Capstone Integration Professor Hnatusko Moreau FYE April 29th 2022 The Only Constant in Life is Change People told me that after moving around my whole life I would be ready for college. “It’s just another transition, you already know who you are.” What my well intentioned friends failed to consider is that there are two keys to every situation: the object and the environment. Sure, I (the object) wasn’t changing, but the environment was and as I soon learned that it was most definitely going to change me. Being thrust into a new world, the things that I traditionally held as core values were suddenly challenged. Maybe moving didn’t give me constancy but the one thing that stayed with me was that I learned how to change. This allowed me to tailor my unique mission statement which I have cultivated throughout my life to suit this unique situation. To introduce this paper I would like to define my personal mission statement. I live a life oriented by faith because it gives me an eternal perspective. I am living today for all its worth because I know that there is meaning in the future. As part of this perspective I develop a wide net of deep and lasting relationships that are nurtured by service, because this allows us to help each other move forward. I know that my hopes for the future and the quality of my interactions have only as much potential as I build within myself. To live pursuing an ultimate goal, to be a part of a community, and to give myself in service I first have to nurture my mind, body and spirit to be the best version of myself. Moving to Notre Dame I have had to make changes and adapt to continue to live my mission statement every day. One significant commitment I made immediately once getting to school was to go to church every Sunday. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and my church is off campus so as a freshman without a car it is difficult to get to. I made this commitment knowing that faith is the most important thing in my life and that I would not be my best if I did not have this faith to believe in and push me forward. I found support in the Notre Dame community, because even though we may not practice the same beliefs, faith is an integral part of the university evidenced by the mission statement. “In all dimensions of the University, Notre Dame pursues its objectives through the formation of an authentic human community graced by the Spirit of Christ” (University of Notre Dame Mission Statement - Moreau FYE Week 13). In all dimensions of my life I pursue faith to promote well being, I accomplished this through commitment to weekly church service. One thing that has been central in my life is community. Whether friends, family, church etc. At Notre Dame, everyone was new. By instinct I sought to build community. This was my application of Father Boyle’s words “We seek to create loving communities of kinship precisely to counteract mounting lovelessness, racism, and the cultural disparagement that keeps us apart” (Tattoos on the Heart by Fr. Greg Boyle - Moreau FYE Week Seven). I figured if I was struggling and lonely, trying to find community, then likely others were too (for even more complex reasons than I may understand). I made extra efforts to reach out even if it wasn’t just for me. In my dorm I volunteered to make mac and cheese which is a sorin tradition for Thursday night mass. Although I am not catholic and did not attend the mass service I enjoyed seeing people gather together around a meal and socialize as a community. This was my “agape” as Father Heim puts it The central issue in being a human being, and therefore in being a Christian, is what the New Testament calls Agape – a very particular form of love, a love which is self-gift, a way of giving oneself away to the “other.” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Heim - Moreau FYE Week Three) I used a talent of mine to share with others, and in doing so I also received the gifts of community. Being a part of a community requires giving more than you get sometimes and this is very true at Notre Dame. With all of the tremendous blessings we have here there is a palpable energy to give back. To fulfill this mission I participated in weekly volunteering at La Casa de https://www.nd.edu/about/mission/ https://www.nd.edu/about/mission/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41039/files/523771?module_item_id=167900 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41039/files/476425?module_item_id=149885 Amistad – a community center program for Latino children, youth and adults. I took this step to break out of my school community and engage with people from the South Bend area that have completely different walks of life. Beforehand I thought I had a grasp of what challenges many Latina/os faced and how to help. I was wrong and it took me following Dr. Robin D’Angelo’s advice, “if you are white I urge you to take the first step — let go of your racial certitude and reach for humility” to realize the depth and severity of some of the challenges the Latino community face (“Why It’s so Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” by Dr. Robin D’Angelo - Moreau FYE Week Ten). Connected to this service was a class that I took about Latino literature. This class also gave me an insight into some of the struggles associated with race, language, and ethnicity. Some moments or materials in class gave me a similar feeling to when I read Dean Marcus G. Cole say “at that moment, I remember thinking that the most important thing I could do for my sons was to survive the encounter” (“I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.” by Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). It is heartbreaking to see on so many levels how human beings suffer with issues that can quite literally mean life or death – and it gave me a wake up call because I don’t have to have these experiences. I took these feelings and used them in my service at La Casa, to be a friend first, and a mentor second. I tried to give students an open and safe place to share their feelings, stories, interests, while feeling appreciated for who they are. I tried to follow Professor Steve Reifenbergs accompaniment model when he says “In the accompaniment model, we’re in this together; we’re implicated as partners in the mix, sharing in the complexity and chaos of each other’s lives” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). Although maybe we faced different challenges I offered to “walk” with my friends whenever I could. Although I was involved in church, active in my dorm, and reaching out in the community I still felt like I wasn’t truly living my mission. In a conversation with my mom I got some insight into why. This came through a Moreau activity for a discernment conversation. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit 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://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing In the directions it said that “often, others can help us see things we cannot see ourselves. This brief conversation can help you gain a new perspective on your life and, ultimately, help you discover how to develop a vision of a life well-lived that is uniquely aligned with your most authentic self” (“Discernment Conversation Activity” - Moreau FYE Week Five). I found that in this conversation that I had with my mom that was exactly the case. I have included some of the reactions I had from the conversation as follows, “my mom and I discussed how as we grow and develop we begin to see unique personality traits about ourselves that we will have to continue to work with for the rest of our lives.” Over the course of the year I have realized that while I was engaged with others I was neglecting myself. I have learned that for me, studying hard, exercising and taking care of my body, and pursuing hobbies and interests is important. I chose to devote a little bit more time to these activities even though not all are seen as essential. Initially, I didn’t know how to fill these gaps so I took the advice of the Merulo Center as they say “The only way to know more about yourself is to test the waters - just get out and experience life!” (“Navigating your career journey” by Merulo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). I jumped into several activities such as SIBC, Bookstore Basketball, and running to engage both academics, health, and personal interest. While these clubs and activities felt superfluous at first, I soon found out they were helping me become a better person. Tasha Eurich says that “if we’re not self-aware, it’s almost impossible to master the skills that make us stronger team players, superior leaders and better relationship builders, either at work or in the rest of our lives” (“The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). As I got involved and worked alongside other students I found out what my true interests, skills, and talents were. I worked on these skills and I became a better partner with SIBC, commissioner at bookstore basketball, and so forth. This engagement also helped me improve my studies. Similar to Pico Iyer, I found that “the more time I spend away from my work, the better that work will be” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). With the extra pressure https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit?usp=sharing https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ 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://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ of personal commitments I made extra time and effort to get work and studying done. Additionally my engagements helped me through the discernment process. In Bookstore Basketball, we play so that we can support programs in Jamaica. With SIBC, I saw how business can be used for good. This encouraged me to select a major or study that has an impact beyond my immediate sphere and benefits humans on a widespread level. I had a revelation similar to Adebola Giwa who said “as a physician I am able to help my community, but as a scientist I am able to help the world” (“Domer Dozen 2019 Honoree” by Adebola Giwa - Moreau FYE Week Two). SImilarly in my day to day homework, assignments, and tests I now see them as more than just busy work but a means to accomplishing a greater purpose. Eitan Hersh offers insight into this, albeit from a totally different perspective, making a critique on how political hobbyism is changing the effectiveness of politics. He says “what’s political hobbyism is not whether you think it’s deadly serious or not, it’s whether the emotion is an end in itself or a means to an end” (Passion Isn’t Enough by Hidden Brain Media / Eitan Hersh - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). For me the first step is just school, and while I am getting an education to earn money, feel accomplished, and so forth, I see my education as a way in which I can impact lives. Whether it’s politics or school, I think we can all think critically like Eitan about the things we pour our energy into and what they actually accomplish. Through the week 8 Integration assignment (Moreau FYE week Eight) and this larger capstone I have had the chance to critically reflect on my experience since being at Notre Dame: how I have applied my mission statement to the environment and how the environment has shaped the form of my mission statement. While these experiences from this first year now lie in the past, they will be crucial in cultivating the reflective strength that will allow me to carry this mission statement into the future with each new year. However, I know that as the years go by this environment might become comfortable and I may face the challenge of complacency. That is where it is important to dig in and refocus on the objects of my mission statement, God and my community. In those two areas I will never run out of opportunities for service to do or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6rRN98F_e0 https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/ time to spend. I hope that as I pursue a life oriented by faith, defined by community, and supported by service my time at Notre Dame will be well spent and I may leave with not only a meaningful degree but a meaningful purpose.