Kuipers Taylor Kelly Moreau 19 April 2022 I Will. Ultimately, my purpose on this Earth is to serve others. Wherever I go, I will use my privilege, education, and gifts to improve the lives of others. I will elevate the voices of others, not simply push my own to the forefront. I will work together with others, always being respectful and nonjudgemental. I will affirm the dignity of all people. While in college, I will prepare myself for a life of service without losing sight of the actions and impact possible at the moment. When talking with my father for the Week 5 reflection activity, he noted that I have always had a passion for serving others and that he can only imagine me in a career where I will be positively impacting the lives of others. Sagely, he also pointed out that the idealist inside of me can imagine a better world while my inner realist helps discern what is possible. While I browsed the MSCA Symposium Abstracts website, the Cultivating Dignity-Affirming Institutions project piqued my interest. This project pledges to “contribute to scholarship, practice, and policy in better understanding what it means for an institution to be dignity-affirming, [facilitate] the creation of structures and systems that affirm dignity in all types of institutions, and [devise] approaches for holding institutions accountable to achieving this end” (Week 12). This sounded so interesting that I reached out to the project’s director to ask how I could get involved. I plan on working as a project and research assistant with this initiative starting this fall. Through involvement in this initiative as well as volunteering throughout my college years, I hope to positively impact the world around me. Throughout my whole life, I have been inspired by people like Kiersten DeHaven who have “exhibited a commitment to supporting less fortunate women and children throughout the world” (Week 2). Though I’m not exactly sure where I will end up after graduation, I will strive to find a career that allows me to impact the lives of others. I will especially focus on improving and protecting the lives of women and children, just as Kierstan DeHaven does, even though it may look different for me. I hope to involve myself in more research projects while in college so I can prepare myself for undertaking my own research initiatives later on. Research is a tangible way in which I can add knowledge to the world and enable meaningful action. Throughout my college years and beyond, wherever and however I am serving, I will do so responsibly and respectfully. Having learned from dissatisfaction with how certain service opportunities were run in the past, I will ensure that my efforts in the future elevate the voices of others without pushing my own. As Stever Reifenberg writes, “Solidarity with the poor means not to try to be the voice of the voiceless…This is NOT the goal. The goal should be that those who have no voice today will have a voice and will be heard” (Week 9). Furthermore, having learned the power of working with others even though we may have differences from Tattoos on the Heart, I will strive to not judge others and will build meaningful relationships with members of the communities I am trying to help. A line from this book that struck me was “He…was…not…my…enemy. He was my friend. We worked together” (Week 7). This was said by an individual after a rival gang member was killed, emphasizing how shared humanity trumps any judgments or differences we may have. Finally, I will seek to make a tangible change, not just pay lip service to a cause or belief. Unlike those “Millions of Americans…engaging in politics in ways that are emotionally satisfying, but ultimately self-defeating,” I will not take action to make myself feel good, but will instead take meaningful action to help others (Week 11). I will never stop learning about myself and growing as an individual. I will not shy away from the ugly, confusing, or uncomfortable aspects of life—it is precisely within these spaces that we grow in our humanity. I will not become complacent and remain static. Especially in the formative years of college, I will push myself to grow. One way I can grow as an individual is through introspection. I will constantly ask myself “what” questions instead of “why” questions in order to “create a better future” (Week 6). During college, when life becomes increasingly busy, I will consistently make time for myself to process and think. I will do so by purposefully not filling my schedule with every possible activity, taking time to walk and experience nature, and limiting time spent scrolling through social media. During the quiet times I find, I will let my mind wander so I can process and brainstorm. Another way I will grow is through facing situations and conversations that may be uncomfortable or even ugly. Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble believes that “it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them” (Week 3). Taking that statement to heart, I will not shy away from the darkness in our world and in my life. In the past, I have tended to avoid things that are hard or ugly, especially when it comes to my life or mind. In addition to introspection, I will also begin therapy once I transfer over to Notre Dame. Taking this step, though daunting, will positively impact how I interact with others and the world around me. There are many more uncomfortable or ugly things that I must face to grow. As Robin DiAngelo points out, talking to white people about racism is difficult because“We experience a challenge to our racial worldview as a challenge to our very identities as good, moral people. It also challenges our sense of rightful place in the hierarchy. Thus, we perceive any attempt to connect us to the system of racism as a very unsettling and unfair moral offense” (Week 10). However, it is clear that racism must be faced in order for it to change. I will not shy away from uncomfortable conversations about topics like racism because I know I have a lot to learn and improve upon. Additionally, I will seek other ways to meet new people, learn about different issues, and push myself out of my comfort zone, I will do this through joining clubs, attending lectures and conferences, and taking challenging courses. More specifically, I hope to find a club where I can utilize Spanish in some capacity. Also, I applied for a diplomacy course in the fall semester which would push me out of my comfort zone by practicing public speaking. I will embrace the beauty of life. I will allow myself to fully experience the life that God has for me. I will focus on the people I care about and on myself, building a full and well-rounded life. When immersed in a routine during college, “It’s easy to feel as if we’re standing two inches away from a huge canvas that’s noisy and crowded and changing with every microsecond. It’s only by stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our life) really means, and to take in the larger picture” (Week 1). I will ensure that I don’t miss the beauty of life around me, especially in the three short years of college remaining. I will take pictures (but not too many), enjoy time with friends and family, go to the Snite more often, spend time in nature, admire the Dome, and take opportunities to travel. I will do my best to fully enjoy wherever I am in life. Most importantly, I will be fully and unapologetically myself. I will also allow myself to experience life without feeling the need to control or force it. I believe that God has a beautiful plan for my life, and I will not stress too much about ensuring that I follow a set plan. One practical way of reminding myself of this is the statement “Contrary to popular belief, deciding on a major does not determine the rest of your life” (Week 4). Though I can do everything in my power to control my destiny by choosing a major, ultimately, it is up to God where I end up. I will not be afraid to change course if I am called elsewhere. Ultimately, my purpose on this Earth is to serve others. Wherever I go, I will use my privilege, education, and gifts to improve the lives of others. I will elevate the voices of others, not simply push my own to the forefront. I will work together with others, always being respectful and nonjudgemental. I will affirm the dignity of all people. While in college, I will prepare myself for a life of service without losing sight of the actions and impact possible at the moment. I will never stop learning about myself and growing as an individual. I will not shy away from the ugly, confusing, or uncomfortable aspects of life—it is precisely within these spaces that we grow in our humanity. I will embrace the beauty of life. I will allow myself to fully experience the life that God has for me. I will focus on the people I care about and on myself, building a full and well-rounded life. References: (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One) (“Domer Dozen” by the University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week Two) (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three) (“Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four) (“The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six) (Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle - Moreau FYE Week Seven) (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine) (“Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten) (“Passion Isn’t Enough” by Hidden Brain - Moreau FYE Week Eleven) (“MSCA Symposium Abstracts” by the Office of the Provost - Moreau FYE Week Twelve)