Moreau Integration 1 (Nuss) (1)


A Purposeful Life at Notre Dame 
 

I found the lessons I learned from the past few weeks of Moreau First Year Experience to 
be very helpful in understanding what goals I should set for myself, and ways in which I can 
search for things that will hold value for the rest of my life. These lessons relate to my current 
experiences at Notre Dame, and will likely apply for the rest of my time in college. Through this 
course, I have determined the things that I am searching for, and the things I can do to improve 
myself and my community. 
  

I believe that I am on a search for belonging. Searching for belonging is a very prevalent 
aspect being a freshman in college. Nearly all first year students here enter school without 
knowing any of their classmates, and have a desire to fit in with the community. I believe that a 
sense of belonging can be established through bonds with others. Forming strong friendships 
with other students can make one a part of the Notre Dame community.  From Moreau First Year 
Experience, I learned that this sense of connection and bonding is strengthened by vulnerability.  
Vulnerability allows people to take emotional risks, and to have the courage to try new things. 
This willingness to talk to new people and try new activities is vital in finding a sense of 
belonging in college. In addition, vulnerability allows people to emotionally relate with others 
during good and bad times. It is important to experience a full spectrum of emotions in life, since 
“You can't numb those hard feelings without numbing the other affects, our emotions. You 
cannot selectively numb.” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week 
One). Being able to experience emotions around others will help form a bond, and blocking out 
emotions will make it much more difficult to pursue a sense of belonging. 
 
 Additionally, I believe that I am on an internal search to discover my most authentic self. 
I have been told that college is an important time for self-discovery, and I think that in order to 
understand myself, I have to realize my own strengths and weaknesses. With this information, I 
can take steps to improve myself internally. However, it can be difficult to prioritize the 
development of internal strength over one’s external reputation and appearance to others, since, 
“The external logic is an economic logic: input leads to output, risk leads to reward. The internal 
side of our nature is a moral logic and often an inverse logic.” (“Should you Live for your 
Résumé… or your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two).  I will be able to 
become my most authentic self by focusing on developing my morals and inner beliefs.  
 
 I believe that establishing a faith-based framework will help guide me through these 
upcoming years of self discovery, and will develop my inner authentic self. The Catholic 
presence at Notre Dame provides me with an opportunity to establish a strong faith in my life. 
Reading some fellow students’ reflections on faith inspired me to work on strengthening my 
own, and the Catholic resources here will be very helpful during this process. Faith can bring 
hope during dark times, and a set of morals to guide people through tough decisions. “Faith is a 



transformed mind, a mind being filled with the light of God. God discloses himself, faith 
responds, and then we can see with new eyes.” (“Faith Brings Light to a Dark World” by David 
Fagerberg - Moreau FYE Week Three). Adhering to personal faith will help me search for a 
purpose and establish my internal strength.  
 
 When forming connections with others, I believe that it is vital to ensure that the 
relationships are healthy and beneficial to both parties involved.  Having friends won’t bring a 
sense of connection and belonging if one side is constantly being controlled, ignored, and 
disrespected. “A good, healthy friendship is one where two people are mutually growing and on 
a path toward becoming better people, but every so often, we find ourselves making an effort 
with a person we probably shouldn’t.” (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia T. 
Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four). I have not experienced a toxic relationship during my time 
here, but am willing to speak up for myself or for anyone else that is in a bad friendship 
situation. 
  

I believe that I can grow as a person by reflecting on my own stories. The journeys of 
individuals are shaped by experiences and stories, and provide a structure for personal growth. 
It’s important to “View every setback and disappointment as a lesson- a lesson that may be one 
of the most important things that you learn for that season in your life.” (“2021 Laetare Medalist 
Address” by Carla Harris - Moreau FYE Week Five). Although failures can be disheartening, 
they can be a significant learning experience that can create future successes. I have specifically 
been taking note of instances where I am unsuccessful in achieving a goal, and create strategies 
to achieve future goals.  

 
 I believe that I am formed from my past experiences. Every aspect of my life has been 
shaped in some way by people, places, and experiences. In addition, even small details can shape 
a person. For example, both prominent and small details are recalled in a certain poem regarding 
a person’s upbringing: “I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, fried corn and strong coffee.” 
(“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six).  This poem reinforces the 
idea that everyone has a unique story about their lives that makes them different from everyone 
else, and that I should embrace all of the stories from my life, since they all define who I am. 
 
 I believe that a community can be strengthened by pursuing truth. The human brain 
automatically forms biases and generalizations that can lead to stereotypes. These stereotypes are 
formed when people only know one characteristic about someone else’s life and are unaware 
about the other unique aspects that define their lives. “The consequence of the single story is 
this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It 
emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.” (“The Danger of a Single 
Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Moreau FYE Week Seven).  The truth can be distorted 
by biases, and in order to seek the truth, it is important to be aware of the unconscious biases that 



we may have. On campus, there are many opportunities to learn about different cultures and 
communities, and these experiences can eliminate misconceptions. By learning more about 
various groups of people, one can discover similarities that inspire close connections. 
 
 Overall, the reflections that I have done in Moreau First Year Experience have allowed 
me to realize the ways in which I can pursue a fulfilling and successful college experience. By 
discovering and improving my inner self, as well as connecting with and learning more about 
others, I hope to lead a purposeful life at Notre Dame.