Integration 10/12/21 Theo Helm The Man in the Mirror Through my time in Moreau so far, I’ve enjoyed taking a look inward at my beliefs and how these shape my identity. While I feel that I still have a lot to figure out, I do have a few core beliefs that I will always stand by. From these, I can take on the challenge of my life while constantly making adjustments along the way. These five core beliefs give me a framework that I can always lean back on when I’m in doubt. Hopefully, they will push me to be a high character person that I can be proud of. I believe that I should let my guard down more often and share my true emotions and feelings with those around me. If I can achieve this vulnerability, I feel like my life would be more fulfilling, even if it is much harder to open up than to keep things to myself. Just as this is true for myself, it is also true for what people need in general. After years of researching people, Dr. Brown stated in her TED Talk that, “They had connection—and this was the hard part—as a result of authenticity” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). Although I feel that I’m usually an authentic person, there are times when I try to be a certain version of myself that fits what I want others to think of me. Putting on this “best face of myself” can be necessary when first meeting people, but if I really want to make connections I need to reveal all of my personality, including the parts I’m proud of and even what I’m ashamed of. Reaching this vulnerability is easier said than done, but since I want to make real, lasting connections here in college I will have to keep working on it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&feature=youtu.be I believe that my own opinion of myself matters more than what others think about me. My grandpa has always told me that at the end of the day, the man in the mirror is the only one who really counts. This means that no matter what external accomplishments we make or the people we impress, none of it matters if we can’t look ourselves in the eye and be proud of the person looking back at us. This message is what I try to live by every day, and hope to remember even in the drastic ways that life can change. My grandpa’s message is closely connected to David Brooks’ comparison of Adam 1 and Adam 2. If we always put our Adam 1, or our “resume values,” above our Adam 2, or “eulogy values,” then how will we ever be the fulfilled and happy people we want to be? (“Should You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two) Despite the fact that our lives are centered around our Adam 1 persona, including going to school, participating in extracurriculars, and keeping up a good reputation, we should always develop Adam 2 along the way. I can develop Adam 2 by taking the time for introspection, which includes praying and meditating every day and setting broader goals in life than just the societal measures of success. I still want to do well academically and get a good job, but what really matters is that I’m satisfied with myself no matter how my Adam 1 is doing. I believe that God exists and that he is what I should ultimately be focused on in my life. Coming here to Notre Dame, I wasn’t sure how going to a school with such a strong Catholic identity would affect me, and although I’m still not completely sure, I do know this faith will always be part of my identity. As I continue on this journey, I will continue going to dorm masses, spending time at the Grotto, and doing some self-reflection to discern what I believe and how I should go about my life. My experiences remind me of what Father Pete said in his video, that “such a journey requires a framework that challenges our modern understanding of the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM meaning of life” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Father Pete - Moreau FYE Week Three). As I work to develop this framework, I need to remember that it could very well go against what society expects. If this is the case, I should follow what I believe and what I am guided by in my faith. One way that my faith and relationship with God can be strengthened is by my interactions with my friends. My goal at Notre Dame is to develop healthy, lifelong relationships that encourage growth. This is a lofty standard because it takes a special bond for friends to feel like they “can be themselves with each other” (“Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships” by The Red Flag Campaign - Moreau FYE Week Four). As I progress through college, I will continually reevaluate my relationships to make sure they are sustainable and help both sides grow. I believe that I’m called to do good because of all that I’ve been blessed with. This belief takes me to the phrase, “To whom much is given, much will be required” from Luke 12:48 in the Bible. With the education that I have been provided and all the amazing ways my parents have sacrificed for me, it is only right that I go and help others in return. While I’m currently involved in some weekly service, it will take time to think of major ways I can leave an impact. It certainly helps to be at Notre Dame, “one of the most powerful means of doing good in this country,” according to Father Sorin (“Fr. Sorin Letter to Bl. Basil Moreau” by Fr. Sorin - Moreau FYE Week Five). I hope to tap into this spirit of doing good and hold onto it for the rest of my life. Although I don’t know how I plan to serve others, this doesn’t really matter as long as I have this goal and the intention of completing it. The conclusion of my “Where I’m From” poem circles back to this idea of uncertainty and refusing to let it stop me. I end my poem with, “I’m from not knowing the path that lies ahead, but only knowing that it is worth taking, one step at a time” (“Where I’m From” by - Moreau FYE Week Six). For this journey, the destination is not yet known, but I can still get started on my path to doing good for others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs https://drive.google.com/a/nd.edu/file/d/0B93cIKOnINCLS1JpUzZ5Q1JseGs/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o56woQDq3QrRkziT8eYrvYly5CQaP2Vb/view https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nQhSpqKO4Evm_iCO7rA-LaP7lGWk0C-XK1S-zUnGhac/edit?usp=sharing I believe that I have a lot to learn from my classmates, professors, and everyone I meet. Attending this university gives me the chance to talk to people from so many different places and with so many different ideas, so it would be stupid not to take the time to hear others’ perspectives while I’m here. When conversing with these people, I need to leave my implicit biases out of it because everyone has their own unique story to tell. I should avoid having the same experiences as Adichie shared in her TED Talk, because when she was surprised how productive the town of Guadalajara, Mexico was, “[she] remembers first feeling slight surprise. And then, [she] was overwhelmed with shame” (“Danger of a Single Story” by Adichie - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Although implicit biases are difficult to avoid altogether, I need to do my best to hear people for who they truly are rather than what I think about them going into a conversation. From talking to people about their outlooks on life, strategies for success, and different backgrounds, I can learn more about myself in the process and how I should approach my own life. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story