Moreau Integration 3




Integration Three

Moreau First Year Experience

3/5/22

“We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the

Earth to share” (Maya Angelou Quote by Maya Angelou). It seems as though the key into unlocking a life

that is well lived is through the three components that Maya Angelou discussed in her quote above: joy,

love, and one another. Throughout Julie’s life she seemed to have a strong understanding that in order to

truly live a life that is enriched, it is crucial to not only receive and experience these three components,

but also exalt these aspects so that others may also live a life that is well lived. Whether it is through

completing a kind act for others or simply furthering a relationship with another, joy can not only lead to

love but also a sense of kinship among others that may have not been present before a particular

experience.  Julie made it a personal goal to continue to place herself in situations where she can not only

enrich her own life but also make a positive difference in the lives of others. She also exemplified

complete reliance on God as a compass in her decision making. Julie was a person who longed to enrich

her own life through joy, love and through her ability to recognize God in each person she encountered

and her willingness to bring joy to the lives of others so that each person has the opportunity to live a life

that is well lived.

Ever since Julie was a child, she always had an innate desire to express her unique qualities and

never waver from who she was as a person. Whether it was through being the only student in her grade

who participated in the science fair, or the only girl in eighth grade who was in the school band, she

always recognized her unique passions and embraced them even if others viewed those passions

negatively. Due to her uniqueness, it seemed as though she was ostracized from many situations when she

was younger. This caused her to continue to struggle between embracing her own self but also suffer with

the idea that, since she was different, others will not also embrace her uniqueness and appreciate diversity.

This idea was also addressed by Jihoon Kim in which he described, “...when hardships and unexpected

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/maya-angelou-quote-on-joy-and-love/


things happen to us, we often focus on the things we do not have”("5 Minutes" by Jihoon Kim- Moreau

FYE Week Six). Even though Julie was able to embrace her passions, she found herself  continuing to

struggle to truly understand ways she can both be unique and also enhance her relationships with others.

However, she soon realized that  through recognizing her passions she has the ability to truly experience

joy which can therefore further guide her to understand God’s plan for herself  and continue to use her

passions as a compass in her life. In an article by Father Himes, he further emphasizes this point by

stating, “Joy, on the other hand, is much deeper and much more central, it comes from within, and it’s a

genuine rightness of how one lives one’s life”(“Three Key Questions'' by Father Michael Himes- Moreau

FYE Week 3). In this quotation, Father Himes provides a unique perspective in which he describes that

joy is able to be found more within through embracing one’s own passions and recognizing one’s

uniqueness.  Through recognizing her passions, Julie was able to find joy in participating in the science

fair and the band, even if others viewed these passions as strange or foreign. Through recognizing these

passions at a young age, Julie was truly able to understand the true meaning of joy within herself and

therefore become prepared to experience joy with those around her.

As Julie grew and matured, she began to realize that she can not only gain an understanding of

herself  through deep reflection but also through experiencing “life giving” relationships with those she

encountered. When Julie applied to different scholarships and jobs , she received a series of interviews

and each interview had a similar question, “What is something that you are proud of?” She responded to

the interview question by stating that she was most  proud of her values that encircle the importance of

family and developing relationships with others. She continued to refer to her experiences with family as

a catalyst for setting a foundation that guided her to an individual who embraces her faith but also

understands the importance of using her morals to enact positive impact. Her family has not only guided

her to recognize joy within herself but also guided her in understanding not only Julie’s commendable

qualities but also addressing certain qualities that she has the ability to improve or adjust. Even though

Julie had many positive qualities, it would be a mistake to forget her perfectionism and her sensitivity to

constructive criticism (Reflection Assignment- Moreau FYE Week 5). As she grew, she began to see these

https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022


flaws as opportunities to not only enhance herself  as a person but also enhance relationships with others

through being vulnerable and understanding herself from another perspective. Julie’s experience with

enriching relationships has also provided a catalyst in her longing to integrate herself into communities

that value aspects of faith, community, and integrity. This guided Julie to choose a college that embraced

these components but also challenged her to look deeply within herself in order to truly understand her

core values that she can rely on throughout her life. In a presentation by Kiersten DeHaven, she

emphasizes this point by stating, “The fortitude and discipline Notre Dame helped me develop, with an

appreciation for community and faith, are what help me get through the good and the bad”("Domer

Dozen" by Kiersten DeHaven- Moreau FYE Week 2). Her time at Notre Dame not only immersed her

into new experiences but has also reinforced her understanding of the importance of community. This

focus on community and faith has emboldened her to take the lessons she has learned at Notre Dame and

apply them to every aspect of her life and use her education as a catalyst for positive change.

Through recognizing herself and realizing the joy that is brought from cultivating relationships

with others, it guided Julie to recognize God’s presence in those she encountered and therefore further

cultivate her life on a deeper level. Her passion to make a positive difference in the lives of others

provided a pathway for her to immerse herself in service with others. Julie’s first experience with working

with those in need involved working at a soup kitchen called “Face to Face” in Philadelphia. During her

time serving in the soup kitchen, she encountered numerous individuals in need, however Julie was

constantly taken aback by their overwhelming gratitude and kindness despite the numerous struggles that

each person was experiencing. Father Gregory Boyle furthers this point by stating, “Close both eyes: see

with the other one…Our sphere has widened and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly, in a new,

expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love. We’ve wandered into God’s own

‘jurisdiction’”(Tattoos on the Heart by Father Gregory Boyle- Moreau FYE Week 7). Through

relinquishing the barriers that may have been set between herself and those Julie was serving with, she

was genuinely able to experience “God’s Jurisdiction” and it provided a catalyst into her passion to

recognize God’s presence in each person and each experience that she encountered throughout her life.

https://domerdozen.nd.edu
https://domerdozen.nd.edu


Julie’s experience with service guided her to use her education as a method into enhancing “God’s

Jurisdiction” throughout the world. This guided her to immerse herself  into the medical field and

integrate her passions for science and making a positive impact on the lives of others. After reading the

article from the Meruelo Center for career development, it guided her to understand that her success and

joy in the career aspect of her life immediately comes from her understanding of her own morals and

ways that she can immerse those values into her career. ("Navigating Your Career Journey”- Meruelo

Family Center for Career Development- Moreau FYE Week 4). Through using her career as a method to

create a world where each person has the opportunity to experience and provide joy, Julie enriched not

only the lives of others but also her own life her life on a deeper level

Julie constantly longed to understand herself  and use her own qualities to bring joy and also

experience joy from herself  and also from life giving relationships. Julie was someone who longed to use

her own qualities in order to better herself and further understand her relationship with God through

recognizing God’s presence within herself. Through embracing her unique qualities, she used those

qualities as a compass in making major life decisions that impacted her entire perspective on the world.

Even though she may not be present on this Earth, her impact will continue forever and also inspire those

she encountered to live a life with joy, love, and kinship with others.

https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/