Capstone Integration Professor Thigpen Miriam, a person in the works Coming to Notre Dame has been one of the greatest accomplishments in my academic career. Now I need to continue thinking about what else I should think about for my future, long-term and short-term goals. Reminders to help me continue to learn and lead. I do know coming here as a first generation student has been the main challenge when transitioning to a college atmosphere. Now ending my freshman year in a few weeks has taught me, and reminded me what I really want to get out of this life. My mission is to understand that sometimes the answer I’m needing can take time at times. This will teach me the practice of patience and that everything falls into place when the time is right. In the meantime I will find different ways to find that solution, answer, cure. Coming to college as a first generation student from a hispanic family is very challenging, but also a blessing. Not really having guidance from my parents to do, or what’s expected of me as a student. This gives me the chance to learn what a college atmosphere is like. That way I can help lead newer first generation students in my family as support. By continuing to figure out possible career paths, I will continue having an open mind for new ideas and opinions. Avoiding the echo chamber is very useful, so ignorant comments won’t be said. Not limiting myself to education can benefit me to understand how society interacts with its people, and how it would interact with a person like me. Understanding the true meaning of success. Learning how to share the accomplishments from that success. Teaching how those accomplishments pave a path for other people (possibly the ones around me) on how to reach their own success. Comprehending that everyone I meet is for a reason, and can help me become the person I need to be, not what I want to be. Finally, the importance of forgiveness when it comes to damage (physically, emotionally, etc.).When forgiving not only could benefit the other party, but can help heal you as a person. Learning that holding grudges isn't worth using all of your energy on (Moreau FYE Week 13). Obviously in order to know the type of life I want to be well-lived, I need to know what type of life I am living right now. A broad question because there isn’t a right or wrong answer. After reading a Ted article by Pico Iyer they state, “The very people, in short, who have worked to speed up the world are the same ones most sensitive to the virtue of slowing down” (“Practicing Self-Reflection” by Pico Iyer- Moreau Week 1). I know that I’m a person who gets anxious very easily, and sometimes I forget to live the present moment during my time at Notre Dame. The reason that I should have more fun is because death is closer to us than what we think. According to a New York Times article they state, “For almost all of humanity, people died at younger ages than we do now, more frequently died at home, and had less medical control over their final days. Death was far less predictable, and far more visible” (“Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die” by Ruth Graham- Moreau Week 3). This quote got me thinking that people didn’t die voluntarily, but because they didn’t have the medical attention available to prevent it. Now I think it’s more common that people do it voluntarily, unfortunately, than before because they couldn’t find reasons to continue, or weren’t living their life well-lived. To the end of my first year here at Notre Dame I saw so much potential for reasons to start living a life well-lived or to help others to do so. The person that really made a difference at the school would be Father Hesbourgh. In a documentary the narrator says, “Hesburgh would https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html move deans, he would move faculty members, he made a change, and he didn’t accept less than excellence. He did a lot of things that people would’ve thought as not priestly, he was entrepreneurial” (“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry B. Christine O.- Moreau Week 2). This gives so much inspiration to many and to me because maybe the change or what I need to pursue is out of the ordinary. When finding our mission, life can throw barriers, some higher than others and bring many to question their faith. If we hear testimonies from others who have been or are going through a challenge it helps us to refocus that what we’re going through is just a phase, and to never stop being thankful for what we have right now. For example one said, “So if God is good, why does he allow suffering into my life?…through reflection, and I researched the conclusion that God is good and God loves us but at the same time, the purpose of my life.. Suffering is part of our lives. It is always there.” (“5 minutes” by Aria Swarr- Moreau Week 6). Once we realize that in this life there is a balance of bad and good, and we need to learn how to live through any condition. Not all that we go through is essentially bad, but a lesson to be learned. There are many people in this world that don’t have the most loving heart for us, but when we’re in this journey looking for our mission there are many that do. I know that for sure because coming from a Hispanic family for some people it’s hard to express their feelings and nourishment. That wouldn’t be a barrier because “You knew people loved you, but words never brought you to that knowledge. In the barrio, people tell you” (“Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Fr Greg Boyle- Moreau Week 7). Just like events, people also contribute to shaping who you are, whether learning something new about yourself or the things surrounding you. They say that, “Every experience shapes in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not! We know that life is busy and it’s hard to take the time to slow down and process. But if you give yourself that time you will gain https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41060/modules/15742 so much.” (“Navigating our Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center- Moreau Week 4). Sometimes we don’t realize how those experiences shape us until someone notices them. For me my friend realizes that the hard moments I got through in the past don't interfere with my goals in the present day. I cope well by taking bad news, and I don’t take it out on others for something they didn’t do (Moreau Week 5). There are many others who are still figuring out how to deal with these types of emotions. Someone once said, “You must learn to be beside, walking with another person. It is a reciprocal relationship. One cannot accompany without being accompanied, in the same way someone cannot be a good friend without being open to friendship. This requires a great deal of humility” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg- Moreau Week 9). It’s already a process to accomplish, and can require us to use our faith in order to gain more patience and understanding through the process. Many can argue that, “You can’t convince yourself God loves you, but you can ask Him to show you.” (“Growing up Gay and Catholic” by Jacob Walsh- Moreau Week 10). No matter how I would go through those dark times at some point there will be clarity. Once that day comes I’ll be able to know what decision to take next. Regardless of the outcome of that decision I should be welcoming to meeting new people and avoiding the echo chamber. Many may ask what it would mean the “Echo Chamber: a social structure from which relevant voices have been actively discredited” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr.Paul Blaschko- Moreau Week 11). By avoiding being in a circle that doesn’t think other than what they believe in is like dodging a bullet because I won’t be living in ignorance or fear. That’s the main key from many problems occurring in society right now. Learning from different races, and cultures can decrease the ignorance and fear inside of us. Marcus Cole once said, “The racial https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/community/reflective-narrative-about-being-gay-and-catholic/ https://grottonetwork.com/keep-the-faith/community/reflective-narrative-about-being-gay-and-catholic/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND separation and violence will not end until we stop waiting for African-Americans to enter our circles. Each of us needs to get to know people who differ from us. We must all make a conscious decision and effort to expand our circles” (“Dean G.Marcus Cole: I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something” by Marcus Cole- Moreau Week 12). I believe that everyone who improves their mindsets, and is more intrigued to learn something new from someone can improve their own mission statements. Overall, everyone have different interests on what they want to get out of this life, and what suits them the best. For me I believe it would be to learn and live in very short words. My mission statement can change over time, but as of right now where I’m learning from left and right I should just apply what I learn in order to know what type of life I want to live. 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/