Integration One The Foundations of Fulfillment: Happiness, Experience, and Growth I believe happiness, experience, and growth are the foundations for fulfillment. Through happiness I am able to find pleasure and enjoyment in my life. Through experience I am opened to new perspectives and attitudes. Through growth I can come to find my truest self and be shaped into a knowledgeable yet virtuous person. Despite only being at Notre Dame for a short amount of time, I have already formed stronger bonds with friends, gained a better understanding of the importance of time, and distinguished the difference in dominating characteristics within others and myself. I believe that I am searching for happiness. Growing up, my parents would always remind me that nothing is more important than finding what makes you truly happy. In my mind, I have gone through phases of assuming happiness corresponds to money, success in sports, high grades, and so many more short term means of pleasure. In high school, I began to understand happiness is truly found in healthy relationships with family, friends, and yourself. Although I had this knowledge, it was not until college that I was able to feel the true happiness I had so long struggled to attain. I had been told by many people that I would meet great people in college and be able to see what a healthy relationship looks like; they were right. Now I understand that happiness is found in those I surround myself with. Reflecting upon some of my high school relationships, I can admit “That’s not love” ("Because I Love You, Double Whiskey" by One Love Foundation - Moreau FYE Week Four). In class, we discussed relationships and the often overlooked emotional abuse that can be found in friendships as well as romantic relationships. After going over several examples of unhealthy relationships, I noticed similarities to some of those I had thought to be healthy relationships during high school. The relationships allowed me to experience moments of happiness, but they were temporary. I thought I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQ5ur9OZ-g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQ5ur9OZ-g understood happiness, but after coming to Notre Dame and discussing healthy relationships during class I can confidently say I have experienced happiness during college and know where to find it in my life. I believe that I grow through experience. For months leading up to college I experienced intense anxiety and fear about what the future has in store for me. I convinced myself that life could not possibly be better than how it had been throughout high school, but now I can admit that I was terribly mistaken. I have come to learn that nobody is able to experience greater goods without first stepping out of their comfort zone. Initially, I condemned myself for overreacting and allowing such unnecessary worries to have a strong effect on my emotions, but “you can’t numb those hard feelings without numbing the other affects, or emotions [...] you cannot selectively numb” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). Since the first week of class, vulnerability was strongly emphasized as important and necessary. I have never been the type of person to share my emotions with others, but while listening to classmates I have grown to understand the benefit of sharing the good parts of life as well as the discomforts. I would not have been able to have such a pleasant college experience so far if I “numbed” my emotions and chose to suppress my anxieties. Humanity tends to block out the bad, but keep the good, which is impossible to do. It is important to confront hard feelings, instead of attempting to numb ourselves, that way we can attain more joy and be open to stronger feelings of happiness and goodness. Even if the experiences seem daunting, it is through those experiences that I am able to grow more knowledgeable of my own emotions and feel greater happiness; ultimately growing as a person. I believe that I grow through experience. Before coming to college, countless people reminded me that time flies by, so it must be used wisely. After starting at Notre Dame, I have https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&feature=youtu.be experienced independence, which entails time management and self-structuring. Time is finally under my control, thus I now understand its importance. “I rejoice because we have all learned how precious time is […] We can never get more time […] spend it in a way that we get the largest return on our time” ("2021 Laetare Medalist Address" by Carla Harris” - Moreau FYE Week Five). Hearing Carla Harris speak about the preciousness of time, aligned with everything I have previously heard and reminded me to make the most of my experiences. Even though I am only several weeks into college, I can agree that time goes by too quickly. Therefore, it is extremely important to take advantage of all opportunities available and to live without regrets. As the speaker explained in the quote, experience is a gift that enables learning and growth. It is important for me to use time wisely and how I desire, because it will lead to growth and happiness when taken advantage of. Experience can realign priorities, provide clarity, and enable growth through maturity. I believe that I am responsible for growth in character as well as knowledge. As children, our parents reinforce to us the importance of having “good manners” and being respectful, but eventually there is a shift away from having good character. As good character is pushed to the side, knowledge takes its place in importance. During my high school experience my concerns were rarely about what I should do to be a better person but instead what I should do to be a better student. Here at Notre Dame, I have realized that the mind does not need to be cultivated at the expense of the heart. “And Soloveitchik argued that these two sides of our nature are at war with each other. We live in perpetual self-confrontation between the external success and the internal value” (“Should You Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). In class, we discussed eulogy versus resume qualities and characteristics. There are some people that are always described as compassionate and caring, https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/28222/modules/items/105996 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM while others may be described as intelligent and curious; it is true that everyone is a mix of characteristics involving the heart and the mind. Initially, I believed this meant there is a separation between the heart, virtues and good character, and the mind, being knowledgeable and studious; there does not need to be a separation between the heart and the mind, because they should be incorporated into each other as a way to help us grow as a whole person. Our discussion in class opened my eyes to the importance of character growth, instead of focusing merely on academically oriented qualities. Happiness, growth, and experience are the foundations upon which I can find my truest self and be the person God intends for me to be. Notre Dame has opened my eyes to new perspectives, genuine happiness, and areas where I need growth; it is providing a pathway for me to nourish my mind, heart, and soul. Fulfillment can only be achieved through change, and during my short time at Notre Dame I have changed into a person of stronger morals, spirituality, and academics. Experiences, whether they be new, exciting, or intimidating, will lead to growth, enabling me to find happiness in my life.