Moreau Capstone Assignment 4/25/21 Nhat Nguyen Moreau FYS Capstone Assignment When writing my mission statement, I did a lot of reflecting on the past year in Moreau and the lessons, activities, and discussion I’ve had every Thursday in O’Shag. We’ve engaged in thirteen different conversations this semester, ranging from racism, to acts of service, to families, to career paths, and even opening up to peers through our ongoing goal of vulnerability. In my mission statement from Week 13, I reflected on my younger self and compared my present accomplishments and goals with her dreams and aspirations. I shared my hopes for the future – the type of person I want to be, and the impact I want to have on my community and in my respective field. Through each assigned Moreau module, it became clearer and clearer each day the type of life I wanted to live and the main point of my mission statement. The first line of my mission statement reads, “I want to create something beautiful. Whether that’s through a career, in my education, with friends and family, or through outreach to communities, I want to have a viable impact in my life, and be able to look back on my accomplishments with a sense of pride and humility”. In week 1, we read an article called Why we need to slow down our lives by Pico Iyer, which talks about the impact of social media and technology on our daily lives, and why it’s important to find other ways to increase the quality of our lives besides scrolling through feeds and skimming apps. I chose a quote from the article which reads, “It’s easy to feel as if we’re standing two inches away from a huge canvas that’s noisy and crowded and changing with every microsecond. It’s only by stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our life) really means, and to take in the larger picture” (Iyer). I think this relates to the first part of my mission statement because, by stepping back from the comfort of our phones and internet bubble, we are able to expand our interests, grow our hobbies, and find our passions in other aspects of life. I remember over quarantine, instead of constantly scrolling through videos on TikTok, I decided to buy some oil paints and start following Bob Ross painting tutorials, which eventually led my mom into picking up graphic design on her iPad. This is one small example of the benefit that taking a step back from our routines can have on us. I want to continue this in my next three years by limiting my social media usage and joining clubs and activities to find my passions, The next line in my mission statement reads, “I want to make my younger self feel proud of me”. In week 2 of Moreau this semester, we watched Hesburgh, a documentary surrounding the impressive humanitarian and political work and life of beloved past-Notre Dame president Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. In week 3, we read an article called Three Key Questions by Father Michael Himes, which talked about finding your passions and niche in life through seeking out joy and finding your own talents. Father Hesburgh found joy through the Notre Dame community and being a leading force in politics and the resolution of social issues – he was talented at finding common ground between opposing parties, as we saw in his story about taking a group up to Wisconsin to go fishing. Fr. Hesburgh once said, “You don't make decisions because they are easy; you don't make them because they are cheap; you don't make them because they're popular; you make them because they're right” (Hesburgh), which I think is an incredibly powerful statement and truly shows that, in order to live a life well-lived, you must prioritize the right thing at all times knowing it will benefit everyone around you. Fr. Hines says in his week 3 article, “Happiness is distinct, but it’s not about life. Joy is the delight one takes in being dissatisfied. It is the deep delight that one feels in being called to something still before you—to a new decision and to a new way of living” (Himes). For me, living a life-well lived is finding and fulfilling that joy, as opposed to constantly seeking temporary happiness – and that’s exactly what Father Hesburgh did. I continue in my mission statement – “ I can remember days when it was hard to get out of bed – a constant feeling and reminder of failure and uncertainty about the future. I was convinced I’d end up washed up and not be able to succeed in college, but fast forward a few years, I’ve proved myself wrong”. In weeks 4, 5, and 6, we discussed career paths, using our best qualities, and being aware of our obstacles to succeeding. Completing a career development reflection assignment in week 4 highlighted our strengths and possible future career ideas based on these – the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development has a helpful website for navigating your career journey, in which it says, “If someone focuses only on skill, for example, he/she may realize that that interest is lacking or alignment with values or personality is off. That person can do the career for a while but eventually will start to feel dissatisfied and likely burn out. This reinforces the need to consider all four aspects - values, interests, personality, and skills - when making a career decision” (Meruelo Career Development). This emphasizes the importance of using all of your best traits to find a career path, as opposed to focusing solely on one. I’ve definitely made my younger self proud with my intended career path – I chose pre-med over my love for film and television, and decided to challenge myself with new types of chemistry, physics, and biology. I combined my people skills with my love for exploration and my knack for delving deep into topics to find a subject I was truly passionate about. One thing to admit, however, is I’ve definitely found my weaknesses when looking for a career and a future goal. In a conversation with my mom during the Week 5 Discernment Conversation activity, I reflected in my follow-up, “One thing she always tells me is to stop caring about the opinions of others, and work harder to be more carefree and spontaneous by stepping out of my comfort zone”. One of my weaknesses is being overly focused on the opinions and perspectives of others, instead of keeping my head straight forward and focusing on myself. During my first semester at ND, I gradually began to focus more on my own perspective of myself, as at the end of the day it is usually the only one that matters. I believe by gaining a better understanding of yourself, you are more likely to live a meaningful life. In week 6, we read The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way) by Tasha Eurich, which talked about the importance of truly getting to know yourself – “University of Sydney psychologist Anthony M. Grant discovered that people who possess greater insight — which he defines as an intuitive understanding of ourselves — enjoy stronger relationships, a clearer sense of purpose and greater well-being, self-acceptance and happiness. Similar studies have shown that people high in insight feel more in control of their lives, show more dramatic personal growth, enjoy better relationships and feel calmer and more content” (Eurich). I believe by putting aside your lesser qualities and vowing to improve http://sydney.edu.au/science/people/anthony.grant.php https://www.sbp-journal.com/index.php/sbp/article/view/1219 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223980.2010.528072 them, we can gain an amazing perspective into our own lives and a path for the future will gradually and surely appear. Further on in my mission statement, I confessed, “ What once was friendship turned into months of one-upping each other with test grades, ACT/SAT scores, and extracurricular activities. I honestly don’t know why I was so obsessed with the achievements of others during my teenage years. I do think this set boundaries on what I believed I was capable of, though”. This relates to week 7-10, in which we discussed relationships and the intersection of suffering and learning together. In week 7, we read a chapter from Father Boyle’s book Tattoos on the Heart, in which we learned of the importance of allowing people into our lives, but also maintaining productive relationships: “Allowing folks into my jurisdiction requires that I dismantle what I have set up to keep them out. Sometimes we strike the moral high moral distance of judgment – moving our protected jurisdictions far from each other. That is also, largely, the problem in the groupthink of gangs” (Boyle). This quote is important because it relates the struggle I felt when finding a balance between friendship and academic competition, which unfortunately was a prevalent issue at my high school. Boyle says that we need to let down these walls and get close with others in order to sustain and grow these important relationships that help us live a strong and successful life. I mentioned this struggle in my Integration III in week 8, in which I discussed what it means to live a well-lived life – and finding strong friendships was one of the aspects of having a meaningful existence. In week 9, we talked about how we respond to suffering through Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together by Prof. Steve Reifenberg, in which he discusses the importance of finding these relationships: “My life has been enormously enriched through those relationships, and the concept of accompaniment has given me a new lens through which to understand my own experiences, teaching, international development, and much more” (Reifenberg). Through friendship and community, we are able to combine suffering with accompaniment and help those dealing with hard times feel more supported and hopeful. This relates to our discussions in week 10, where we talked about the spirit of inclusion, and why it’s essential to embrace humanity regardless of differences. In the powerful article Growing up Gay and Catholic by Jacob Walsh, he talks about his fear of not being accepted by his peers and the consequences that coming out would have on him. He explains, “In my mind, there were two alternatives: either I was not attracted to men — not permanently, anyway — or God did not love me. If He loved me and I was gay, He would make me straight. I thought admitting to myself that I was gay would make it true” (Walsh). This is an unfortunate but very prevalent truth that most LGBTQ+ youth go through – but with community and an abundance of unconditional acceptance, we are able to make this step so much easier for our peers. I ended my mission statement by saying, “Learning through the wisdom of others and from their life experiences can only benefit you, and I think there is so much value in being surrounded by different people of different backgrounds who all work together to make you truly happy”. In week 11, we talked about the dangers of an Echo Chamber and how we can grow in wisdom by watching a ThinkND video by Dr. Paul Blaschko on How to Avoid an Echo Chamber. In the video, he explains, “First, of course, we should be intentional about the information we expose ourselves to, seeking out intelligent people with whom we disagree and attempting to fully understand their arguments. Secondly, though, we need to keep an eye on our own motives, when we find ourselves discrediting views we disagree with, and when we find others around us encouraging and supporting us to do so, we need to take a step back and reorient ourselves” (Blaschko). This emphasizes my mission statement of hoping to grow in wisdom and through discourse and the experience of others. In week 12, we concluded the semester with a focus on courage, and how we can act immediately to stick up for our beliefs and values, and because it’s the right thing to do. In an article by ND Law School Dean Marcus Cole, he has a profound reflection on his situation, “Still, I have often thought about what lasting scars may have cut into their psyche by watching what that officer did to me that night. I often wonder what my sons think of me, as a man, and as their protector, knowing that I could not fight back” (Cole). In this article, Dean Cole talks about an incident in which his father was brutally beaten in a racist attack by three white men, and that it was only because of his neighbors that his father’s attackers drove away. Nowadays, it is vital that we stick up for what’s right, and stand against the face of racism, violence, and any other form of hatred. It is when we stick together as a community, either in our dorms, in the ND student body, or even as human beings, that we can uplift and make a difference in each other's lives. Works Cited (Why we need to slow down our lives”) by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One) (“Hesburgh Documentary") produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two) (“Three Key Questions”) by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three) ("Navigating Your Career Journey”) from the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four) (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, there’s a Wrong Way!”) by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six) (“Tattoos on the Heart Chapter 8: Jurisdiction”) by Fr. Greg Boyle - Moreau FYE Week Seven) (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together”) by Professor Steve Reifenberg – Moreau FYE Week Nine (“Growing up Gay and Catholic”) by Jacob Walsh – Moreau FYE Week Ten (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber”) by Paul Blaschko – Moreau FYE Week Eleven (“I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something”) by Dean Marcus Cole, Moreau FYE Week Twelve