10-14-21 The Catalyst for Verisimilitude and Rectitude Moreau first year experience has been an insightful experience as it has encompassed the facets of equity and has introduced me to a diverse array of perspectives. Both racial and religious experiences have been highlighted through the profound discussions I’ve indulged in. The concepts of hope, reverence, family, and propositional knowledge were accentuated and profoundly espoused throughout the class. “Hope anchors the soul. Hope directs our desire to its true end” by David Fagerberg’s (Faith Brings Light to a Dark World by Professor David Fagerberg – Moreau FYE Week Three) provides clarity on the path that people can take to advance on their journey to absolution and self-discovery. Along with hope, Fagerberg suggests that love is a crucial aspect of human life that holds us together and shows us optimism in times of sadness and injustice. I agree with Fagerberg's metaphor of a night window in which we see ourselves in a vulnerable state in the dark, while during the day we see the world and our interaction with it. In short, faith is the source of light that overlooks darkness and enables us to find meaning in the world. David Fagerberg's metaphor about the appearance of windows in light and darkness deeply moved me because society often views itself with a pessimistic lens that emphasizes its own vulnerabilities rather than focusing on the light of the world itself. Like Fagerberg, this analogy fired my imagination and forced me to ask the question: "How do we really see ourselves and how does our self-perception affect our view of the world?" I have come to the conclusion that when we find no meaning in the world, we wrap ourselves in a bubble of constant concern about how we perceive ourselves rather than how we perceive the world. The quote "Nothing feels worse than being used in any relationship" from Article 5 Signs that you are in a toxic friendship speaks to the immense dangers of being in a manipulative relationship and constantly tolerating abuse (Five Signs You’re in a Toxic Relationship by Olivia T. Taylor – Moreau FYE Week Four) Any relationship that is made up of inequality, lack of openness and injustice is one that is https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/belief/faith-brings-light-to-dark-world/?utm_source=fall_2021&utm_medium=class&utm_id=moreau https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/belief/faith-brings-light-to-dark-world/?utm_source=fall_2021&utm_medium=class&utm_id=moreau https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ 10-14-21 not worth being a part of, regardless of its indirect benefits. Olivia supports this point by explaining that a friend who cannot hear you and who repeatedly ignores a conversation because it is "uninteresting" or "boring" is a source of toxicity in a relationship. It is important to keep in touch by discussing fruitful topics in a mutual and respectful way; otherwise, the relationship has no positive value. Although I have never been in a toxic relationship, I understand how an unhealthy relationship can invade various parts of our lives and damage our physical and mental health. Often, it is those who are too focused on drama who also talk about the people behind their backs; Therefore, it is important to avoid these people. Whenever you notice red flags like constant drama and argument, it's important to recognize how these negative values have affected you and to consider deviating from that The Two Notre Dames quote "From here you can bring to our human family the only hope that is permanent" illustrates the monumental effect that can be created when participating in a network of family relationships (Two Notre Dames by Fr. Kevin Grove – Moreau FYE Week Five). Grove emphasizes the word "family" to empower freshman audiences to build strengthening relationships with one another. Sometimes when we find ourselves in an abyss, we can rely on the people we associate with to pull us out of that abyss. I can also rely on the friendships I have developed in my classroom and the resources that Notre Dame offers to pave the way to success and prosperity. Carla Harris spoke eloquently about the dangers of imposter syndrome and the importance of being proud of our authenticity. Our distinctive personality and repertoire catapult us into opportunities. The resort to putting a facade on ourselves puts us in an uncomfortable corner where we must stick to expectations that do not represent who we are. Regardless of the situation, I always try to show myself in my true light. Just as Harris emphasized authenticity, I emphasize the power of truthfulness. The quote "The second reserve of knowledge of propositional knowledge, which is the kind of knowledge we acquire through reason, logical evidence, and careful analysis" illustrates reservations about presumptive reasoning and how the social tendency to presume before assimilation is deeply https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=859bc1a8-0d0f-4eb4-a1c1-d0a45c429187 10-14-21 rooted in the penetration of implicit bias (How to Think about ‘Implicit Bias’ by Keith Payne – Moreau FYE Week Seven). It is important to share the various stories that tell the experiences and needs of minorities. The biases behind preconceived notions neglect the crucial and immensely monumental narratives that people must tell. Payne reiterates this sentiment by stating that, regardless of political affiliation, we collectively add an implicit bias to a developing society of preconceived notions. Payne explains that a variety of studies have led to the conclusion that all people, from work to school, have preconceived notions that destroy egalitarianism and empathy. In some cases, these "perceptual illusions" are rooted in emotional response to unorthodox appearances and colloquial language. Furthermore, "field experiments" continually demonstrate a framework of "real discrimination" that harms minorities. Despite the evidence, Payne contends that most experiments are inconclusive and are based on correlation rather than causality. As compelling as the evidence is, I agree with Payne. It is more dangerous to mix correlation and causation for the sake of a conclusion than to simply leave the concept of implicit bias in a nebulous conclusion. “We live in a culture with an Adam I mentality where we’re inarticulate about Adam II”. This quote speaks to an ongoing trend in society where we prioritize our skillsets in a capitalistic medium rather than focusing on our internal character (Should you live for your resume…or your eulogy? by David Books – Moreau FYE Week Two) Furthermore, our outward propensity to build upon our skills neglects the underlying importance of having a strong spirituality, inner-consistency, and being modest with ourselves. Books’s presentation serves as a candid reflection on society and the marketplace as we’ve blinded ourselves from the topic of self-care in the interest of being marketable in a profession. After taking the survey, my signature strength was defined by my ability to speak the truth and, more broadly, be able to present myself in a genuine way. I was surprised by how highly the survey ranked my love, creativity, and spirituality as these are ideas, I don’t realize I implement throughout my day. Tying this survey to Brooks’s presentation, I would say I land on the side of Adam 2 since I prioritize internal https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-think-about-implicit-bias/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM 10-14-21 characteristics such as love and spirituality; meanwhile, resume virtues such as perseverance and ambition are categorized as my “middle strengths”. So although I capitalize on my internal health, I remain wary of the traits that would be make me favorable within the sphere of capitalism. “They [the study group] believed that what made them vulnerable made them beautiful. They didn’t talk about vulnerability being comfortable nor did they talk a bout being excruciating as I had heard earlier in the shame interviewing,” (The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown – Moreau FYE Week One). The quote illustrates that despite acknowledging their various flaws and shortcomings, people who are courageous accentuate every aspect of themselves. Individuals with this caliber of self- confidence constantly take risks that may or may not work in their favor; this is what makes them so distinct. In a broader sense, Dr. Brown outlines the differences between optimism and pessimism, and how confining to these values produces wildly different outcomes. I thought Dr. Brown’s approach to vulnerability was really insightful as it outlines why society must balance its societal expectations such that we avoid excessive pessimism and optimism. These two sides of the spectrum affect our life and the future generations that follow our footsteps. I feel that this is a really vital video to watch because as I become more aware of my vulnerabilities at Notre Dame it’s important that I remain level-headed. In the past, I’ve found myself lost in an abyss of insecurity and hubris because I struggled to deal with my vulnerabilities. After this video, I understand why being overly confident about my decisions can blind me from the potential consequences. Conversely, being excessively insecure about making decisions can restrain me from succeeding. Fortunately, Notre Dame has understanding professors that openly encourage its students to visit during office hours to refine their skills. My poem revealed my authentic self and showcased how my background forged my personality. The morals I adhere are a direct result of the people and environment I surrounded with. The blog we discussed about how people would make assumptions about where we’re from rather than having the propensity to learn outlines the dangers of preconceive notions (Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon – Moreau FYE Week Six) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=2 http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html 10-14-21 Ultimately the class amalgamates the importance of rectitude and understanding new perspectives. I recall learning about the caveats of being in a toxic relationship as well as the perceptual illusions rooted in the emotional response to unorthodox appearances and vernacular. Also, the facets of being in a toxic relationship were outlined in class as we brainstormed ways to circumvent being trapped in a toxic relationship. Additionally, the concept of implicit bias sparked a profound discussion in class about presumptive reasoning and the dangers associated with it. It’s important to have people that one can rely on to lift from a state of demotivation. The class highlighted the ways in which one must assimilate different perspectives and, most importantly, feel welcomed at Notre Dame.