Comment by Michael Comuniello: Question from Tommy:

Mike,
I'm working on the integration one assignment right now, and a question occurred to me. When the requirements state that "you are required to integrate content from each week of Weeks 1 - 7 in your response," does said content include my commentary, or are quotes from the content that we read / watched the only pieces that count? Let me know.
Thanks,
Tommy	Comment by Michael Comuniello: Thanks for your question, Tommy -- you've met the citation requirement, as you referenced each of the week's in your reflection; well-done!
Michael Comuniello
Moreau First Year Experience
10.15.2021
I Believe in Growth	Comment by Michael Comuniello: Hi @tberner@nd.edu

Thank you so much for sharing a first draft of your integration reflection. I agree with you, I think it's very well written and it's clear you've put great effort into the assignment; seriously, I'm proud of you.

In this reflection, I've only provided technical feedback/comments. As per usual, in your final draft I will follow-up with specific questions and comments for further reflection.

Most notably, there are a few instances where you speak in generalities and I want to push you to be more specific, more concrete. This is where the true integration between the semester's readings/themes and your experience lie. Otherwise, I don't have any additional comments at this time.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Blue skies,
Mike

Anticipated Grade without additional edits: 188/200
_Assigned to Thomas Berner_
Through eighteen years of life, going to five different schools and living in two different states, it goes without saying that I’ve come a long way in my emotional and interpersonal development. I’ve made countless friends and gone through many feuds, breakups, and separations with friends. I’ve gone out of my comfort zone, overcoming nerves and going all in for my first kiss, first time trying a backflip on skis, or having the courage to tell my friends, “no.” I’ve built a solid foundation that prepared me in some ways for college, but I have a long way to go. I believe that I can build on these foundations and continue to develop myself and my relationships by having an open mind.
Since becoming a student at Notre Dame, I’ve been challenged mentally, both intellectually and emotionally, possibly more than at any other time in my life. I’ve struggled academically more than I ever have, scrambled to make friends in a brand new place, and missed home for the first time, and these struggles have brought negative emotions like stress and anxiety. However, I’ve also experienced so many gratifying moments and shared genuine interactions with new friends which have brought positive emotions like joy and contentment. This rollercoaster of emotions has been testing, and I find myself coping in ways that are not necessarily healthy, such as burying myself in my phone or ignoring the problem for as long as possible, which is where I have room to grow. As Brené Brown said in her TED talk, “you can't numb those hard feelings without numbing the other affects, our emotions. You cannot selectively numb. So when we numb those, we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). This is an area in which I can grow, an example of my still-developing emotional intelligence, though I believe that the foundations are already within me to facilitate this growth. As I reflected on in Week 2, When I examine my own weaknesses, such as perseverance, self-regulation, and spirituality, I can see how grappling with these imperfections could lead to a better self. Becoming more spiritual and disciplined would allow me to find new passions and be able to pursue them with rigor that I’ve never had. However, I believe that my strengths, especially perspective, will undoubtedly help me in my journey. As I continue to be tested by this new environment, I hope to have an open mind about these challenges and, as Carla Harris advised in Week 5’s Laetare Medalist address, use this hardship as an opportunity to improve. By having an open mind, I can work toward framing setbacks and hardship as new lessons to use to better word toward one’s goals shows how growth can be a mindset. This is something that I struggle with, so trying to adopt the mentality that the challenges that I face are not only events of growth but also can improve me as a person will be helpful as I continue to encounter setbacks. 	Comment by Michael Comuniello: Similar to my previous comment, what might this look like? What resources might you be able to take advantage of in order to be more spiritual and/or more disciplined?

Spiritual: Attend Mass in Morrissey w/ friends, connect w/ the priests-in-residence in your dorm, etc.?
Disciplined: Accountability partner for bed/rising; attending office hours; check-ins w/ your Moreau instructor, etc.?
Outside of myself, I believe that I have the capacity to strengthen the bonds that I’ve already made throughout my time both here and at home. Though I’ve always cared for my friends, and I believe that I’ve found friends who care for me deeply, I think that I can do more to support them, which would bring us closer together. As stated in Week four’s “5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship:”
“Friendships should make you feel positive and like you’re investing in something long-term. Think back to a time where you felt uplifted, hopeful, and happy after hanging out with a friend. The best kind of friendships are the ones where you leave with a smile on your face, knowing you’re both growing to be better people and that you’re helping each other get there” (5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship - Moreau FYE Week 4).
Especially during this transitional period in our lives, these words could not be more true. Many people are facing discomfort and loneliness, so a mutual support of people who care for the growth and comfort of those around them is not only helpful but necessary to succeed. As I reflected on in Week 3, to adjust to this new environment that I’ll call home for the better part of the next four years, I will need to have faith that those around me desire the same comfort and camaraderie that I do, and through mutual faith, build out a road map for this new environment together. This faith is not easy, as it requires trust in people that I only recently met, but I have foundations of trust in friends from home that have helped me in the past, which allows me to have more confidence in extending this trust to people around me now. Friends and family are an integral part of my life, which can be seen in my Week 6 Where I’m From poem, where I mentioned friends or family members in every single stanza. I must continue to have faith in others and extend it to the people around me, as well as trust that if I invest more energy and care into the relationship, it will be reciprocated and strengthen our bond. Looking forward, I intend to accomplish this goal by being more mindful of the impact that my actions have on others and try to become someone who is known as a supportive friend. 
To achieve these goals and better myself, I believe that I need an open mind that will not hinder me from diving in and discovering myself. I must be willing to chase diverse, genuine interactions, which, as I wrote in Week 7, begins with the question, “What barriers hold me back from diverse interactions with others?” I would argue that while proximity to diverse environments is certainly a barrier, a closed mindset is a far larger one but can be overcome by seeking and embracing opportunities for dialogue with people of different backgrounds than yourself, which could be as simple as branching out and having a conversation with somebody that I don’t know. By encouraging myself to have an open mind, and allowing myself to build on the foundations that I have in my mental framework and in my relationships, I believe that I can grow and mature exponentially during my time at Notre Dame.