Integration I Conway 1 Professor Pruitt Moreau FYE 15 October, 2021 Life Is Good… But Can Get Even Better From Here Root Belief #1: I believe that I matter. Recognizing your own inherent value and being able to confidently believe that you matter is one of the most important components of living a good, happy life. For me, this belief was hard won and therefore duly appreciated, and reflecting upon my past experiences in Moreau has helped me understand this better. I think a fitting place to start is with vulnerability, a very trying virtue for many people, including myself. As a high-achieving student from an academically competitive high school, it is no wonder I have never been one to be vulnerable or, as I thought of it, show weakness. Though, when talking with my classmates in Moreau and hearing everyone else unabashedly share their stresses, I have begun to feel more comfortable being open with my own trials, whether it be with a friend over a shared Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, in a class rant about midterm week, or even in this integration assignment. This being said, in the Brené Brown video from week one of Moreau, I really appreciate Brown’s quote: “People who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe that they are worthy of love and belonging” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). Her words resonate with me both because they encourage me to be vulnerable and also because the topic of worthiness has always been prevalent in my life. Throughout high school, I didn’t have many friends and being social was extremely difficult because of it. Especially considering how high school was such a formative time when everyone was growing up, having fun, and making https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=3 Conway 2 true bonds with others, it was extremely deteriorating to be so isolated. This being said, I struggled a lot with self-worth, and the confident belief that I mattered was challenged often. Though, so much of that has changed at Notre Dame in a way that was almost unimaginably instantaneous. I have made many amazing friends who make me laugh every day and who I am so comfortable with. This is the first time I’ve had a friend group since I was a kid and I am beyond grateful to have a space where together we are “growing to be better people” and “helping each other get there,” as Taylor describes in her analysis of a good, healthy friendship (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Relationship” by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four). This newly appreciated belief is also motivating me to be more confident on a daily basis. Sometimes it is only little things such as affirmations, getting to know new people, or telling a joke, but they amount to so much. Furthermore, in the week two assignment, I found David Brooks’ analysis of our Adam I and Adam II natures to be extremely interesting. I especially resonate with his belief that we have to concede part of ourselves to others in order to be able to grow and find our true selves (“Should You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). I feel that I will better be able to be vulnerable and give myself up to others now, with my belief that I matter firmly held. I am meant to be loved, I deserve to be happy, and I matter. These are simple, yet important, things that my time at Notre Dame and my reflections in Moreau have shown me. Root Belief #2: I believe that I am searching for truth. Truth is a concept universally acknowledged as important and considered an inviolable constant by many, including renowned philosophers such as Socrates and Plato. Despite its normative, cosmic quality, I believe that truth is also something that can be sought after and https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM Conway 3 gained in each individual’s life. With this, I also think one of the most important factors in one’s journey to truth is the influence of others. Personally, I have been lucky enough to have had extremely powerful and positive influences for my entire life in my parents. My mom and dad are my best friends and, especially as an only child, our bond is extremely strong. I attempted to reflect this formative impact in my week six “Where I’m From” poem by contemplating how all the small, seemingly insignificant experiences have shaped me into who I am today (“Where I’m From Poem” by - Moreau FYE Week Six). I believe that having my parents to look up to on a daily basis and in the context of my entire childhood has been extremely monumental in developing my identity both personally and as a member of a greater community. At Notre Dame, using the foundation my parents laid out for me, I can embark on the next, independent leg of my journey. Here, I can develop my truths and core values as I discover them. In other words, the experiences I am having are simultaneously forming who I am now and who I will be in the future. This being said, I think a major part of what will make this chapter of my life possible is the environment itself. During Moreau we often talk about how different Notre Dame is to our hometowns, as well as how distinct each of our hometown experiences were to each other’s, and I feel that this coming together of so many dissimilar people will benefit each of our individual journeys greatly. Moreover, the classes I am taking are unlike anything I’ve learned about before, and it is fascinating. I can feel myself gaining knowledge and widening my point of view on subjects that I am actually interested in. It isn’t just basic math, English, history, and science like high school, but a specialized, intricate education that will benefit me for the rest of my life, and I am so grateful for this. One of the topics we learned about in week seven of Moreau, is the importance of perspective and of constantly widening your viewpoint beyond what it is now. As someone who loves to learn and read and appreciates every chance to increase https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LBVot3fpZHw-YSYzkEN4Ci5OjbBXDkr47cg_OUU3aWQ/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LBVot3fpZHw-YSYzkEN4Ci5OjbBXDkr47cg_OUU3aWQ/edit Conway 4 knowledge, perspective is incredibly important to me and it is something I never want to remain stagnant in. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes in her ted talk how easy it is to fall into a single understanding, automatically assuming that what you know is the whole picture (“Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Moreau FYE Week Seven). This being said, while I don’t know if it is possible to grasp universal truth, the more you combine how you see the world with how others do, the closer you can come to understanding it. I truly believe that Notre Dame will increase my perspective in ways that I can’t even imagine yet, and I am looking forward to growing both in my own personal truths and in those much greater than myself. Furthermore, another important aspect in my search for truth is being open to finding it. In her address, Carla Harris contends that “your ability to manifest your destiny… lies in your ability to adjust your focus, to sharpen your vision on the good and great things that are right in front of you” (“2021 Laetare Medalist Address” by Carla Harris - Moreau FYE Week Five). I believe that it is a noble trait to be able to see the good things in the world amongst all the chaos. This being said, with practice it can become a healthy way to relate to the world around you, enjoy life inherently, or even just get through the day. For me, one thing I find calming is taking walks and looking at all the small details of the world, for example the clouds, leaves, puddles, and stars. By finding little beauties, I can remind myself of all the big joys I am so grateful for. The students, specifically Mariana, in their faith reflections, discussed this power of attainable goods as well (“Student Reflections on Faith” by Campus Ministry - Moreau FYE Week Three). Being able to see the beautiful parts of the world can give a new perspective to your life, and is therefore important in one’s journey to understanding. The connection between seemingly inconsequential parts of life and the greater truths to be found is fascinating to me and I think https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YVemqUBaAs5DNBPYm806TyQZr3F0xElP/view Conway 5 this, along with the influences of my environment, will be a major part of my personal journey to truth.