Exercise in Factorization: The Prime Factors of Me One of my favorite hobbies is solving difficult math problems with computer science. Something that comes up often while doing so is the act of factoring large numbers. The process involves taking a number and breaking it down into factors that can multiply together to make it. For instance, the number 1234567890 can be factored as 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 3607 x 3803. What’s interesting about this is that not only does it have complex factors like 3607 and 3803, but also incredibly simple ones, like 2, 3, and 5. In this paper, I hope to do something similar – just using myself, rather than a number. Indeed, some of my values are simple, but others can be very complicated. I believe that I am made to push forward regardless of the circumstances, to find a way forward when there aren’t any apparent paths. This has been a core belief of mine for a while now. I’ve been in many situations in the past where there simply hasn’t seemed to be any logical way for me to accomplish my goals, to get the homework done before the due date, to find a simple and elegant solution for the problem in front of me, or to appease everyone involved in the situation. However, in most of these cases, by either working hard or thinking of a clever solution, I’ve been able to resolve my issues. Many of the experiences in my life have taught me the value of perseverance, and I don’t plan on dropping it any time soon. As Fr. Pete said, “Resist the temptation to throw your shoe halfway across the room when the knot doesn’t come out” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C – Moreau FYE Week Three). In the future, I plan on solving many daunting problems by working hard and thinking out of the box, just as I always have. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs I believe that I thrive with the relationships that I forge with people. Whether it be a friend I haven’t spoken to in ages or a professor that I’m working on a project with, the people in my life make things interesting and make the world a place worth living in. I’m extremely grateful for my friends, who haven’t left my side since I met them, and continue to enrich my life with their presence. This is the way things should be – as Olivia Taylor says, “Friendships should make you feel positive and like you’re investing something in the long-term” (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia T. Taylor, Grotto – Moreau FYE Week Four). Of course, friendships and most relationships are a two-way street – I hope that my friends find my presence to be as joyful as I find theirs. When I arrived at Notre Dame, I found myself worrying about how often I should contact my friends. I wanted to keep in touch with them, but at the same time I didn’t want to violate their feelings of independence. Over time, however, I’ve learned that it’s best to keep in contact with your friends regularly regardless of the situation – not only is it good for you, but they also appreciate it too! In the future, I plan on keeping my friends close, no matter how far we may be physically. I believe that my vulnerability makes me approachable. I’ve always been nervous about sharing a lot about myself when meeting new people and making friends, but at Notre Dame I’ve learned that there’s a lot to be gained by being vulnerable to others. When you’re vulnerable, you open yourself up for others, and allow them to relate more deeply to you. In the end, this only results in stronger relationships. As Dr. Brown says, “I know that vulnerability is kind of the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it’s also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love…” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown – Moreau FYE Week One). In the future, I plan on using what I’ve learned to forge better relationships and strengthen the ones that I already have. https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0 I believe that I should focus on myself and my health before my resumé. This has always been a struggle for me – my parents have drilled it into me that I should focus on my future and strive to do well in life, so I’ve always struggled with deciding how much I should prioritize my work. Over time, though, I’ve realized that I gain a lot more happiness when I’m not constantly focused on what I should be doing to better my resumé. As David Brooks said in his TED talk, “That turns you into a shrewd animal, that treats life as a game, slips you into a sense of mediocrity, …, you’re not earning the sort of eulogy that you want” (“Should You Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks, TED – Moreau FYE Week Two). Of course, this isn’t to say that working for your resumé is meaningless – it just means that it shouldn’t be the forefront of your life. In the future, I hope to find the right balance between the two. I believe that helping others is my purpose in life. Throughout my school career, I’ve found that I’ve been able to do well in my math and science classes – I’ve had a knack for those subjects. I’ve also found that it makes me feel great to help out others, where this may not be the case. Tutoring others is extremely rewarding – after all, “it is what you do for others, that counts” (“2021 Laetare Medalist Address” by Carla Harris – Moreau FYE Week Five). Here at Notre Dame, I’ve been seeking out volunteer positions. Right now, I mainly just help with the first aid services at football games with FAST. I’ve also been helping my roommate with his math homework! Helping out others makes me feel whole, and I’m glad I can continue doing so at Notre Dame. I believe that I should pursue truth by seeking out the stories of many. I feel like in the past, I haven’t been critical enough of all the information that I hear. In the age of the internet, it’s very easy to spread misinformation. Not only that, but for a while I didn’t think that I was susceptible to misinformation – as Adichie succinctly puts it, “it isn’t nice to think we aren’t very https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4 nice” (“Danger of a Single Story” by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie, Moreau FYE Week Seven). That being said, I think this one is a bit simpler to tackle. In the future, I’ll be sure to verify information that I learn with multiple sources before taking it as fact, and when I learn information for the first time I’ll be sure to take it with a grain of salt. Hopefully, I can gain a more complete and true picture of the world by doing so. I believe that understanding my past allows me to make wiser decisions in the future. Not only is it nice to reminisce about the events that led up to where I am now, but in doing so I review the decisions I’ve made in the past, both the wise and unwise ones. I got the chance to do so when I was writing my “Where I’m From” poem during week six. By reviewing my past, I hope to make a better future for myself. I can’t wait to see what these four years at Notre Dame have in store for me! https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story