Week 14 - Capstone Integration 4/23/22 A Revision on my Final Essay for God and the Good Life How do I pursue a life well-lived? This question is what I must attempt to answer within this piece, and it is the foundational question of God and the Good Life, which I took earlier this year. During this course, we answered this question in our final essay. In this essay, I explained my idea of a life well-lived through the use of philosophical terms and reasoning while answering a list of specific questions. These questions included topics like “What role does morality play in the good life?” and “Is service required for one’s life to be meaningful?” Although these questions relate important ideas like morality and service to a well-lived life, they are also limiting in their requirements. Therefore, in this piece, I hope to expand upon my definition of a well-lived life by discussing aspects of life like my family and career, which weren’t included before. One of the most important things for me when defining a life well-lived is my relationships with others. Within the last two years, I’ve noticed the importance of relationships within my life. During my senior year of high school, one of my relationships became toxic, and I realized the importance of surrounding myself with friends that truly care about me. Before coming to college, I didn’t think that I’d be homesick, but as the weeks passed, I grew to miss my family more and more. Now, I call my parents multiple times a week. Sometimes we talk about important things in my life like a test or project, and other times I just ask how their day was at work. Many times I’ll call while they’re at dinner, so I can catch my aunt, uncle, sister, or grandparents on the other side of the phone as well. Connecting with friends is something that I’ve been working on this semester as I realized that I hadn’t been maintaining many of these relationships. Because of this, I’ve been reaching back out to others in an attempt to reconnect. I’ve also tried to create relationships with new people. During the documentary on Father Hesburgh, one of the speakers described Father Hesburgh, saying “that the Latin word for priest. It was ‘pontifex,’ bridge builder. Ted was a bridge builder between people and God and among people” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Similarly to Father Hesburgh, I want to build bridges because I believe that strong relationships are integral to my definition of a life well-lived. A person can also form relationships with those that he or she helps through service. During high school, I worked for a community center called Beacon Place, which served as a place of additional education for local students. As I volunteered there over the years, I noticed as more people joined the organization and it grew in its ability to help others. This relates to a line from the Week Seven Moreau video when Pope Francis said that “And then there will be another "you," and another "you," and it turns into an "us”” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). As the organization grew in scale, it was able to improve its community programs by offering education through high school instead of stopping at the sixth grade level and by throwing events like the Halloween Party. In this way, by creating this “us,” we were better able to accompany the people that we served. “Accompaniment is a path to help waken those dormant dreams. With respect and intelligence, humbly and without arrogance -- with humble confidence or confident humility -- we can be ambitious for making meaningful change” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together ” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). During my final year at Beacon Place, they launched a program that “woke the dormant dreams” of many of their students. This was a college counseling program. Within a community where a majority of students don’t attend college, this was a huge step forward, and within the first year, they had already helped multiple students get into universities of which many were the first in their entire family. By fostering relationships whether it be friends, family, or service-oriented, a person learns about what matters to them while also experiencing the joy that these relationships bring. During my life well-lived, I hope that I can grow to better deal with stressors and nurture a healthy mind. Many times I find it difficult to live in the moment due to the vast amount of https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit things that occur almost everyday. A quote from the first week of Moreau says “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). There seems like there is always new information that requires one’s attention to the point that it becomes overwhelming. This often leads to stress. Because of this, I’ve found it to be very important to just stop sometimes and breathe, especially during times like finals week when so many different things are all happening and all of them require one’s full attention. In addition to the sheer amount of things that require one’s attention, the need to succeed is there as well. Many times during high school and during college, I have found myself stressing out about an important assignment because I must do well on it; however, recently, I’ve tried to take a calmer approach and instead focus on doing my best without obsessing over the outcome. During the sixth week of Moreau, Dr. Kim says “So I was always so focused on what I cannot do. I complained that I couldn’t move my fingers, I couldn’t move my legs. But then I began to realize that some of the things that I can do, the movements that I have already, can be a blessing for some others” (“5 Minutes” by Grotto - Moreau FYE Week Six). By not obsessing over the outcome, I am able to be much calmer while still performing just as well. In the situation where the outcome isn’t ideal, there will always be new opportunities like the ones that Dr. Kim realized; however, this doesn’t mean that I’ve completely given into the flow of life. I still have a future plan in mind and care about my performance in school and extracurricular activities but am now trying to do this in a healthier way. Although there are still moments when I will be stressed out and worried, I have better control of these situations and am able to respond to them in a healthy way. Another important aspect of my life well-lived is one’s career. When talking about my career in my mission statement, I wrote that “I’ll be honest when I say that this is something that https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 I haven’t figured out yet, and although I have a rough idea, the picture is not clear yet” (“Week 13 - Developing a Mission” by - Moreau FYE Week Thirteen). Finding a career that brings one’s life meaning and enjoyment is very important, and this process starts with being open to new ideas and experiences. During my Career Discernment Activity, when I asked my mother what difficult thing I needed to hear, she said that “I need to get out of my comfort zone and expand my horizons” (“Week 5 Reflection - Discernment Conversation Activity” by - Moreau FYE Week Five). Although leaving my comfort zone isn’t something that I enjoy doing, being open to foreign experiences allows me to find new things that bring my life meaning or enjoyment. Through the act of trying new things, I want to find a career that is integral to my life well-lived. I also want a career that engages my curiosity and is fascinating. During the third week of Moreau, Father Michael Himes says that “Questions, concerns, issues that you return to over and over again because they fascinate you, they excite you, they really intrigue you, they lure you on, they get you to ask more and more questions. What are your obsessions? Where do you ask more and more questions? This is a very good indication that this is where your joy lies! Spend your life in this way” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three). I want a job that leads me to ask questions and grow in my knowledge of the world. I hope that my career can guide my curiosity to new, exciting topics. In this way, my career acts as a source of continued learning. One of the Week Four Moreau materials states that “Planning your career is much like planning for a trip. There are many details and decisions to make and it requires a lot of exploration and research” (“Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). By being open to new experiences and exploring possible career paths, I hope that I am able to find a career that allows me to continue to be curious and live a well-lived life. Finally, an important aspect of my life well-lived is learning, and this includes learning about other cultures and perspectives. One can learn about different cultures and perspectives https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TiBDSsFQN186Ec7IXEXcIRGpdKRgVWgo0B1XzQPORDE/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TiBDSsFQN186Ec7IXEXcIRGpdKRgVWgo0B1XzQPORDE/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXok5N7Z4a5iqMC7GiK2rzOJ2lgrLdBW8JxxmklGa_A/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXok5N7Z4a5iqMC7GiK2rzOJ2lgrLdBW8JxxmklGa_A/edit https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40306/files/475736?module_item_id=149263 https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ within the classroom through lectures; however, an equally effective way is by interacting with others who have diverse backgrounds. This is why diversity is important on a college campus. Diversity of individuals allows someone to learn about peoples and cultures that are very different from one’s own, which offers moments of learning and personal growth. Robin DiAngelo tries to stress the importance of diversity through the example of the beliefs of someone who is opposed to it. She writes that “We lose nothing of value by having no cross-racial relationships. In fact, the whiter our schools and neighborhoods are, the more likely they are to be seen as “good”” (“Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” by Dr. Robin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten). Although I didn’t understand her meaning behind this quote originally in my QQC, I now realize that she is showing the absurdity of this statement. She is challenging the idea that a monoculture is better than a diverse mix of cultures. A diversity of cultures is important as it does provide value to one’s life and their own understanding of the world around them; however, racial injustices still occur to this very day. Dean G. Marcus Cole writes “And in a very real sense, like many other African-American men, I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something. I must do something” (“Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.'” by Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). This quote is exceptionally powerful due to Dean Cole’s own experience with racial injustice. Having been a witness to his own father being beaten by racist assailants, the crimes committed against George Flloyd and Ahmaud Arbery must have been emotionally hard and probably frustrating for Dean Cole to learn about. In response to these events, he calls others to work to fix injustices and improve the world for people of all backgrounds. Similarly to how I want to accompany those through service and in my relationships, I hope to accompany those who deal with injustices in order to make the world a more accepting place. Diversity of beliefs is also integral to my life well-lived. Professor Blaschko says that “Bubbles become echo chambers when groups give up on tolerating diversity of opinion” (“Big Questions 2, Part 4: How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s Blaschko - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). Within the last couple years, I have heard much more about the use of information to polarize people, mostly when it comes to social media. Social media algorithms recommend topics and articles based on what a person reads or spends time on when using the app. Because of this, if a user likes to read CNN, then this user will receive more CNN articles in their feed. This effect continues until the user only receives articles from CNN or publishers with similar articles. This happens on both sides of the political spectrum. If I were to substitute Fox News in for my example, then nothing other than the names and political orientation of the news sources would change. By recommending similar things, these websites inadvertently create a bubble where a person only receives information in support of one side. This isn’t the worst case as long as the user continues to be open to listening to the other side, escaping their bubble; however, all too often, this effect leads people to become intolerant of other beliefs, leading to an echo chamber like Professor Blaschko says above. Diversity of beliefs is very important as it allows others to learn about new perspectives and to work with those that don’t agree with them. Being willing to listen to opposing viewpoints forms a nuanced understanding of different situations and worldviews. This nuanced understanding of the world is important for my version of a life well-lived and is one of the goals of higher education. After refining my understanding of my life well-lived, I know how I would revise my final essay for God and the Good Life. I would write about how morality requires one to be inclusive of others whose cultures and backgrounds may differ and that creating an accepting world is important so that everyone can live a good life. I would say that service is both important and meaningful as it allows one to form relationships with others while helping to improve their lives. I also would include in my conclusion about how these actions are necessary for a well-lived life while also looking inside in order to maintain a healthy mind and mental state. My restated personal mission statement is this. I want to maintain my current relationships while creating new ones, to help others through service, to stay curious and try new things, to find a career that excites me and allows me to engage my interests, to learn from those with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and to make the world a more accepting place for all people. By doing these things, I will pursue a life well-lived.