Moreau Integration 4 
Professor Espeseth 
April 29th, 2022
A Path to Becoming Whoever I Want to Be 
 I have been blessed with an incredible gift: an education. I believe that I must strive to make the best of my education here at Notre Dame and take hold of the opportunities that surround me. At the beginning of freshman year, I was focused on having good grades or planning a career path that would support my financial goals. Today, I believe that I should focus my energy on aligning my academic path and extracurriculars with my values and aspirations to create measurable change. I look forward to acquiring the necessary skills that will allow me to go far after college. However, skills are acquirable, but this critical time of life is one that I will never get back. I have the opportunity to explore and become whatever I want to be. When I think about who I truly want to be, I believe I want to be someone who is loved and someone who improves the lives of others. In order to pursue a life well lived at Notre dame, I hope to invest in quality, life-long, and fulfilling relationships, create measurable change, and grow both  spiritually and academically. 
Over the past few months, I have spent much time discerning my major and career path. Coming into college, I really had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I felt overwhelmed and anxious about choosing my major. As I progressed through my freshman year, I realized that one’s college major does determine as much as I once thought it did. Notre Dame’s Center for Career Development emphasizes that when picking a major, you are not necessarily committing to a career path (“Navigating Your Career Journey”  by Meruelo Center For Career Development – Moreau FYE Week Four). Similarly, one’s career does not determine their worth or whether or not they are able to pursue a “life well lived”. In Moreau week 2, we looked into Notre Dame alumni as “inspirations of a life well lived” ("Domer Dozen" by the University of Notre Dame — Moreau FYE Week Two). When looking at these things, it can become easy to correlate the success of your career to the meaning of life but I believe that this is a dangerous tendency. It was important for me to make the distinction between “a life well lived” and my future career. Although it is possible that my career will contribute to a life well-lived, I believe that a life well-lived can be achieved regardless of one’s career choice.
Freshman year has brought about a lot of highs and lows. I have found that hardship and suffering is something that is both necessary for growth and ultimately inevitable. I have always found the concept of suffering challenging. I believe that it is important to examine and understand the function of suffering in the world. As Jihoon Kim said in his short film, “if God is good, why does he allow suffering to my life?” (“5 Minutes” by Aria Swarr – Moreau Week Six).  This is a question that I have thought a lot about over the past year. As a person of faith, I have always believed in some sort of higher power or being. The existence of suffering is something that challenges my perception of God. However, I do believe that some degree of hardship is necessary for growth. As sister Alethia said,  “it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them” (“Meet The Nun Who Wants You To Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Gram – Moreau FYE Week Three). Although I faced various challenges this year, I believe these challenges have been formative for me. I feel in my heart that the challenges I have faced have allowed me to grow in ways that I would not be able to without them. 
One specific challenge that I have faced this year is finding the balance between academics, extracurriculars, and social life. I have found myself to be incredibly busy and I often feel obligated to constantly be doing work or studying. I appreciate the driven students I am around, but it can be easy to feel like you are falling behind or not doing enough in comparison to others. I have found that many students prioritize work at the expense of rest or self-care. I have also fallen victim to these habits. However, I believe that rest is necessary for success and the completion of quality work. In his article, “Why we need to slow down our lives”, Pico Lyer effectively articulates the fundamental need for breaks. Lyer states, says “The more time I spend away from my work, the better that work will be” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Lyer – Moreau FYE Week One). The notion of breaks and rest is something that is difficult for me to implement into my life. However, I have found that when I prioritize my sleep or allow myself to have long social breaks at the dining hall, I am able to be more productive later.  
This year, I have found that reaching out to others and practicing self-reflection is a powerful way to gain clarity. Throughout my career discernment processes, I have talked to friends and family in order to aid my decision-making. For Moreau Week 5, we were encouraged to engage in a conversation with a close family member or friend in order to identify my values and vocation (“Discerning a Life Well-Lived Discernment Conversation Activity” – Moreau FYE Week Five). After speaking with my mom, I found that I find great meaning in human interaction and quality relationships. For me, a life well-lived requires investment in others and human-centered work. 
At the beginning of freshman year, I was a pre-med major. I quickly found that my interests lie elsewhere. As I further discerned where my curiosity lies, I found myself interested in the study of Global Affairs. As I explored the curriculum in the Keough School of Global Affairs, I found myself excited about what would be to come in the next four years. I am passionate about the complex global issues that press our world and country today such as global inequality, refugee crises, global health issues, and environmental challenges. In my global affairs class this last semester, I have learned about the large-scale issues within current development practices. When discussing the hardships that people face, Pope Francis said “I often find myself wondering why them and not me?” (“Why The Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone”  by TED Conferences and Pope Francis – Moreau FYE Week Seven). When learning about some of the world’s most impoverished nations and some of the most pressing global issues in my classes, I often find myself feeling the same way. Although I will never have the answer to that question, I have learned about the importance of accompaniment when addressing global issues ("Teaching Accompaniment" by Professor Steve Reifenberg — Moreau FYE Week Nine). Rather than speaking for others, we must work to empower others to speak for themselves by giving them the platform to do so. 
To me, a life well-lived is one where I am able to create measurable change. I am passionate about human rights, social justice, and equity and hope to use my education in some way for the betterment of marginalized communities. However, as emphasized by Hidden Brain Media, “Passion isn’t enough” (“Passion Isn't Enough” by Hidden Brain Media – Moreau FYE week Eleven). Rather, we must actively participate in bringing about change. 
As a student from Minneapolis, the murder of George Floyd has really stuck with me. I am now taking classes to learn more about the relationship between race and policing in the United States. In his article, Dean G. Marcus Cole says “I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.” (“I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.”  by Dean G. Marcus Cole — Moreau FYE Week Twelve). I recognize the incredible privilege I have and I believe that I am responsible for using my breath to make change. This change begins with education and a commitment to learning about the current oppressive systems in place. In her book, White Fragility, Robin Diangelo addresses these issues and why it is so difficult for us to talk about race (“Why it's so Hard to Talk to White People About Racism" by Robin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten). She emphasizes that racism is largely a result of a deeply-flawed system that reinforces inequality and racial superiority. 
My definition of a life well-lived continues to evolve and change. In reality, there is no perfect definition of a life well-lived. During my time here at Notre Dame, I hope to continue shaping my own personal definition of a life well-lived. Right now, a life well lived is one where I engage in fulfilling relationships, create measurable change, and continue to grow.