Moreau Integration One Andy De la Garza 10/15/2021 The Start of My Story Like many others who began their college journey in late August, I came to the University of Notre Dame excited for the future, but also nervous for the new experience. How would I fit into the community? Would I be able to make new friends? Would I be able to adjust to campus life and classes quickly? Questions like these rushed through my head, only making me more anxious for the upcoming semester. However, as soon as I stepped onto campus, I felt embraced by the Notre Dame community, and have not looked back. Now coming up on the half-way point of my first semester, I have already learned many important lessons. My brief time at Notre Dame has led me to believe that there is a value in listening to the stories of others. Growing up in San Antonio and going to a small private school, I felt as if I was always surrounded by family. My graduating class in high school was twenty-eight people, many of which I had known since a young age. Growing up in this bubble made it difficult to think about people who grew up in different environments. However, after arriving on campus at the University of Notre Dame, I was immediately met by people from across the world. From those who grew up in rural Indiana to Brazil, there is a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds present on our campus. Getting to know people from different backgrounds has been very rewarding, and hearing about the contrasting experiences of my peers has widened my view of education and family life. Similarly to the concept of the “Where I’m From” poem, I have been able to hear from a “diversity of… voices” (“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six). Every individual has their own story of his or her individual upbringing, and by listening to the experiences of others, we learn more about our world. http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html Getting to know about the lives of my peers has also been an important aspect of making friends. It takes a certain vulnerability to share one’s home experiences, so opening up about personal life at home has allowed me to form many friendships on campus. While it is not always easy to share these experiences, Brene Brown’s description of vulnerability shows its significance: “And I know that vulnerability is kind of the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it is also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). While certain elements of our personal life and upbringing may weigh heavily on us, by opening up to others and sharing our experiences, we are able to understand each other better and create lasting relationships. Listening to others also allows us to find out the goals and values of others. In his TED discussion, David Brooks describes the two sides of human nature: Adam 1, “the ambitious side of our nature” and Adam 2 “the humble side of our nature” (“Should You Live For Your Résumé ... Or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). By listening to people’s stories, whether about their upbringings or hobbies, we learn more about the values they hold. At the University of Notre Dame, I have met people with a variety of interests and qualities. From choir singers to collegiate athletes, there are people with a variety of attributes and goals at Notre Dame. However, even though many individuals have ambitions, or strong Adam 1 virtues, they also have a strong connection to faith and personal growth, or the Adam 2 virtues. The balance that students are able to find on this campus has motivated me to pursue my interests and personal growth, and had I not listened to the stories of others, I may not have the motivation. As previously addressed, forming relationships was a part of my college experience that I was both excited and nervous for. However, through learning to listen to others’ stories, I feel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM that I have been able to form strong relationships with many new friends. Listening to others is an important step in forming relationships: “A good friend should never make you feel like the things you’re saying are unimportant and uninteresting” (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Three). As stated by Olivia Taylor, we risk making others feel unimportant by not listening to their stories. Listening to stories can also teach us important lessons. For instance, Clara Harris shares her success and story, through her “pearls,” or pieces of advice she has picked up throughout her life, such as learning to be more confident in herself (“Notre Dame Commencement 2021: Laetare Medalist Address” by Clara Harris - Moreau FYE Week Five). If we want others to listen to and respect our stories, we have to be willing to listen to theirs, and we may even be able to learn from their stories. When we do not listen to the stories of others, we also risk appearing ignorant or insensitive. It is important to hear a person’s entire story before passing judgement, as to not draw false conclusions: “The single story creates stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete” (“The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Moreau FYE Week Seven). We make false judgements and accusations of people when we do not listen to their complete stories. As individuals, we do not like to be judged, much less incorrectly, so we should give others the respect of hearing their complete stories before drawing conclusions. In addition to listening to others’ stories, it is important to create a framework for our own stories: “The greatest journey you will ever go on is a journey of self discovery” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C - Moreau FYE Week Four). Echoing Fr. Pete’s statement, I still feel that I have a lot to learn about myself, and I cannot wait to discover more of my interests and passions at the University of Notre Dame. https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4 https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs Stories have the ability to touch us and teach us more about those around us and ourselves. I look forward to learning about more people on campus through listening to their stories. However, I am even more excited about becoming my own person and creating my own narrative at the University of Notre Dame. Surrounded by individuals who are excited to push me and hear my story, I look forward to my future years on this campus.