clancy, moreau integration Clancy 1 Dr. Chan Moreau First Year Seminar 29 April 2022 Pursuit of a Mission: Challenge, Passion, Growth “What relationships are characteristic of a life well-lived? What does it mean to embrace humanity?” (“Writing a Personal Mission Statement Activity” by Moreau FYE Assignment - Moreau FYE Week Thirteen). These are just a few questions to be considered when crafting a mission statement. Throughout my first year at the University of Notre Dame, when working to consider such, I have come to realize that I want to live a life that uplifts others. As I attempt to live this life, I hope to orient it around faith. As I come to encounter others, I seek to increase my ability to be vulnerable and share myself with them, in order to open myself up to the possibility of true relationship and companionship. Further, it is intimidating to look at the issues the world today faces. From hunger to homelessness to the climate crisis to war, it feels like the world is constantly crumbling before us. However, these next three years I am eager to learn as much as I can to equip myself with the tools to have a career that works toward justice, in some form. Overall, I aspire to find ways in which I, in my career and in my off time, can contribute to a better tomorrow, and do so with a basis in faith and genuine relationships. To break down my mission, one challenge I envision encountering is trying to do everything, and spreading myself too thin. Here at Notre Dame, I already find myself getting occasionally overwhelmed when I consider what is next. One specific example is that I applied to be a commissioner in my dorm, and I accepted the position of leading faith group as a Spirituality Commissioner, as well as being the dorm’s Service Commissioner. Recently, I https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ur4b9oFy7Mh8adNrwRTIFcanUIJUAI6wnAczkxW-H3I/edit Clancy 2 received an email including an application to lead another faith group, and saw a fascinating sustainability internship on the job board. How do I choose which groups to give my time and energy towards? I am not sure, and I recognize that this is something that I will need to reflect on in order to be successful in my mission, as by stretching too thin, I fear losing the genuine connections I am seeking. Something helpful in mitigating this, is what my mom said during our discernment conversation, remembering that “... you can’t do everything for other people.” (Discernment Conversation with my mom - Moreau FYE Week Five). Remembering that I am one person, and that there are other people to support me, as well as others seeking their own justice endeavors is comforting. To continue in the sphere of life being busy, a key part of my mission is faith. Consequently, I look to engage in meaningful reflection. One example of such is taking time to ask questions like “What regrets do you need to let go of?” (“Pause For Reflection” by McWell - Moreau FYE Week One). Questions like this, along with prayer, can guide me to ensure that I stay on the right track. However, during self-reflection, “Asking why appeared to cause the participants to fixate on their problems and place blame instead of moving forward in a healthy and productive way.” (“The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a right way)” by Tasha Eurich Phd - Moreau FYE Week Six). This study shows that I will need to be careful with the way I engage in such routines. Acknowledging what I am feeling without criticism and questioning will not be easy, but it will be important to remain vulnerable, especially with regards to being open with myself and with God. Furthermore, while writing my eulogy, I reflected on prayer life and how it is not about perfection. (Eulogy by - Moreau FYE Week Eight). I noted how at one rosary in particular, I worried less about being distracted, and embraced the forgiving and understanding nature of God. The next three years at Notre https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GI9_CYzgdWq9u1fWm_UizMl7Y_TEYcNpTm_o44VPzsQ/edit?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SDVigBXg1KOCptB2vSYbFWFyLyX9xnCo/view https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c0VIdeBQ7dteet-EFfWLBxwC3a4Lt1MaTEn3KMqh09M/edit?usp=sharing Clancy 3 Dame, I hope to continue attending prayer services like this, as it takes practice growing in understanding for oneself’s imperfections. While I think the mission statement I have crafted here begins to illustrate how I hope to go through life, there are other elements to note. One such sentiment is living each day with patience, but also an understanding that every day is precious. One quote that exemplifies such is, “‘We try to suppress the thought of death, or escape it, or run away from it because we think that’s where we’ll find happiness,’ she said. ‘But it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them.’” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). Consequently, recognizing our own mortality, in addition to acknowledging our humanity can be a beautiful thing. Further, tying to my goal of pursuing justice, it will be important to emphasize this acknowledgement of humanity. “How wonderful would it be if solidarity, this beautiful and, at times, inconvenient word, were not simply reduced to social work, and became, instead, the default attitude in political, economic and scientific choices, as well as in the relationships among individuals, peoples and countries.” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven. I hope to incorporate what Pope Francis is suggesting in this quote in my life. Instead of only considering others when doing service, I hope to consider, and uplift the voice’s of others, whether it be in career, community, or just daily life. As mentioned earlier, I hope to cultivate meaningful relationships throughout my life. One person who was great at doing this was Father Hesburgh. “And after a few hours of fishing, even a segregationist and a black civil rights lawyer can get along. Once they trusted each other, they were able to do tremendous work.” (“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2). Father Hesburgh was able to bring people from completely https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 Clancy 4 different backgrounds together to have a fruitful conversation. Especially in conversations about justice, there can be pushback in saying that it is not their problem. So being able to create these conversations which can articulate the connections between people and create common ground is critical, and something I would like to be able to do. Furthermore, the world is very polarized today. One quote that critiques this polarization is, “ Instead of hating the other side, instead of hating a random person who says they're Republican or says they're Democrat, they would say, hmm, is this a neighbor that I can convince to move in my direction?” (“Passion Isn’t Enough” by Shankar Vedantam - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). This ties into conversations I had in my Solidarity and the City Seminar, as it is important to realize that we are all humans. Regardless of which way your life has taken you, and mine has taken me, we both have emotions and experiences that have shaped who we are. Overall, I hope to be open to conversations with anyone, learn from them, and work to avoid jumping to hate, as well as encouraging others to do the same. Something else I see being difficult in living out my mission is that relationships are complicated. “You can ask Him [God] to show you, though. And you can pay attention to the relationships where you know you’re loved.” (“Growing up Gay and Catholic” by Jacob Walsh - Moreau FYE Week Ten). This quote is when Walsh was writing about advice given to him when he did not feel loved, by himself or God. It shows that our relationships are ways that God provides us with support. In my experience, when relationships get difficult, it is because there is a lot of love involved. I hope to work to see that love, even when it is not clear amidst arguments. Additionally, “‘The word compassion is very beautiful,’ Gutiérrez said. ‘Compassion is not only to suffer for the other, but it is also to be in sympathy with another.’ It means to be close to the other, to accompany the other.” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/ https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/community/reflective-narrative-about-being-gay-and-catholic/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit Clancy 5 Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). This ties into the concept of relationships, in that in order to seek justice and form the bonds I hope to in this life, I will need to ensure I am constantly aware of what those around me are going through, and look for ways I can be with them and better understand their humanity. Lastly, Dean Cole stated, “While my education and position do not grant me immunity from racial violence, they do place me in a position to do something about it.” (“'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.'” by Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). The sentiment about the position each of us is in is something I hope to keep in mind, not only at Notre Dame, but as I progress through life. How has the Lord put me in a position to act for justice? To conclude, I recognize that since the first year at Notre Dame has changed me so much, the next three years are likely to as well. “After you leave ND, some of the details (like choosing a major) will change, but the core elements remain the same: learn about yourself, explore careers, reflect, & take action.” (“Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). This quote acknowledges that throughout life, I will be constantly questioning and learning about myself, but I hope for the core elements of faith, companionship, and justice, always resonate, regardless of where life takes me. 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://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/