Professor Pruitt
Moreau FYE
29 November 2021
Integration #2
	Over the past 12 weeks, I have immersed myself into a new environment and had many chances to learn, grow, and deepen my self-knowledge. The Moreau First Year Experience has been a great opportunity for me to become aware of this personal development and discuss my questions, concerns, and nuances with my classmates. I feel that I more deeply understand topics such as belongingness, relationships, my personal faith, courage, and vulnerability. It is important to be comfortable discussing these difficult, deep topics, because our conversations truly facilitate personal development. After learning from these experiences, I am able to walk through life with greater perspective, and the ability to respond to different challenges I encounter with more confidence.
	During my time at Notre Dame thus far, my relationships and the bond with my community has grown in importance to me. I had to ask myself many difficult questions about improving interconnectedness with my peers, despite any differences we have. This allowed me to gain diverse perspectives– joining a new community comes with learning from others and encountering different beliefs. Furthermore, Professor Agustin Fuentes highlights that having diversity within our communities is so important because it allows us to deconstruct implicit biases that we hold towards people of different backgrounds from us (Video: “Diversity Matters!” by Prof. Agustin Fuentes - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). From these words, I gained a new outlook on my interactions with people, and how I respond to their personal opinions, especially on campus. I now take difficult, personal conversations as an opportunity to step into someone else's shoes and form meaningful connections. I have learned that if we all work to celebrate our differences, and come together to listen and share our personal experiences, our Notre Dame family will be stronger and more supported. Similarly, Fr. Jenkins stated “Love is the greatest commandment — and hatred is at the heart of the greatest sins. Hatred is the great destroyer — the great divider. Hatred is more dangerous to us than any other threat, because it attacks the immune system of our society — our ability to see danger, come together and take action” ( “Wesley Theological Seminary…” by Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C.–Moreau FYE Week Ten). This quote emphasizes how divide stems from hatred, and in the polarized state of our nation, we must learn to love another. Fr. Jenkins’s words are relevant in my journey of building relationships and community, because in times of political turmoil, we must learn from other people’s experiences to facilitate conversation and progress towards a more unified community. These teachings allow me to grow as a person, friend, and member of society here at Notre Dame–and to encounter and respond to different situations with an open mind and heart. 
	Something that used to be vague and I can now approach with great clarity is my sense of self-acceptance and ability to receive praise and recognition for my accomplishments. Imposter syndrome is real, and I have experienced feeling unworthy of my opportunities. Following our conversations in Moreau, my outlook has changed–it was eye opening to hear my peer’s stories, and how I am not alone in these feelings. According to Julia Hogan, “The common thread in all of these examples is that these individuals believe they must be perfect and that they must live up to the expectations of others (and themselves). But I’m going to let you in on a little secret: these expectations are arbitrary” (“Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit” by Julia Hogan- Moreau FYE Week Nine). This quote is meaningful because Hogan highlights that the standards we hold ourselves to are usually stemmed from others’s expectations for us. She challenges us to strive towards goals that contribute to our personal needs, and live our lives on our own terms. I am applying her wisdom here at Notre Dame, by setting my own goals for my health, relationships, academics, and well-being. Upon doing this, I feel less imposter syndrome and more like I belong in our newfound community, because I am no longer living for the validation from others.
	An important question I had to ask myself this semester was, “how can I live with a sense of hope here at Notre Dame?”. Our week twelve class discussion was one of the most meaningful to me. We talked about the importance of hope, and maintaining it through both high and low periods. This conversation stuck with me, especially now when I face the end-of-semester stress over final exams. According to Fr. James B. King, “We need to have hope in that process [the contemplation of new ideas beyond our comfort zones] to stick with it, to believe that what is born of questioning beliefs previously taken for granted will lead us to a new and better understanding of our vocation as citizens in this world and for the next” (“Hope - Holy Cross and Christian Education” by Fr. James B. King, C.S.C. pg 16 – Moreau FYE Week Twelve). This quote is insightful because it emphasizes how we must approach our education with a sense of hope. The daunting questions and concepts we are learning are truly what prepare us for the real world, giving us the ability to encounter and respond to any challenge. Here at Notre Dame, I will remember to remain true to myself, my goals, and beliefs, especially during the difficult periods. We cannot give up on ourselves, even during trying times, because this is when the truest test of personal faith occurs. 
	My first semester of the Moreau First Year Experience was truly eye-opening, and I am lucky to have had such meaningful conversations with my peers about topics that have deepened my self-knowledge and personal development. Moreau was an amazing opportunity to discuss topics that might not have come up otherwise, but are necessary to speak upon. I feel that I have strengthened my faith, confidence, relationships, sense of community, and perspective from the content and material provided. I am going to continue my education here at Notre Dame with a newfound ability to encounter and respond to situations that test my faith, hope, and self-understanding.