Moreau Integration

A shift from one life to another was simply a new beginning to a new journey. The semester in Notre Dame is almost done. Everyone has encountered and lived a different experience in it. The differences in our feelings and experiences make the story of this semester unique. There were questions on the mind, growth in some aspects, challenges, and wins that I, myself, experienced this semester .


Some of the most important questions that I have asked myself was to what extent can we measure someone’s religious beliefs? Since I am in a catholic school that is built on important beliefs and carries within it so many students with different religions but similar beliefs. I have noticed how everyone here has their own way of praying or connecting with god. My faith and religion has increased in importance here. I am a Muslim and I chose this catholic school because of its beliefs and faith. I have encountered some students with the same religion as me, and I grew in respecting my religion when I saw the prayer room for us on campus. This showed me this college accepts everyone and gives hope for everyone through faith. This idea of hope is seen in (“The Screwtape Letters” Chapter 8, (C.S. Lewis) -Moreau FYE Week 12). I could see it specifically in this quote “Their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for to be in time means to change,” where it shows how we are in constant change and how we grow in what we believe in. Our religion is what brings hope and what prevents demons from controlling our thoughts continuously as suggested in the letter. I think there is no definite extent to our religious beliefs, and that is what makes us unique in growing. Lastly, this is what makes us unique.

Some of the issues that were once ambiguous but now hold a greater clarity is diversity. This goes back to (“Diversity matters!” By Prof. Agustin Fuentes -Moreau FYE Week 11). Everyone hates injustice and always fights for unfairness, but in the end they don’t realize that they live in a racist community that keeps on growing. This happens unconsciously for others and consciously for the rest. Diversity matters in a way we don’t think about and how it affects a lot of what happens on a daily basis. This quote from that week “We don't accept inequality as a good thing but it is present” expresses our reality. An incident happened, where someone in the dining hall was being racist to an asian girl. Everyone was disgusted by that person’s action, which shows how a lot of us do not agree with injustice and racism but it is still there somehow. A lot of the upperclassmen have told us how this year is the most diverse in Notre Dame, and I came to a realization how diversity is what makes campus more unique. I have seen this in the positive interaction and relationships that everyone has built this semester. Finally, there is always a good party for everything. 

Back at home dealing with hardships was “black and white” to me, but this semester it was moreambigious and complicated. For my first few weeks in Notre Dame, I felt homesick and in need of my close friends and family. Also, there was a lot of work and time management that had to be done and I had some hardships in those first weeks. In (“Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop” (Grotto) -Moreau FYE Week 10) it showed an interesting way of healing through Japanese art. I liked how the woman that leads it made everyone think about what broke them, and let out everything that sits heavy on their heart. I believe that every person will encounter something in their life that would let them feel lost and would teach them life lessons. I think that this is how life works. Nothing is perfect, and everyone is on their own journey of self-love and self-discovering.  Maybe the first few weeks of college were challenging and complicated. We are not used to this, because we lived 188 years of our lives with our family and close to our friends. Trying something new for the first time is also hard, but as time progresses, it becomes easier. For me, it was only the first few weeks when I started to adapt to this new culture and new life here. In the end, I won in this case.

One of the things that I grew to understand here was imposter syndrome. I realized how imposter syndrome has no threshold, and everyone is susceptible to some sort of self doubt and a feeling of fraudulence. Also, one really knows what others are actually feeling, in a way of thinking that they are the only ones experiencing this. I have felt the idea of this quote “Intense feelings of imposterism can prevent people from sharing their great ideas” in my seminar this semester. This is from (“What is Imposter Syndrome” By Elizabeth Cox, TED-Ed -Moreau FYE Week 9). In my seminar, we do discussions on Latin American Poetry, which is a new angle for me. During the first few weeks of college, I was a little nervous to give my opinions and interpretations in class. This did not stay for a while because I realized that everyone feels the same way somehow and there is no right or wrong in interpretations. I started giving my opinions and thoughts, and I realized how imposter syndrome could prevent us from expressing some powerful thoughts within our minds. Finally, I grew to understand that during my months here.


In conclusion, we are all unique in the way we narrate our stories in life. The questions we asked, the challenges we faced, the wins we scored, and the growth we achieved while encountering the first semester in Notre Dame is different for every one of us. I grew in understanding myself more and respecting my religion. I have faced challenges away from home but won in accepting and transitioning. More awaits in the journey, and I can not wait for what is there.