Moreau Integration Three McKenzie Williams Prof. Bushman Integration Three March 4, 2022 McKenzie Williams - A Life of Many Values Good afternoon. I would first like to thank all of you for coming to celebrate a loved one's life. We are gathered here today to remember McKenzie Elizabeth Williams, a woman who has had a great impact on everyone here and whom we all love greatly. McKenzie was a hard-working, compassionate, self-reflecting individual and also a great friend, daughter, sister, mom, and companion. She took great pleasure in doing activities that were of interest to her, but that could also have an impact on others. One thing McKenzie came to value was learning the importance of self-reflection. McKenzie excelled at taking a moment to rest and just step back to reflect on life and make sure she was on the right path; not losing focus on herself. When something wasn’t quite going right, she would take a break and do something else. Similar to the idea Iyer says, “That’s the reason American football players prefer to go into a huddle rather than just race toward the line of scrimmage, the reason a certain kind of writer will include a lot of blank space on a page, so his sentences have room to breathe (and his readers, too)” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). I think McKenzie got this idea from cheerleading back in her young days. Whenever she would have days where her stunt would continue to fall or she could not land a tumbling pass, she would take a deep breath and get a water break to get her mind off the frustration. McKenzie in this same way would not dwell on the past; she wanted to maximize her time most efficiently. This idea of self-reflection played an important role for https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ McKenzie in deciding her career. We all know her as the caring, hardworking, local orthodontist, but it wasn’t an easy decision in getting there. “Planning your career is much like planning for a trip. There are many details and decisions to make and it requires a lot of exploration and research. It’s not a one-step process” (“Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course” by Undergraduate Career Services - Moreau FYE Week Four). McKenzie understood how important this decision was, and knew that this could not be a rushed process. She used her skill of self-reflection by stepping back and exploring multiple careers before deciding that orthodontia was her passion and calling. She ended up choosing a career in a field that had an impact on her childhood. McKenzie has made an impact on many through her career, the same way her orthodontist impacted and influenced her. This career fit her wholeheartedly, and she was able to dedicate enough time to her family who she valued more than anything. In McKenzie’s self-reflection, she was focused on bettering herself and using the right ways to do so. Sometimes you don’t want to hear things that are necessary, but knowing these things can help you become a better version of yourself. That was something McKenzie knew well that we could all learn from. As Eurich said, “A good rule of thumb, then, is that why questions are generally better to help us understand events in our environment and what questions are generally better to help us understand ourselves” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). McKenzie would reflect and practice asking these “what” questions to better understand her emotions. A thing everyone should know is that your emotions can better show you what next steps to take. Not only did McKenzie practice self-reflection, but she did it in the right way that reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. She practiced this skill a lot in college when she would be stressed with school work. McKenzie would take a pause from the chaotic time and just relax, which allowed https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ her to better understand the emotions she was feeling and how to respond to them. This value of self-reflection is something we can all learn from McKenzie and practice it to live a better life. Another thing McKenzie valued was her interests and taking part in activities that would impact others. McKenzie did things because she thought it was the right thing to do, not because of what others thought she should do. Father Hesburgh said, “At a university you cannot censor ideas if they disagree with your own. I told him if you withdraw this book, I resign as president. Well that book sold out, and I kept my job” (“Hesburgh” produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Father Hesburgh and McKenzie walked the same campus, and she learned from his legacy the importance of standing up for what you believe in and understanding that it is in our power as individuals to fix something in the world if we believe it is wrong. McKenzie wanted to make a positive difference in the world, so when she believed in something, she stood strong to that belief. While in her college years at the University of Notre Dame, McKenzie wanted to join a club where she could help make a difference in someone’s life. She ultimately decided to join Camp Kesem. This club had a lasting impact on McKenzie, where she was able to be there for children whose parents were suffering from cancer. McKenzie once had a conversation with her mom, where later she expressed to me, “A main theme throughout the conversation was my work ethic and determination to accomplish goals, but also teamwork and helping others (something I had not really thought about myself). My mom said that what I most desired in life was doing things of interest and being able to have an impact on others.” (“QQC 5” by McKenzie Williams - Moreau FYE Week Five). As all of you here know, McKenzie was an extremely hard worker; when she set a goal, she was determined to accomplish it. These goals were often oriented around specific interests she had: cheerleading, academics, interactions with others, etc. Whatever the interest was, she gave her https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TMjO473KMGNjPuz3Wj4Mps7pKOdw2fYRXGbH77DTHuI/edit full effort and attention to it, and whenever she could help someone in the process she would take full advantage of the opportunity. The one thing that probably mattered most to McKenzie was her relationships in life. She was constantly surrounded by others and sustained lifelong friendships with people from her childhood and college years. She was someone who thrived in working with others, where she used people as a support system but was also there for them in return. All of you here had some sort of relationship with McKenzie, so you all know how deeply relationships mattered to her. As Himes once said, “To help us discern what our talents and gifts are, we need a circle of friends (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.). The fostering of a community of friends who can be honest with us and whom we can genuinely hear, before whom and with whom we can be open and humble” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three). McKenzie, thanks to everyone here, had a great support system filled with family and friends who she looked to for guidance when necessary. I’m sure if she were standing here today she would tell you how grateful she is for each and every one of you, as I’m sure you all would say the same to her. She used feedback from the people who knew her best to grow and improve to become the best person she could be. In many ways, we would be lost as human beings without help from the people around us. McKenzie understood that she was the ultimate person who decided what she wanted to do in life, but valued and knew that the people around her could help her get there. Pope Francis says, “The future is made of yous, it is made of encounters, because life flows through our relations with others” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Pope Francis knows the interactions we have with people help ultimately shape who we are. McKenzie and Pope Francis knew that it is essential in life to have people around us. She understood that we impact others even through the smallest https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40388/files/473345?module_item_id=147866 https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript interactions. That is why you never saw her in the orthodontist's office without a smile on her face! She wanted to positively impact all her patients, and she knew that every encounter has an impact. So, as I have stood here and discussed some of McKenzie’s essential values in life, we can conclude that she lived a truly well-lived life. It was an honor to know someone like her, and I hope we can all appreciate the impact she has had on us. Today we are mourning the loss of a loved one, but we are also celebrating a great life. McKenzie, we will miss you immensely, but the legacy you left behind will never be forgotten.