Capstone Integration My Mission for Life My mission in life is to be happy. To be more than content in everything I pursue (“Writing a Personal Mission Statement Activity” by - Moreau FYE Week 13). I want the source of my happiness to be from genuine interactions and experiences, not superficial material things and ingenuine relationships. In the next three years, my life will not be “centered around money and things”, instead it will be centered around relationships with people (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). I have realized that I make most of my decisions with money in the back of my mind, for example, selecting my major and the activities I choose to participate in. My main concern has always been my financial stability in the future. However, I will work to change this mindset and prevent it from influencing my decisions and relationships. The major and activities I choose will be based on my own interests and passions, not money. Moreover, I plan to reach out to more people and foster new relationships. Genuine relationships and experiences with others will bring me greater fulfillment than wealth. I want to approach life with an open and positive mindset. I will not see each day as a burden, instead I will view each day as an opportunity to grow and discover new things about myself. During my time at Notre Dame, I will not approach each day with a perfectionist attitude. I hope to develop the mindset that I do not always have to excel at everything (“Conversation with Terrie Shen (Mom)” by - Moreau FYE Week 5). I will achieve this by heeding my Mom's advice which is to “take it easy” and realize that sometimes doing my best is enough (“Conversation with Terrie Shen (Mom)” by - Moreau FYE Week 5). I want to discover my passion and pursue it with purpose. During my time at Notre Dame, I will try new things to help me discover my passion. Moreover, I will treat “planning [my] career [and future…] like planning for a trip” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development- Moreau FYE Week 4). Instead of believing that the major and career I chose will determine the rest of my life, I will have the mindset that my major decision and first career after college are not the end-all. College is a place to discern my passions and learn from my failures. I will treat whatever career I choose after college as a trip and continuously plan for future trips. However, if I lose sight of my purpose in what I am doing, then I will take a “step farther back and stand still [...] to take in the larger picture” ("Why we need to slow down our lives" by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1). I will also respond to obstacles with a positive attitude and see them as an opportunity to grow. I will accomplish this by asking “what” questions [to] help [me] create a better future as opposed to “why” questions, which “trap [me] in the past” (“The Right https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ur4b9oFy7Mh8adNrwRTIFcanUIJUAI6wnAczkxW-H3I/edit?usp=sharing https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ Way to be Introspective (Yes, There's a Wrong Way” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6). If I fail an assignment or get rejected from a position, I will not ask “why” it happened to me and focus on my weaknesses, instead I will ask what I could do better next time or what parts were my strengths. By looking at the larger picture when I face a setback, I will become better at self-reflection and self-improvement. My mission in life is also to open myself to people different from me. To engage in meaningful conversations with others and become more aware of the world I live in. I want to expand my social circle and form meaningful relationships. I will leave my comfort zone and adapt to new environments. I will accomplish this by consciously preventing myself from “surrounding [myself] with people that agree with [me]” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul Blaschko - Moreau FYE Week 11). If I remain in an “echo chamber”, I will be limiting myself and becoming less globally minded (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul Blaschko - Moreau FYE Week 11). In the next three years, I will “make a conscious decision and effort to expand [my] circle” (“Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something” By Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week 12). Currently, I attend class and leave immediately without interacting with any of my classmates. In order to break out of my ideological bubble, I will actively try to start conversations with people in my classes. I will put myself in uncomfortable situations where my beliefs might be challenged; however, I know that, in doing so, I will be broadening my perspective and understanding of the world. To achieve my happiness in life, I must stay true to myself. I will continue to stand up for myself and what I believe. I will not let others tell me what is right and wrong. My goal is to help Notre Dame actually fulfill its “spirit of inclusion” mission (“The Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame” by University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week 10). Following in Father Hesburgh's footsteps, I will bring attention to the fact that “those who ignore history are condemned to repeat its mistakes” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2). Racism against minorities has been prevalent for too long in the United States and at Notre Dame progress still needs to be made. At Notre Dame, I will actively speak up for minorities at the institution. I will start conversations about race and my experiences with anyone that will listen. Moreover, I will urge the university to address the racial microaggressions caused by “white fragility” and the exclusion felt by minority groups (“Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” by Dr. Robin Di Angelo - Moreau FYE Week 10). However, I will keep in mind that “solidarity” does not mean being “the voice of the voiceless.” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9). My aim will be to uplift “those who have no voice" to have a voice and be heard (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together ” by Professor Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9). https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing In order to fulfill my mission, I know I need to respect my own values. I value my independence and freedom in my life (“Conversation with Terrie Shen (Mom)” by - Moreau FYE Week 5). I want to make choices for myself without doubts or negative influences. However, I will learn to ask for help and look to people I trust for guidance. For example, I will attend more office hours with my professors to “help [me] discern whether or not [I am] good at [something]” ("Three Key Questions" by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week 3). And in turn, I will share my experiences and wisdom with those in similar positions as me. Although the journey of fulfilling my personal mission will be challenging, I know that my happiness will be worth more than any obstacle I face. https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41088/files/471831?module_item_id=146508