Untitled document Living Your Best Life By Putting Others First It is hard to believe that I am almost done with my first year of college at Notre Dame. On the one hand, it seems like my time here just flew by, but on the flip side, some days feel like I've been here for years. I guess it just depended on whether I was having a rough week missing my family, or having a great time with my new friends. At any rate, regardless of how my days were going, I feel so appreciative that I was able to experience this wonderful opportunity. When I think about my life right now, it seems so hectic, especially with finals fast approaching. I feel like my mind is always racing with what I have to do for the day, like doing my homework and studying for tests. Having a conversation with some of my friends at dinner last week really made me think. My friends were discussing the upcoming week and how busy they were going to be. One of them said that they couldn't wait till they were done with college because of how much time is spent preparing for assignments and exams. This made me sad. I didn't say anything at the time because it seemed like everyone else was in agreement with that statement but later on that evening, I began to think to myself. Are we just going through the motions during our college life? Are we not taking the time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak(“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Lyer - Moreau FYE Week One)? I am fully aware of how blessed I am to be able to be part of the Notre Dame community. I want to be able to savor every single day, even the days that are particularly rough. I know that living the college life can be rough and sometimes things are going to be hectic but taking time to slow down and enjoy all that I have accomplished so far has been great for my mental health. Taking a stroll around the campus to clear my mind and take in the beautiful scenery has done wonders for my well-being. (“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Being surrounded by new friends here at Notre Dame has inspired me to push myself harder. Sometimes I lose focus when I feel like I have too much on my plate but it's been great https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 having friends who are taking the same classes and can relate to the struggle of sometimes feeling overwhelmed. As I take time to reflect on how I want to go forward pursuing a life well-lived, I recall a homily that my priest back home gave several years ago. He said that no one could ever lay on their deathbed and claim to have lived a good life if they did not do this one thing. This statement really got the congregation's attention and we all leaned in a little bit closer to hear what he was going to say next. He went on to say "It is impossible to live a life well-lived without this one thing..kindness." That's it. Kindness. Wow, I thought about that homily for the rest of the day. Of course, there are so many aspects to life and everyone will have their own idea on what makes a life well lived, but being kind is something that everyone should strive to be. There are so many little things that we can do in our lives that can brighten up someone's day. A smile, or a compliment can really change a person's day around. Always showing kindness and doing small gestures in the name of kindness is powerful. Just like Mother Teresa said "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." I would like to live my life in such a way that when people think of me, they smile because I have been a positive force in their lives. I think for many people, if asked what is considered a life well lived, many would probably say having a successful job, making a lot of money or traveling around the world. Yes, all of these things are nice things to try to achieve in one's life but they most certainly are not a good way to measure a successful life. Rather, I believe striving to be more kind, more understanding, and more tolerant of those around us are far more beneficial to living a good life(“The Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame” - Moreau FYE Week Ten). It's so important to set a good example for others to see. One of my favorite quotes that I try to live by is "Preach the https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." Actions always speak louder than words. I would hope that my friends and family would consider me a person that they could trust and rely on. My mission in life is to live in a way that would make my parents proud of me and to follow the Catholic faith to the best of my ability. My parents have always taught me to do the right thing, even when no one else was doing it. I would hope that during my remaining time at Notre Dame, I will continue to move towards my goals while being guided by my professors, the staff, and also the friends that I have made. I know they will help me during the good and bad days that everyone faces. I know that I will come across challenges that will test me mentally and spiritually but having a strong faith can give you the courage to get through even the toughest times in your life. I anticipate that there will be times when I will feel overwhelmed. I also know that it is completely normal to feel this way from time to time. Now with my freshman year almost coming to a close, I can't help but feel proud of myself for stepping up to the challenges that I encountered. After the excitement of starting college wore off, I was stuck with the reality that I would be away from my family and friends for quite a while. For the first time ever, I actually felt like an adult, and it was scary. And if I am going to be honest, it was kind of depressing at times too. Being homesick can really put a damper on your mood and make you wonder if you made the right choice. However, suffering, even when it is small, can always be beneficial if you learn something from it (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine). I used the days that I was especially sad to reflect on how lucky I was to have such a strong relationship with my parents and friends back home. Being sad and missing them only meant that we have a close bond that I cherish. Sometimes suffering is needed to allow us to appreciate what we might ordinarily take for granted. Suffering also brings us closer to God in the sense that we tend to be drawn closer to Him in our dark days. There cannot be light without darkness and joy without sadness. I looked forward to my remaining three years at Notre Dame. I'm excited, nervous and happy all https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing at the same time. I know that as long as I continue to work hard, stay focused, and of course be kind, I will be just fine.