Integration 1 Lopez 1 Professor Chan 15 Oct. 2021 Moreau First Year Experience Section 10 My Vocation is LOVE I believe that my vocation is love. This idea comes from Story of a Soul, the autobiography of the nineteenth century saint, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. I say that my vocation is love, because there are many different paths I could take with my life, and all surround this theme of love. If I am to marry, it is so that in being kind to my husband, I can give kindness to Jesus. If I join religious life as a sister, I would do so out of love for God, giving him everything that I am and have, one hundred percent. If I were to decide to stay single and consecrate myself, I would do so to give all my talent to whatever job I possess so that I can help people as much as I can, out of love for them as my brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is a part of everything that I should do. Love involves being kind to everyone, no matter people’s weaknesses, and allows people to look past troubles. It also allows people to be vulnerable with each other. Vulnerability allows people to be genuine with each other and show each other their love, and having courage means one can have conversations with one’s loved ones. In Week One of Moreau First Year Experience, Dr. Brown’s interviews revealed the following about people who are joyful, “These folks, very simply, had the courage to be imperfect” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). The reason that imperfection allows people to be joyful is that they are able to understand that everyone is human, but still be able to see the Spirit of God in each person. From this, I have learned that I should practice vulnerability. With this attitude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=3 Lopez 2 toward others, one can be compassionate with others, and find that they should love each other in every way possible and show this love throughout their lives. I also understand that for my vocation of love, not everything I do will be perfect. However, as Father Kevin said, “There is no failure that grace cannot transfigure into a blessing” (“Two Notre Dames: Your Holy Cross Education” by Fr. Kevin Grove, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week Five). Anytime that I recognize something I am doing wrong, I will realize that it can be turned into an opportunity for growth. I believe that my family has influenced me to become the best version of myself. George Ella Lyon wrote that she is from the things that have happened to her and the things that she grew up with, saying, “I am from those moments--snapped before I budded --” ("Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six). If part of me is defined by where I come from, my family is definitely the largest factor in who I have become so far, and they have taught me to want to become a better person every day. My family, although weak in several ways, has brought me up with goodness and love. They are the reason I have faith in my life. I believe that I am searching for love. This is a longing that everyone has within them, and it is inherently good. For a long time, I did not understand what it meant to be made in God’s image and likeness. Now, I see some of the aspects that it contains. The inclinations that we have reflect God’s own characteristics. God helps us, and we like to help others, too. God knows everything, and we want to know everything, too (even though it is not possible). In the New Testament, Jesus commands us to “love [God] above all else” and to “love [our] neighbors as ourselves.” However, people often search for fulfillment in the world. Gathering things such as “resume virtues”, as Brooks describes, causes one to “become a cold, calculating creature . . . where you realize there is a difference between your actual self and your desired self” (“Should https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=859bc1a8-0d0f-4eb4-a1c1-d0a45c429187 http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM Lopez 3 You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). Therefore, doing things for more credibility does not give someone the feeling of fulfillment in life. Love is something that does give fulfillment, as it is everywhere in the simple things of life. It can be in any kind of relationship, whether it is romantic, friendly, or familial. Searching for love means I can find others who will help me become my desired self, gathering holy virtues and becoming a better person. The power of love is that it does not require us to be intelligent, particularly beautiful, or perfect in any way. We do not have to try to be someone we are not in order to make friends. I believe that I can forge life-giving relationships by finding people who are both similar to myself and will challenge me. “The best kind of friendships are the ones where you leave with a smile on your face, knowing you’re both growing to be better people and that you’re helping each other get there.” ("5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship" by Olivia T. Taylor, Grotto - Moreau FYE Week Four). This has definitely been true for me in the past two weeks or so. The beautiful thing about all the religious opportunities on campus is that I start to see the same people at different Masses, at adoration, and at Praise and Worship. I have had dinner with them, went to the football game with them, and now we plan to go to religious events together. I found out about an eleven PM rosary at the Grotto that happens every night and have met a wonderful group of people there. They are similar to me in that we have the same goal of becoming closer to God; however, they are more knowledgeable than me, so being around them helps me learn more. Eleven PM rosary has become the highlight of my day, because praying can become a routine when there are other people to keep me accountable, and the socializing afterward has helped me make a good friend with whom I have had many deep discussions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/ Lopez 4 I believe that my community should treat each other with love. Implicit biases are easy to get in the way of showing love to others. “Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but they can also be used to empower and to humanize” ("Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, TED - Moreau FYE Week 7). Instead of using the pre-formed judgments we may have to limit people in our minds, we should recognize these and instead use them as an opportunity to be open to meeting different kinds of people. In a community, people have to be kind to each other to thrive and to collaborate. This means that people should learn to listen to others, since everyone has their own story and background that has shaped who they are. Learning about others can empower us to expand our ideas of the world. I want to be part of this love and do good by giving back to my community after I learn the skills to do so in college as an engineer. Finally, I believe that I pursue truth through the lens of the Catholic faith. As my framework, it helps me find God along the path of my life. Father Pete said, “Let us never forget that we live in a world that is hungry” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week Three). The context for this was to describe how we should help those in need around us, but it reminded me of the universal desire for truth. To find truth, I should seek it through the One who created me. As God knows all things, he will reveal to me whatever he chooses to reveal if I ask. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs