Owen McGoldrick
Integration 3
	Owen Paul McGoldrick lived a good life. He is remembered as a loyal, kind, and funny son, brother and friend. Born in New York City, but raised in West Hartford Connecticut, Owen began his formal education at Duffy Elementary, continuing on to Bristow Middle School and eventually graduating from Conard High, where he was a member of the concert and pep band, the varsity lacrosse team, the President of Habitat for Humanity, and the captain of the varsity hockey team.
Owen was often stuck in his ways, not the best at seeing other’s opinions or ways of doing things. Following many warnings from others to slow down in life and put down his phone, Owen finally listened, despite his constant stubbornness. After changing the way he saw his life, slowing down, takiung his head out of his phone, he was able to enjoy little thing he had never noticed. Owen enjoyed walking through Notre Dame’s campus (when it was warm out) appreciating where he went to school and taking it in, knowing he only had four years there. Spending more time listening and being aware allowed Owen’s listening and comprehension abilities to improve dramatically and he was grateful for all those who had tried to convince him of that before. (Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1)
"Whatever you value, be committed to it and let nothing distract you from this goal. The uncommitted life, like Plato’s unexamined life, is not worth living." This quote from Father Hesburgh was the way Owen hoped he lived his life. Rather than floating in the middle, he committed to his goals whatever they were. Stretching from playing hockey,  to attending the University of Notre Dame. He was so driven to attend Notre Dame that he passed on many other acceptances and academic scholarship offers to different schools to accept his admittance into the ‘Gateway Program’. While quickly shutting his computer after reading the lines, “We regret to inform you that we cannot accept you in the first year class of 2025,” He learned of this opportunity after finally reopening his computer hours later to complete his math homework for the night. Spending a year at Holy Cross College, just across State Route 933 from Notre Dame, his dad’s alma mater and the school and football team he grew up cheering for and visiting since he was born. Falling in love with Notre Dame, he made it his goal to go there and was able to realize it after 4 hard years of high school. This year at Holy Cross proved to be extremely formative for him. He met a whole new group of friends, something he hadn’t had to do maybe ever, he had to fend for himself for the first time, planning his own schedule, adjusting for things and holding a new level of self-responsibility. (Hesburgh by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2) One of Owen’s most valued and repeated concepts was one he learned in his first year experience Moreau class at Notre Dame while spending the year at Holy Cross. After reading an article about a nun who preached “remembering your death”, he took that to heart. He lived his life to the fullest, as if every day was his last, spreading that idea to those around him. Encouraging kindness, bravery, and happiness, this changed him for the better. (Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die by New York Times - Moreau FYE Week 3)
Following his graduation, Owen found his calling. After lots of experimenting in different classes and professions, Owen, with a degree in finance finally found a career, he put his talents to good use and was successful in his industry. Intending to major in business, but not truly knowing where to take it while heading into college, he had to work extra hard in his classes in order to achieve admittance into the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame. With the threat of being forced into an economics major on the line, his hard work was rewarded, and he was accepted in Mendoza where he learned about what he wanted to do within the college, landing on a decision and sticking with it. (Navigating Your Career Journey by the  Merulo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4) For a time, indecision was an issue in Owen’s life. Not what to do with given options. What to eat, what to wear, where to go. All of these were often overthought. With that came his large issues with procrastination. While they remained in college, their severity was a large issue in high school. Owen’s mom, Kjeldy, during a conversation with him said that his procrastination was a daily issue of concern for her and one of his biggest issues. (Conversation with Kjeldy McGoldrick - FYE Week 5) Pushing every assignment to the last possible second, often staying up, losing valuable sleep during exhausting sport seasons in order to get the day’s work done. Despite this he was efficient in his work and did put significant effort into it. 
Something Owen valued was looking at the positives in things, being optimistic, as Dr. JD Kim said, “what we can do for others or what we can do already instead of what we cannot do and what we do not have yet.” This idea was one Owen held close. He emphasized the importance of knowing your boundaries and understanding what one can or cannot do, and working around that. (5 Minutes by Aria Swarr - Moreau FYE Week 6) He also felt strongly about inclusivity and bringing everyone up and together. Having been excluded before, Owen knew the pain that comes with it. Going out of his way to make sure everyone feels like they have a spot and are accepted. Not thinking he was above anyone or that anyone was above him, and attempting to spread that message to others. (Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7)
Owen is survived by his parents, Christopher and Kjeldy, his brothers Peter and Torin McGoldrick, the rest of his extended family, his friends, and those who loved him.