Integration Assignment

	I am searching for a place of belonging at Notre Dame. As I sat in your class, I listened to you talk about the experience that you and your daughter had while at Notre Dame, and I am looking to have an experience of unity and pride like yours. The past couple of weeks have been so busy, as I’ve been studying for midterms, quizzes, grinding homework, writing essays, and I feel as if I have not been able to form the connections which my peers have while here. I have a really close group of friends, but people in my dorm feel foreign and alienated. I feel like all I have time to do is go back to my room, study, and then go to bed. The video by Rene Brown, shows how being vulnerable can help to establish trust with others. I also find what I am searching for through prayer, spending time with God and seeking for spiritual enlightenment as Fr. Pete McCormick (C.S.C) highlights in his speech (“The Role of Faith in Our Story”). 

	I forge life giving relationships by being open and honest with others and with myself. Throughout my life, I have met hundreds of people who I would consider an acquaintance or a friend, and what separates them from each other is whether or not I felt the person with whom I was interacting shared my desire for a healthy relationship of give and take. A healthy relationship is essential to forming a life long relationship which will give fulfillment and happiness to both people. As is shown in the Article (“Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships”)-The Red Flag Campaign-, a beneficial and healthy friendship depends on mutual trust, clearly set boundaries, concern for one another, and the ability to respect one another’s opinions and actions. While at Notre Dame, I have formed three really good life giving relationships, with people who respect my academic and moral integrity, people who are always good listeners and willing to give me time to myself when I need it, and people who I would happily help in times of need. Life giving relationships are not easy to form, and they require time and patience, but they are well worth the effort. 

	I believe that my purpose is to serve others and to do the will of God. After watching (“Two Notre Dames, Your Holy Cross Education”) (Fr. Kevin Grove, C.S.C). I gained a new appreciation for the blend between excelling academically and maintaining a high moral standard. I would say that these two principles heavily influence my root beliefs, which are: work tirelessly and cheerfully, do unto others as you would have done unto you, treat all people with the essential dignity and respect that we all deserve, etc. At Notre Dame and in this course, I have learned the importance of looking outside of my personal bubble and seeing how I can help communities in need. Notre Dame trains students to use the skills which they have learned in the classroom, and give them a practical application to improving our world through activism, charity, and volunteering. 

Perhaps the greatest measure of one’s character is not its current state, but how it has developed over the years. “The Danger of the Single Story” (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) was an interesting way to look into my own growth as a person. I grew up in a safe, upper middle class suburb, and I didn’t understand many of the problems and plights of other people. As such, my world view was limited to my little bubble, and I never empathized with those less fortunate than myself. I always assumed that anyone could pull themselves up by their bootstraps and become a successful entrepreneur, doctor, lawyer, nurse, dentist, engineer, writer, etc; this is America, and I thought any mountain could be climbed, but I was wrong. Once at Notre Dame, I’ve seen how the opportunities at academic rigor and a safe and stable learning environment were not afforded to many people. I saw how there was such a large gap in the opportunities for excelling in the world between African Americans and Whites. I saw how my single story was too narrow and whimsical to take into account the disadvantages and struggles of those across the country. As such, I have grown by trying to better widen my perspective on issues such as equality in education and the job market. I have become more aware of the racial disparities in wages, living conditions, and academic opportunities. I no longer employ a single story, but I have many stories which blend together to create a person who has grown to be considerate of many more backgrounds and plights. 

Responsibilities are something which cannot and should not be avoided or deflected in life. To do one’s duty as a person is to be a responsible and giving individual who seeks to enhance the greater good. One video that really stuck out to me was “It’s on us ND-The three D’s of being an Active Bystander”. Whie this video was in the context of preventing sexual harassment, I think that it could be used in other contexts as well. We have a responsibility to take action when we see someone in need. For example, if someone is being bullied for any reason, simply standing by and doing nothing is not acceptable. You must, as a responsible person, use your words to help the person in need by changing the situation. As said by Green.ND, “No one is expected to do everything, but everyone is expected to do something”. If we see instances of harassment or bullying, we should insert ourselves into the situation and take a stand against intimidation and injustice. 

From reading above, it becomes clear that I have found my experience at Notre Dame to be one of enlightenment, discovery, and growth. As time goes on, I hope to further these virtues which I have obtained, and I hope to even further broaden my perspective. Moreau has given me time to reflect on my own upbringing and has allowed me to ask essential questions about myself and my beliefs. It has also helped to solidify my understanding of Notre Dame’s culture and mission, something with which I truly resonate.