3 Integration LMachion Ryan Retartha Moreau FYE: Integration 3 4 March 2022 A Life That’s Memory Does Not Die was a loving daughter and student. She was a determined and dedicated individual who strived for greatness but never overlooked the small joys of everyday life. At the end of the day, her family was at the core of everything she did. Although Leigh accomplished many things throughout her life, she treasured personal experiences with others the most. She was present in the moment and did not let trends and phases take her away from her family and friends. She put a lot of time into her career, but she always left time for family game nights and making homemade dinners for her family. She was inspired by this quote: “I continue to keep the cornucopia of technology at arm’s length, so that I can more easily remember who I am.” (“Why We Need To Slow Down Our Lives” by Pico Iyer- Moreau QQC Week 1). She never let her work or the technology that surrounded her consume her. Leigh always made good use of her talents, skills, and Notre Dame education to help others. As a graduate of Notre Dame, she had a community of alumni who she aspired to be like, particularly Kierstan DeHaven, who says, “Faith and community, pillars of Notre Dame, have carried me through [my life],” (“Domer Dozen”- Moreau QQC Week 2). Despite achieving great things in her career, she always knew that it was not the accolades and accomplishments that constituted a life well-lived. She was fully aware that she could make differences in people’s lives by the little things. Leigh looked to her Confirmation saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, for inspiration regarding that. Leigh was inspired by the “Little Way” of St. Therese, and she tried to implement the spirit of the Little Way into her 1 https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://domerdozen.nd.edu https://domerdozen.nd.edu daily life. Although she helped many disadvantaged people by utilizing her business skills, she never forgot the importance of anonymously helping a neighbor or dropping a note to a friend going through rough times. Leigh always strived to understand her purpose. She believed that uncovering one’s purpose was a lifelong journey. Leigh once read an article that she referred back to when making a life decision. The article asked three important questions: “Is this a source of joy? Is this something that taps into your talents and gifts, engages all of your abilities, and uses them in the fullest way possible? Is this role a genuine service to the people around you, to society at large?” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes- Moreau QQC Week 3). She also understood that life on earth is not forever. She valued each moment with her family and friends and viewed each day as a gift from God. She treasured her Catholic faith throughout her life. While in her freshman year, Leigh knew that she wanted to pursue a career in business, but she was unsure of which specific area to major in. She spent time reflecting, researching, and speaking with people with experience in the field. She incorporated the phrase “Reflect and take action” into her thought process (“Navigating Your Career Journey”- Moreau QQC Week 4). Leigh also utilized this way of thinking aside from deciding her major. She always made sure to use a similar decision making process whenever she encountered any challenging decision. Throughout her life, Leigh valued the opinions of others. She was very independent, but she recognized the fact that others could sometimes diagnose her strengths and weaknesses better than she could. Her parents described her as “someone who is highly dedicated to a task,” (Conversation Activity- Moreau QQC Week 5). Leigh took these words with her throughout her life but was also not hesitant to address her weaknesses so that she could work to become a better person. 2 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39614/files/469056/download?download_frd=1 https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit One thing that Leigh always tried to keep in mind every day was gratitude. Even when things were not going her way, she always tried to find something positive that happened during the day to think about. She refused to allow the negative thoughts floating around the world to dictate her happiness. She was inspired by this quote: “Difficulties were still present, but awareness of my gratitude was shifting my view, letting me see that everything was not dark and cold—in fact, many sights and sounds were quite lovely,” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way” by Tasha Eurich- Moreau QQC Week 6). Many would agree that Leigh’s positive outlook on life was a defining characteristic of her as a person. Leigh also valued the interactions she had with others, even those she was not close with. Leigh attended a small, all-girls high school, and her graduating class had twenty-one girls. From this experience, Leigh learned the value of truly listening to each and every person, regardless of his or her background, opinions, or interests. She carried this experience throughout her life with her whenever she met new people. Leigh firmly believed that every interaction a person has occurs for a reason, and that a random conversation between two strangers benefits both parties in some way. She agreed with Pope Francis’ quote on this topic, which stated, “Let us help each other, all together, to remember that the other is not a statistic or a number.The other has a face. The "you" is always a real presence, a person to take care of,” (“Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone” by Pope Francis- Moreau QQC Week 7). This belief helped Leigh to adopt a global view. She loved traveling so that she could learn more about people all over the world and become a more understanding and aware individual. Throughout her life, Leigh exemplified characteristics that proved that she was always thinking of others. Leigh always loved to laugh and have a good time. However, she knew the value of hard work and dedication, and she put her mind to the task at hand. Leigh lived a very 3 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.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript full and well-lived life, and her memory will live on through her funny stories and memories with her family. 4