Moreau Integration Loved, Bona “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon Alder. Family, friends, colleagues, we are all voyagers in the tides of life. This journey begins with the first cry when we are born and the last when we take the last breath. The adventures of the life that I have lived are defined by various stages of my life and the desire to believe it was a life well-lived, which is ironic as I question the life I have lived. Responsibility is bestowed upon us at an early age, as a lot is expected. Growing up, dreams of having a better future fuel the ambitious beast-mode in one and hope for the best. This is because the future is uncertain and clinging onto these dreams gives us a sense of purpose and “which means we’re never caught up with our lives.” According to Pico Iyer, Why we need to slow down our lives is due to the fact that we end up missing out a lot around us while embedded in looking for a better tomorrow that we forget living in the moment. I personally experienced “burnout” during my high school, which led to depression, and only a few noticed. This hurt more as I was unable to slow down and enjoy the relativity in life and, as a result, subjected myself to suffering. I was suffering from things that I could not achieve no matter how hard I tried. New language and a new place; it was not easy for a motivated and high-achieving student like me to give up everything in my home country and start everything again. However, even though I was hurt and did not have any energy to move forward, I did not stop. More correctly, I could not. As a result, I missed out on the beauty of my home Hawaii and accepted that my mental health was important. This was when true happiness and comfort came my way as I looked forward to creating more ideas of having meaningful breaks and taking care of myself at Notre Dame. The beauty in life is seen through the multiple roles attained, positions as well as responsibilities of all tasks accomplished successfully. Society uses this as a measure of the kind of life that one lived. Therefore, these are the very roots that inspire a life well-lived as progress is viewed. Embracing the mysteries of Father Hesburgh integrating religion into our lives crystalizes all the inspiration needed. It was great to learn about his influential and respected life, and as I lived my life, applying various philosophical perspectives fueled the inspiration I needed. As a result, the will to achieve more projected the positivity required to push for a better future. Having a noble course in life is worth living with my family and friends. This made me more ambitious. It is my belief that religion provides for neutrality and unity; hence living a peaceful, fulfilling life drove me into the desire to be a solution for prevailing social issues within the society. I am an honorable person; that is my belief. This is felt when one contemplates and meditates on death. As a result, this spikes the fear of death, and I can’t help but wonder how much fear ought to be faced. According to "Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die” by Ruth Graham, the fear of death is inevitable. “But it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them.” It becomes important to cherish the moments we live with our loved ones as death is near regardless of its timing. Relying on the sentiments of Sister Alethia, death is scary, and the idea of leaving this world and the people I love breaks my heart. The Covid pandemic drives the uncertainty as I very recently had an opportunity to think about not exactly death but something I will face when I am not in good health. After my boyfriend tested positive for covid, I experienced a high fever and body aches. However, I received messages and prayers from my friends and family, which gave me the courage to fight. Every time I went through something extreme, I have people standing by my side, and this has been my strength. The years have been kind to me, as I focused on activities I love. These defined values I hold for a life well-lived. Focusing on various ways to live my life is by “studying what you enjoy and get involved” (Muerelo Family Center for Career Development). Therefore, being a part of the school’s FRC robotics team as a design head and mechanical team captain in High School instilled values and inspiration. Working with robots, I felt a significant affection towards every aspect of them, from the tiniest motor to the fabrication machines to the center of gravity. Even a seemingly insignificant element can significantly impact robots’ capabilities was exciting. As I designed more features and assembled more parts, I realized I had found my vocation. Because of this experience, I am very certain about pursuing mechanical engineering as my major and engineering in general. Looking back at my life at Notre Dame, I found excitement in advanced-level engineering classes and thrilling research opportunities in Robot & Control Lab. Reflecting on the values and desires of my life defines ‘in the zone” moments. Here, robotics defined such moments for me as I relentlessly pushed myself to work with the best teams while pursuing my passion. In addition, I found the desire to focus on the environment and nature. Being concerned with the detrimental impact humans have on wildlife drives concern. I remember on our trip to Hawaii, you were visibly upset by the consistent fireworks in the area. As a result, the passion inside me sprouts the capacity to care for the environment. A classmate once appreciated my ability to forge healthy relationships through listening skills. This is nurtured through putting strong emotions off for a bit and trying to be objective and listen to each other as much as we can. In addition, self-awareness arose from values, aspirations, and “in the zone” moments. It is because my passion for robotics was definitely confirmed by a third person, and with this, barriers and challenges were non-existent. Allowing self-reflection was a lens through my past. As per Tasha Eurich, "The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There's a Wrong Way), self-reflection led to mental health issues as most view loss of control of their lives. In my perspective, the best solution for protecting yourself from emotionally demanding situations is just quitting thinking and taking a nap. It is overwhelming as a freshman for Notre Dame Students. This is due to highly stressful situations such as being in college life away from home. I often doubt my existence and what a meaningful life signifies; therefore, I sail through using What Not Why tools with a smile as everyone experiences the same. In conclusion, the characteristics of a well-lived life rely on the concept of “we.” According to His Holiness, Pope Francis (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone”), it is important that inclusivity is embraced regardless of race, religion, or country. Embracing his sentiments, a life well lived characterizes self-reflection and self-caring that is embedded in human-to-human interactions. Therefore, acknowledging the presence, existence, and interactions with you, my friends, family, and colleagues, I can rest knowing that my life was well-lived. Bear with me in my final day as this voyage halts as I leave a mark to be remembered. Reference "Exploring a Life Well-Lived - Career Development Reflection” (Muerelo Family Center for Career Development) (Links to an external site.) Moreau FYE week 4 "Hesburgh Produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley) (Links to an external site.) Moreau FYE week 2 "Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die” (Ruth Graham, NY Times) (Links to an external site.) Moreau FYE Week 3 "The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There's a Wrong Way) (Tasha Eurich, TED Conferences) (Links to an external site.) Moreau FYE Week 6 "Why we need to slow down our lives (Pico Iyer, TED) (Links to an external site.) Moreau FYE Week 1 “Why the only future worth building includes everyone “His Holiness Pope Francis, TED Conferences (Links to an external site.) 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