Spring Moreau FYE Integration Three Moreau Integration Three The Life of Modebola “The purpose of life is to die well.” These are words from Modebola’s seminar professor, Lionel Jensen, who she loved and admired dearly. But what does it really mean to die well? From Modebola’s life, we can see that the things you do during life, the people you connect with, and the lessons you learn are all part of what it means to not only live well, but to die well. Passion, authenticity, diligence, and determination are all words that described Modebola in her everyday life. She believed several components led to a life well-lived, and I will share those with you today and instances from her life those elements were present. One thing Modebola valued in her life was rest. Attending the University of Notre Dame was no smooth road--classes, exams, quizzes every week--you name it. It was hard to maintain balance in her life knowing that there was always something due the next day. But she realized that she was not a machine, and rest was extremely vital for sustainability. The Week 1 Moreau lesson taught her that “But even for the rest of us, it’s like a retreat house that ensures we’ll have something bright and purposeful to carry back into the other six days.” (Why we need to slow down our lives by Pico Lyer -- Moreau Fye Week One). This one rest day, called the Sabbath, was key for her and it took her a while to realize the importance of it, but once she did, the quality of her life became better and life and all the difficulties of it came more manageable once she took a day to reflect and relax. She encourages everyone to do the same to live a well-lived life. We must remember that we are human--not machines. Modebola knew that in order to live a life well-lived, you have to take care of yourself as well as others. Giving back is one of the greatest things you can do in life. Not only was it fulfilling for her, but for others as well. Modebola grew up helping out in her family, giving back to the poor, tutoring children as a side job, and even packaging medical supplies for the needy in African countries. Of course, she did this not on her own but with the help of her support system around her as well as inspiration from others. For example, in Week 2 of Moreau, Modebola took the time to view a movie about Father Hesburgh and Father Hesburgh’s story really impressed her. She was truly inspired by all the great things he did in his lifetime. A quote from the movie reads “Father Hesburgh recognized that we all had a duty to serve and give back.” (Father Hesburgh Film 2019 -- Moreau FYE Week Two). Modebola realized this as well. She knew that one cannot live a good life without charity and giving back. All that you achieve in life amounts to nothing if you do not share with others and give back to your community that helped build you up. In order for Modebola to live the life that she lived so well, she could not do it alone. She needed people supporting her that surrounded her. The friends she met when coming to college were great and they supported each other through the hard times of college. In Week 3 of her Moreau lessons, she learned that it was important to always ask yourself your purpose, and you can even ask your peers to help you further understand why you were placed on this Earth. This quote from one of the readings states, “To help us discern what our talents and gifts are, we need a circle of friends (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.).”(Three Key Questions adapted from Fr. Michael Himes -- Moreau FYE Week Three). That is exactly what she had and it helped her to be the best person she could have been. No one can do life alone. Yes, it was quite difficult for her to make friends when she first moved to South Bend, Indiana knowing she was alone in this big, new world. However, once she met those solid friends, she did not look back. Her friends, peers, and mentors definitely helped her and encouraged her to become the great woman she was. Modebola was a Neuroscience and Behavior major at the University of Notre Dame. It was a struggle, but she conquered, thanks to the great amount of support and resources the school provided her with. She first came into college not really knowing what to do, but the more she reached out to upperclassmen in the same field, mentors, and advisors, her career choice became solidified. Week 4 of Moreau played an important role whenever she had doubts about going into the medical field. One thing she acquired from that week’s lesson was that “Studying what you enjoy goes hand-in-hand with getting involved.” (Navigating Your Career Journey by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development -- Moreau FYE Week 4). She knew she loved science, but when things got difficult she did not give up. That is when she toughened up, reached out to tutors, and was able to be the best student that she could be. She knew that she could not join every club and do every activity on campus, but choosing a few things she really loved doing and sticking to them was sufficient enough for her to continue living a well-lived life. One word: networking. Modebola networked all her life, and everything she learned from the people she connected with helped her live an even better life. Before Week’s 5 lesson in Moreau (Irish Compass Activity -- Moreau FYE Week Five), she really did not know much about networking. After all, she had just gotten to college and really was not familiar with all her surroundings. But once she attempted to network with people in her field, she did not look back. It was such a relief for her to know that people were so driven to help her succeed, and she was overwhelmed by the support and love. This definitely contributed to her well lived-life. She always reiterated how important networking was. One of her favorite phrases sums it all up: iron sharpens iron. One thing Modebola will never forget is the video she watched from Moreau Week 6 and how inspirational it was. There are so many obstacles when coming to a place you have never been to before--no friends, no family. But she persevered. Whenever she felt down, sometimes she would revisit the video she watched in Moreau. Jihoon Kim, the man who had an accident and lost the ability to walk and do lots of things he normally could have done by himself. He was a very inspirational man, who said, “We spend too much time worrying about the things we don’t have.” (5 Minutes by the Grotto -- Moreau FYE Week 6). Whenever we face an obstacle in life, we have to remember that we cannot let it get in the way of our success and our life that we aspire to live well. Modebola wanted us to remember that we must always be grateful for whatever we have, no matter the circumstances. Resilience is key to a well-lived life. One of the last virtues Modebola believed was key to living a life well-lived was strong relationships. To have strong relationships, you do not need 50 friends that you know you cannot rely on. Five quality friendships was all that she needed to be happy, and she was content indeed. But beyond friendships, overall solidarity within a community is key to living a good life. Without a community that people can call their home, one can find themselves alone despite being amongst many people. The Ted Talk Pope Francis gave was key for Modebola remembering this. He said, “We have so much to do, and we must do it together.” (Why The Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone by Ted Talk -- Moreau FYE Week 7). Again, living a well lived-life includes not only yourself, but helping others to achieve greatness and be the best version of themselves.