Mary O’Connor 
Integration 4 

Pursuit of a Life-Well Lived: Forming my Values and Identity at Notre Dame and Beyond

Step 1: Mission Statement
​​Based on the values of connectivity, charity and kindness, I commit myself to a life filled with faith, family and friends. I strive towards creating a more equitable world by working towards solutions to issues I am passionate about and do not stand down in the face of adversity. Led by the values instilled in me by my Catholic faith, I build my community up by dedicating myself to being a force for the common good. I am able to recognize the needs and passions of others, and use my own gifts and talents to lend a helping hand to those in need. I am dedicated to my family and friends and take time out of my busy life to be present with them and enjoy their company. I find fulfillment in endeavors that challenge me beyond my comfort zone, such as new professional opportunities or chances to try new things. I believe that the way to live a well-lived life is to accept the obstacles thrown in front of me with an attitude of gratitude for the lessons they have taught me. I commit myself to concretely taking advantage of setbacks as opportunities for growth by dedicating time to reflecting on ways I can improve everyday through meditation and silent prayer. I pursue growth and more self-knowledge with each challenge that comes my way. I commit myself to being an active participant in my relationships with God and others. In the midst of a complicated world, I strive to be a force for positive change. Using my Notre Dame education and life experiences, I strive to take advantage of the opportunities I am given and change the lives of others. I aim to embrace the various challenges and setbacks of everyday academic life as ways to grow in my knowledge of how I will contribute to the world. I understand that I have been placed on this earth for a purpose and intend to use my gifts and talents to make a concrete impact, guided by my Catholic faith and my family and friends who support me along the way.

Step 2: Integration 

	As reflected in my mission statement, something that I value deeply is taking time to be present not only with myself but with those I care about. However, in the business of our world today where we are able to use technology to be in touch with people at all times, it is even more important to me that I allow myself moments to relax and take time for myself. As Pico Iyer wisely writes, “the more we can contact others, the more, it sometimes seems, we lose contact with ourselves” ("Why we need to slow down our lives" by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). While I value the time I spend with family and friends and appreciate the interconnectedness technology provides, as reflected in my mission statement, I also understand and value the time I get to slow down and reflect, through meditation or silent prayer. As I have adapted to the stress of college, I have taken time to meditate, particularly in the mornings before beginning my day. In starting my day with a few moments of quiet to myself, I feel as though I have filled my own cup and enter the day refreshed and in a calm state. If I am rushing out the door, I will often add a stop at the Grotto on my walk to class to spend just a minute or two in silent reflection to prepare me for my day as well as appreciate all of the blessings and experiences I have had over my lifetime. Over the next three years, I will continue to embody my mission statement in this way by making it a goal of mine to commit just five to ten minutes each day to silent prayer or meditation. In living out this part of my mission statement I aim to allow myself to be a happier, fuller individual. 
Another value reflected in my mission statement that I aim to develop over my next three years at Notre Dame is to be a force of positive change in the Notre Dame community and the world alike. Using the example of Notre Dame icon Father Hesburgh as a guide, I aim to develop the confidence to stand up for causes I believe in. In the film Hesburgh, Father Hesburgh is quoted saying: “I took a stand for something and I wasn’t going to stop” ("Hesburgh" by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). This is just one example of his can-do attitude and commitment to causes he cared about that I wish to embody. In the remainder of my time here at Notre Dame, I aim to involve myself more deeply in issues I am passionate about and take a stand on issues that matter to me. Just this year, I have become an ambassador for Earth Cups, a brand dedicated to crafting an eco-friendly alternative to Solo Cups to be used at tailgates and more. Through my involvement with Earth Cups I have been able to spread awareness about the importance of sustainability on campus, and even gotten friends and family members involved and excited about the cause. I aim to further my involvement with Earth Cups and other organizations in and around campus, such as GreenND and the Office of Sustainability, that commit themselves to similar goals of preserving and protecting the environment specifically in and around campus. In this way, I hope over the next three years to embody the confidence and courage to make change that Father Hesburgh is emblematic of. 
	Another aspect of a life well-lived that I aim to embody is an attitude of appreciation and mature acceptance of challenges and diversions in my life. It is easy to see how over the next three years here at Notre Dame, not everything will go according to plan. I foresee that some of my interests might change or that academic and personal challenges may come my way. I hope that as I grow in wisdom and knowledge of myself and the world around me, I can handle these challenges with an attitude of gratitude for the new doors they may open. Sister Alethiea is a great example of someone who took advantage of a changing life path with grace and conviction: “When her longtime boyfriend picked her up from the airport after the trip, she broke up with him and canceled her plans to go to law school. Within four years, she was wearing a habit at the convent” ("Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die" by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). Sister Aletheia’s willingness to accept new callings and allow new passions to move her is a good example of how I wish to approach my remaining time at Notre Dame and beyond. Just in my short time at Notre Dame, I have seen how my interests can and will change, and that I must be willing to adapt to this. Specifically, in coming to Notre Dame I was set on doing a business-economics minor in order to provide a more “practical” application to my sociology major. I thought that taking courses in business would be interesting to me, but after registering for multiple courses in economics and related fields, I realized I wasn’t interested in business or economics out of academic curiosity but rather out of a desire to make my major into something I felt more people view as a legitimate career path. After further reflection on this I decided to change paths and do a minor that is truly interesting to me. For me, this took an attitude adjustment from one of practicality and predictability to one that challenged me to be open to new experiences and explore potential academic interests. In making this attitude a part of my mission statement, I hope to allow myself to be open to any diversions on my life path and embrace obstacles with trust in God’s plan for me over the next three years and beyond.
	Moreover, the example of JD Kim from the Grotto video “Five Minutes” is another way I wish to embody the courage to overcome obstacles mentioned in my mission statement. JD’s life was forever changed when he became physically disabled, and he has persevered through this seemingly insurmountable challenge and embraced his newly formed life with grace and conviction. JD recounts how he found solace in some of his darkest moments: “I remembered the stories of Jesus. I remembered God loving us, and in that moment I prayed to God” (Five Minutes by Aria Swarr -  Moreau FYE Week 6). As mentioned in my mission statement, I have made it a goal of mine to turn to God in times of struggle. Although I have never faced a challenge as great as the one that JD faced when he became disabled, I have still had dark moments in my life where I have felt discouraged and wanted to give up. Inspired by JD’s courage and conviction, I aim to find God in moments where all hope seems lost. I know that life is going to continue to present me with challenges and setbacks that may seem too large to overcome, but over the next three years I aim to take advantage of opportunities to grow in my relationship with God in good times and in bad, such as through attending mass in my dorm and involving myself in Campus Ministry activities such as serving as a Eucharistic Minister and attending the various retreats offered through the Campus Ministry office as a way to meet new people and further engage in my faith journey.
	Another way that I aim to embody the values articulated in my mission statement is through allowing myself to pursue a career path that fulfills me and brings me joy. In a hyper-competitive academic environment like Notre Dame, it is easy to feel pressured to enter a field that will provide you with financial stability rather than one that sparks your interest and fills you with intellectual curiosity. The Career Development Center activities from Week 4 served as an opportunity for me to examine how I can find a career path that both excites me and provides me with the flexibility to live the life I dream of. Particularly, the values I decided on as important to have in my place of work, such as demonstrating my creativity, influencing and leading others and working in a fast-paced environment, were helpful in allowing me to narrow down my potential options for life after graduation. Specifically, I aim to embody these values before I enter the professional world through treating my classrooms as places of work, and seeing interactions with other students as opportunities for me to be a leader and think creatively in the fast-paced, intellectually stimulating environment offered here at Notre Dame. In the next three years, I also hope to take advantage of the Career Development Center’s various services to help prepare me for life after college and the job search process, in order to live out my mission statement’s commitment to pursuing my passions. 
	Moreover, the Week 5 discernment activity was a way for me to develop the values of my mission statement based on the perceptions of those most important to me. As reflected in my mission statement, I care deeply about staying in close contact with those I love. Hearing their opinions on what makes me the happiest person I can be and when they see me at my best was informative as I begin to envision my next three years at Notre Dame and beyond. The common thread throughout my discernment discussions with my loved ones was that they see me at my best and most motivated when I am involving myself in organizations that work to protect and preserve the environment. Their insights encouraged me to get involved with Earth Cups and have allowed me to seek out ways to be involved with sustainability at Notre Dame. As a result of these conversations, I have declared a minor in sustainability as well as begun to take a more active role in my membership in the Herbivore Society on campus. I am to continue to develop my understanding of my passions and interests as I spend my next three years in an environment that encourages and invites pursuit of academic interests, guided by the opinions of those I love as well as my own self-knowledge. 
	As mentioned in my mission statement, I aim to spend the next three years at Notre Dame trying to find more ways to become involved in building a community that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone who wishes to be a part of it. Notre Dame is a special place founded in Christian values of love and charity, and this presents each individual member of this community with an opportunity but also a challenge to find common ground and communion with those who may differ from us. As Pope Francis wisely stated, “only by educating people to a true solidarity will we be able to overcome the ‘culture of waste,’ which doesn't concern only food and goods but, first and foremost, the people who are cast aside by our techno-economic systems” (Why the only future worth building includes everyone by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7).  Truly, the world we live in today is one that too often is comfortable disregarding the needs and concerns of others. Over the next three years at Notre Dame, I hope to not only become more aware of the various issues impacting those less fortunate than me around the world but also to find ways to become involved in hands-on service in the community of South Bend. After participating in the Mulch Madness event that worked to enrich the South Bend community with healthier, richer soil, I have grown in my understanding of the various issues that need to be addressed in South Bend and beyond. Specifically I was able to see how much of the South Bend community’s green space is neglected and in need of maintenance, and also how important it is for a community to have access to healthy green space. As reflected in my mission statement, I am excited to grow in my involvement with making a difference in our community over the next three years, and taking my Notre Dame education to the next level by using it to make a positive impact even after I leave college. 
	Additionally, I aim to use my Notre Dame education to grow in my ability to bring people together and be a force for the common good in my community. Week 9 introduced me to the concept of accompaniment and how it can help me in my work in being a person that brings people together. As Steve Reifenberg notes, “accompaniment reframes the idea that we’re working to help people “over there,” in recognition of the fact that ‘over there’ and ‘here’ are intertwined. The beauty of using accompaniment is in the blurring of the lines between us and them, doctor and patient, donor and recipient, expert and novice. Instead, we are partners, walking together, towards a better future” (Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9). Truly, accompaniment is a tool I plan on implementing over my remaining time at Notre Dame to live out my commitment to being a positive influence. I know that over the course of my time at Notre Dame, I will continue to be pulled in many directions and feel overwhelmed and often too busy to practice accompaniment on a large scale. However, I aim to practice accompaniment in small, everyday actions such as holding the door for someone or smiling at someone I don't know. I also aim to practice accompaniment in larger, more concrete ways like having meaningful conversations about important issues affecting people in our community such as racism and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Over the semester, I have experienced accompaniment through friends and classmates supporting me while I have been sick, and consistently reaching out to me to see how I am doing and if there is anything they can do. Through this experience, I have seen how accompaniment is a great example of how both small and large-scale actions can transform days and even lives, and I aim to incorporate this into the remainder of my time at Notre Dame and beyond. 
	As reflected in my mission statement, something that I hold dearly to my heart is maintaining healthy and open relationships with those I care about. On Notre Dame’s campus, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with people of various backgrounds different from mine. Just in my first year, I have been able to interact with other students whose lives differ from mine in numerous ways. In order to live out my goal of maintaining healthy and open relationships with others, I must take into account the various disadvantages and injustices that so many have suffered in their lifetimes because of issues of systemic racism. As Dr. Robin DiAngelo recounts from his own experiences with issues of systemic racism, “Yes, white people can have problems and face barriers, but systematic racism won’t be one of them. This distinction — between individual prejudice and a system of unequal institutionalized racial power — is fundamental” (Why It's So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism by Dr. Robin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week 10). As I continue to learn about issues of systemic racism and other injustices of our country and world over the next three years I spend at Notre Dame as well as encounter other students of different backgrounds, I have made it a goal to be a resource and an ally for those who at times may feel ostracized in our community. Specifically, I aim to be GreenDot trained next fall in order to be better prepared and aware of issues regarding sexual assault on our campus and beyond. This is just one of many resources Notre Dame offers to students to better understand and be allies for their peers, and I look forward to exploring more of these opportunities over the next three years. 
	On this note, another way in which I aim to form meaningful relationships with others as mentioned in my mission statement is through not shying away from difficult conversations or differences in opinion. Our Notre Dame community is filled with bright minds that all encapsulate different ideas and opinions on various important issues. As I have grown older, I have seen how easy it is to shut out differing viewpoints to remain in the comfort of my own complacent thoughts. But as Notre Dame students being educated by a mission committed to building global citizens, “We need to keep an eye on our own motives. When we find ourselves discrediting views we disagree with and when we find others around us supporting and encouraging us to do so we need to take a step back and reorient ourselves. We need to ask ourselves whether our picture of our opponents is accurate and well thought out or whether we might be trapped in the feedback loops characteristic of echo chambers” (How to Avoid an Echo Chamber by Dr. Paul Blaschko - Moreau FYE Week 11). Truly, it is easy to shut out the viewpoints of those who differ from us or disagree with us because they are difficult to hear. In my two theology courses at Notre Dame, I have seen how many different perspectives people have on things I have always viewed as absolute truths. But through these experiences I have become wary of limiting my capacity for challenging conversations to my own echo chamber that shuts out the opinions of others to remain comfortable with my preconceived notions. In my remaining time at Notre Dame, I anticipate my beliefs will continue to be challenged and brought into question by other’s conflicting viewpoints. As reflected in my mission statement, I aim to be a force for the common good by accepting challenges to my own ideas with grace and engaging in conversations that may add to my beliefs or grant me a new perspective of important issues confronting our world today. 
	Moreover, another way I aim to live out the values reflected in my mission statement over my next three years at Notre Dame is through taking advantage of being educated to a mission founded in the concrete belief in the inherent dignity of each human being. As reflected in the Congregation of the Holy Cross’s Constitution, “The mission is not simple, for the impoverishment we would relieve is not simple. There are networks of privilege, prejudice and power so commonplace that often neither oppressors nor victims are aware of them” (Mission by  Congregation of the Holy Cross - Moreau FYE Week 12). While being at Notre Dame allows me to explore how I might fulfill my own personal desires and needs in a confusing world, it also allows me to see the various ways in which the world is in need of adjustment. As noted in this Constitution, many of the issues confronting our world today do not have a simple, one-step solution. I aim to take advantage of my time here at Notre Dame over the next three years by not only understanding how I can fulfill my own personal and professional goals, but also how I can contribute to changing the world around me. I hope to use Notre Dame’s core curriculum to enrich myself in various ways about the issues confronting our world today that I may not fully understand or not even be aware of. I have made it a goal to use the gift of my education at Notre Dame to better understand the issues contributing to the injustices of today’s world. Specifically, I took a course entitled Nazi Germany, Nazi Europe this semester to better understand the lasting impacts that the Holocaust has had on perpetuating inequality in European countries. I also am going to be taking courses over the next three years in sociology that examine inequality in the United States and how our current social and political structures continue to enforce stereotypes and disadvantages along socioeconomic lines. In this way, I will be able to learn about issues of educational inequality and environmental racism, which are two issues of injustice I am passionate about exploring. 
	Overall, my mission statement reflects my commitment to being a person of integrity who is aware and willing to act on the issues confronting today’s world. I know that my four years of college can be a time for me to grow in my wisdom and knowledge of global issues, and I will continue to immerse myself in opportunities to become more aware of the various ways our world needs improvement over the next three years. I also hope to use the next three years to grow in my knowledge of myself, and what exactly it is God is calling me to do in a world full of opportunity. Guided by the values of my mission statement, I look forward to taking advantage of the opportunity to grow as an individual over my next three years at Notre Dame, guided by the values I hold closest to my heart.