Integration Capstone 4/29/2022 Living for Others and Living for Me My mission in life is to be a light for others (Moreau FYE Week Thirteen) and this is very much related to my three defining traits. In my Eulogy from Week Eight, I took away three defining characteristics about my life that carried me through my life: I work hard, I am loyal, and I am a natural leader (Moreau FYE Week Eight). I hope to serve others, lead by example, and never let anyone down by doing anything but giving it my all. And so far, I have done a pretty good job at this, participating in Army ROTC, being a strong student journalist for the Observer, and striving to become more involved on all three campuses in the tri-campus. Continuing to do this, and growing in my time at Notre Dame, I believe my life will be well- lived. A guiding person as someone who has set an example doing all the things I am striving to do is Father Hesburgh. From the documentary in Week Two, we learned about his selflessness. “Father Hesburgh was asked to join Martin Luther King in Chicago. He wasn’t worried about the controversy… His only response was, ‘when do you want me there,’” (“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley – Moreau FYE Week Two). Hesburgh’s selflessness, displayed in his memoir “God, Country, Notre Dame,” which I read before committing to the Gateway program, is a large reason for why I knew Notre Dame was the right mission for me to follow. This class has done a great job at showing the importance of loving others, despite what our instincts may first tell us. “I discovered that it always becomes impossible to demonize someone you know,” (“Tattoos on the Heart” by Father Greg Boyle – Moreau FYE Week Seven). The lesson in this passage relates to Hesburgh’s mission: love others, advocate for https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40291/files/523827?module_item_id=167955 others, but understand that everyone is human at the end of the day regardless of what side they are on. In the digital age, too, this is important for us to avoid falling into echo chambers on the internet. “First, of course, we should be intentional about the information that we expose ourselves seeking out intelligent people with whom we disagree,” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul Blaschko – Moreau FYE Week Eleven). Another instance where I had the realization that Notre Dame produces service-focused citizens was when I read Dean G. Marcus Cole’s “I am George Floyd” piece as the country erupted into protests over that incident of tragedy, and again for this class’s Week Twelve. “Yes, I am alive, and George Floyd is dead. I can breathe; he cannot. But just because a police officer did not murder me or my children does not mean that he did not harm us,” (“I am George Floyd. Except I Can Breathe. And I Can do Something” by Dean G. Marcus Cole – Moreau FYE Week Twelve). Cole eloquently proves that we must do something with the voices that we have, because one seemingly small incident in a corner of the country clearly effects everybody. This is something I knew Notre Dame would instill in me. At the same time, Notre Dame is a project on its own with things to improve on by using its own methods of service upon itself. One area, I believe, is its attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community. It’s mission claims to be doing a good job with this issue. “We value gay and lesbian members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind, and University policies proscribe it. We consciously create an environment of mutual respect, hospitality and warmth in which none are strangers and all may flourish,” (“The Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame” by University of Notre Dame – Moreau FYE Week Ten). This mission statement upset, me, because I felt that Notre Dame was not living up to it and should do better. My attentiveness to accountability, I learned in this course’s https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ discernment activity, is noticed by people close to me. Essentially I called my friend CJ and he told me how much he respects this, but I also learned that he gets concerned with how I treat my body as I attempt to handle the high stress and high involvement of my college experience (“Discernment Conversation Activity” –Moreau FYE Week Five). Taking care of myself, I think, has posed the greatest challenge to me this year—and this is saying a lot. Often times, before waking up early for ROTC physical training, I’ve had to meditate in order to calm my mind down, something this class talks a lot about. For one, we must calm down by sitting still. “To me, the point of sitting still is that it helps you see through the very idea of pushing forward; indeed, it strips you of yourself, as of a coat of armor, by leading you into a place where you’re defined by something larger,” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week One). Finding that divine purpose is so essential to our mental health. And improving mental health, it seems, is less about learning “why” bad things happen, but simply looking at the “what”. “The lesson here: Asking what could keep us open to discovering new information about ourselves, even if that information is negative or in conflict with our existing beliefs. Asking why might have the opposite effect,” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich – Moreau FYE Week Six). Challenging myself to the very essence of what I am is the only way I can be opened up to growth. Also important, I’ve learned, is realizing life on earth’s limited nature. “The concept is to intentionally think about your own death every day, as a means of appreciating the present and focusing on the future,” (“Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die” by Ruth Graham – Moreau FYE Week Three). Week Three really got me thinking about living well while I can, because though college is an investment into my future, life on earth is limited and should be always cherished. One way we can cherish life on earth is through accompaniment. “Just as https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html we are inspired when we watch others accompany well, we can imagine widening circles of impact for the accompaniment framework.” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Steve Reifenberg – Moreau FYE Week Nine). Living a well-lived life, to me, is one of relationships that lead to growth. Realizing that no relationship that leads to growth leads to realizing that helping others is key to helping oneself. As I focus on being loyal, working hard, and leading others, Moreau has also showed me the importance of trying new things. “The only way to know more about yourself is to test the waters - just get out and experience life,” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development – Moreau FYE Week Four). College is an investment, but also a journey to fulfilling my personal mission. Without trying new things—which for me consisted of the Observer and joining ROTC—I would be so much farther behind in this journey. With the conclusion to my first year of college coming up, I feel tired, but stronger than ever. I’ve experienced change unlike any other time period in my life, and can’t wait to go home and show my family what I’ve become. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/