A Life Well Lived
	 was a great friend, mentor, and leader. He left a lasting impact on the world around him and in our hearts. I will always be proud to call him my friend.

Sebastian always contributed his success to his alma mater, The University of Notre Dame. Upon arriving at the University, he was very unsure about what he wanted to do in life. He felt reassured by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development, where he read that, “There seems to be this commonly held belief in our society that a major equals a certain career path” (Meruelo Family Center for Career Development Moreau FYE Week 4). Fortunately, the good people at the career center taught him that this was a common misconception, and he felt much more at ease after hearing this.

	He also learned how to get more in touch with himself while at Notre Dame. As a southerner, he had always been raised to avoid emotional questions and not be too introspective. He always felt like it was better to ignore the things you didn’t understand or couldn’t deal with rather than confront them head on. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, “Evidence shows the simple act of translating our emotions into language — versus simply experiencing them — can stop our brains from activating our amygdala” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way” by Tasha Eurich – Moreau FYE Week 6). Essentially, if we are not introspective in the correct way, we can actually limit our body’s ability to deal with our emotions, rather than actually dealing with them in a healthy way.

	Having learned about new ways of dealing with his own mind and mental health, he began to take time to rest, reflect on the day, his life, the challenges he faced, and the challenges he had overcome. He strongly believed in the need to take a break and rest. He believed that, “The need for an empty space, a pause, is something we have all felt in our bones” (“Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives” by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week 1).

	After graduation, he attended Harvard Law School, and was hired by one of the most prestigious lobbying firms in the country. As a lobbyist, it was his job to help interest groups get their agendas passed through congress. He was tasked with bridging many different interest groups in order to get things done. Sometimes it was extremely challenging, as there was so much partisan gridlock in congress, and many groups refused to even come to the negotiating table. He always believed in the importance of having conversations and bringing together opposing viewpoints. Therefore, he pursued cooperation and bipartisanship even when such collaborations seemed impossible. He always said that, “True leadership has been the people who could bridge two ideologies” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley – Moreau FYE Week 2). The work that Father Hesburgh did to impact the world including brokering peace talks between the USSR and the United States and working on the civil rights commission always served as a great inspiration to Sebastian.

	After lobbying congress for years, he decided to join it. He ran for US Senate in Texas and was elected by a landslide vote. He worked to serve the state of Texas and represent his constituents in the best possible manner. After 2 terms as a Senator, he lost his third term in a controversial election. Though his constituents widely supported a policy he voted against it because he believed that it would be bad for the state in the long run. His advisors knew that it would cost him the election; however, he believed that, “We have to be willing to hear what others need and to give ourselves in response even when our attempt to respond may not be appreciated” (“Three Key Questions” Fr. Michael Himes – Moreau FYE Week 3).

	But though his professional career was impressive, he took so much more pride in his personal life. To give back to his beloved University he joined Irish Compass, where he helped Notre Dame students discern careers in politics and always offered internships to the students of the University (Irish Compass – Moreau FYE Week 5).

	His proudest achievement was his children. His oldest son, a very successful football player, played wide receiver at the University of Notre Dame where he won two national championships. He followed in his father’s footsteps and went on to law school at Harvard. He is currently serving as the Attorney General for the State of Texas and is considering a run for Governor. His younger son, played lacrosse for Notre Dame. He went on to business school at the University of Texas. After graduation, he accepted a job as an executive for Exxon-Mobil where he still works today. His daughter, was fascinated by international relations. Much to her father’s chagrin, she attended Georgetown University. After graduation, she joined the US State Department and studied East Asia. She now runs a non-profit organization dedicated to women’s empowerment around the globe.

	Sebastian always believed in seeing people around him as equals and treating them with respect. This was a trait that had been instilled in him from a very young age. No matter who you were, he made you feel welcome and part of his family. He always emphasized an importance on trying to get to know people before judging them. As a politician, he was known for having many friends on the opposite side of the aisle. When I asked him about this, he emphasized the importance of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. He believed that his colleagues had a strong commitment to making the country better, they just came from a different background than him and, therefore, had different ideas on how to do that. He was always fond of looking at things from alternative perspectives. One quote that always stuck with him was, “Close both eyes; see with the other one” (“Tattoos on the Heart, Jurisdiction” by Fr. Greg Boyle – Moreau FYE Week 7).