so because of his



ability to get along with almost anyone. He was able to relate to people in a very intimate way.

“We are trying to create one nation. It could very possibly be that we are verging through our

institutions towards two societies, one black and one white, and that wouldn’t be America I don’t

think” (“Hesburgh” by Father Hesburgh - Moreau FYE Week Two). Father Hesburgh’s words

were a great inspiration to  as he tried to model himself after Hesburgh in an effort

to bring people together. His efforts to bring different groups of people together stems back to his

value for being with his loved ones. “First and foremost, I would love it if this meeting could

help to remind us that we all need each other, none of us is an island, an autonomous and

independent ‘I,’ separated from the other, and we can only build the future by standing together,

including everyone” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis -

Moreau FYE Week Seven). Dan believed that everyone should be involved in society because

that is how we build a brighter future. He was a role model to his children on how to respect

others’ differences while still appreciating the people we are. Dan’s passion for spending time

with loved ones comes from one quote which is that “my life is going to end, and I have a

limited amount of time. We naturally tend to think of our lives as kind of continuing and

continuing” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham -

Moreau FYE Week Three). He understood that we only have a finite amount of time on this

planet and he wanted to spend every second he could doing the things he loved while surrounded

by the people he loved. Dan understood the value of time. We cannot control time. Time is going

to pass by whether we like it or not. Therefore, we should take advantage of our time by doing

the things we love with those we love. Despite his love for spending time with family and his

community,  also valued his alone time because that when he felt like he grew the

most. “We can spend endless amounts of time in self-reflection but emerge with no more



self-insight than when we started” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong

Way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). However, despite this idea, it is important to

avoid over-thinking. Over-thinking often leads to problems and doubts that do not need to be a

part of our lives. That is why he believed his time alone in his office could sometimes be just as

valuable as time with loved ones. However, that time alone was only to come in short spurts as

they are times for mental reflection. They are times to see the bigger picture of life rather than

getting caught up in the little moments. “It’s easy to feel as if we’re standing two inches away

from a huge canvas that’s noisy and crowded and changing with every microsecond. It’s only by

stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our

life) really means, and to take in the larger picture” (“Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives by

Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). Dan believed this was a key to living a life well-lived. Life

is full of little moments to cherish and enjoy. However, these moments are often accompanied by

moments of stress or anxiety. Stress and anxiety are unavoidable in modern life. However, they

do not need to take control of our lives. That is why Dan believed that taking a step back and

looking at the bigger picture of our lives is a key to living a life well-lived. Dan died a happy

man with his wife and three children at his side. He died as a strong role model, a caring father,

and a loving husband.