Integration #3 Pierpoint 1 Professor Retartha Moreau 4 March 2022 “She was a good person who did good for others” Brooke Ashley Pierpoint was a compassionate woman who cared deeply for the wellbeing of those around her. She genuinely wanted the best for everyone. She volunteered her time in attempts to better the lives of others. She believed in people even when they couldn’t believe in themselves. She made a positive impact on anyone she encountered and challenged them to be the best person they could be. When prompted to write my own eulogy, I first thought of the topic’s morbidity, but then I reflected; my death could actually be much sooner than anticipated, and I want to be remembered as a good person and did good for others. I yearn for a “life well-lived” where passion, compassion, and love define who I am. When I think of a life well lived, I want my God given gifts and passions to drive what I do, not the potentially appealing, external, superficial motives. While watching Dr. Rene Bermea’s speech she advised the viewers to “find what drives you, and let it guide your path” (“2021 Domer Dozen Honoree: Dr. Rene Bermea ’12” by Dr. Rene Bermea - Moreau FYE Week Two). I find myself to be very fortunate as I have already found what drives me: helping others. I have also found where my passions lay: medicine. By combining my passion and my motivations, I know that a profession within the medical field will enable me to live a life well-lived. At times, I have struggled with this potential dream as there have been multiple obstacles that have served as an impediment in achieving this aspiration. For example, the anxiety I face on a daily basis can prevent me from acting on what I want to do and it hinders my https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhDe_X1S-wU Pierpoint 2 ability to push myself to further heights. My learning disorder has provided a barrier to the way I learn, as I have to sacrifice more of my time to study and understand the material than the average person. However, despite these challenges the cliche “tough times build character” serves to be true in this specific situation. In my eulogy, I want my “life-well lived” to encompass both my passions and motivations as well as my attempts to conquer each hurdle and, with that, I learned life lessons that I took with me throughout my life. Furthermore, with each difficult situation faced, it is imperative to take a step back and reflect. While completing the “Pause for Reflection Activity” (“Pause for Reflection” by McDonald Center for Wellbeing - Moreau FYE Week 1), I recognized the importance of reflecting on past experiences. Through reflection, I am able to break down previous difficult situations and learn from how I responded to them. Additionally, reflection has proved to help me with mental stability and maintaining a healthy emotional relationship. In my opinion, I see this as an observable sign in my eulogy that I have lived a life well-lived because I am growing both intellectually and emotionally. I want to be remembered as someone who is wise and willing to change their perspectives from new, gained experiences. I yearn to be the person people ask for advice and guidance in strenuous circumstances; a sign of a life well-lived is someone who can take their learned experiences and help others in achieving their goals. With the reality that life is a finite amount of time, it is important to live life to the fullest. Living each day with the intention that it may be the last is a methodology that I hope to implement throughout my life. While reading Sister Aletheia’s commentary on life, I found it important to remind ourselves that our lives are not this “continuing and continuing” existence, but rather that time is limited (“Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die”- Moreau FYE Week 3). When writing my eulogy, I want to look back at my time on earth and feel https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SDVigBXg1KOCptB2vSYbFWFyLyX9xnCo/view https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html Pierpoint 3 confident that each day was filled with joy, kindness, and love. As humans, we understand that every day is not guaranteed, but we also assume that the next day will happen and even the next year. It is imperative to step back and reflect, putting our lives into perspective. I hope that in my eulogy, it can be said that I lived each day to the fullest, embracing the difficulties and appreciating the joyous moments. Additionally, our lives are a collection of every small moment: “every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not!” (Navigating Your Career Journey by Undergraduate Career Services - Moreau FYE Week 4). Even, at the time, the most menial of experiences can offer the most impactful insight; therefore, I hope that I can see each and every opportunity as a way to grow intellectually and emotionally. A life well-lived is not just surmised by the large achievements or the most memorable moments but the little experiences that have just as large of an impact on who I am as a person. For my eulogy, I want there to be a good combination of both the small moments –– with friends and family –– to the large moments –– graduating Notre Dame and my first real job. No matter how big or small the situation, it shapes who we are; this reminds me to treat all experiences with the same levity as it could lead to morphing me into a bigger and better person. Through life’s difficulties, it can be so easy to give in to those obstacles and give up; however, in my eulogy, I want people to say that “she faced each challenge with a positive outlook and always gave it her best effort.” While reading “The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)” (The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way - Moreau FYE Week 6), I recognized that suffering is a large part of life, but it is how we respond to these barriers, is what proves to be important. In just my 19 years of life, I have learned so much about myself and how I deal with hardships; I often give into my anxiety and this proves to be unsuccessful in dealing with difficult times. With time, I am getting better with responding to https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ Pierpoint 4 trials and tribulations and it is this outlook that I want people to remember me by. Having a toolbox to utilize when things go awry help to keep my mental health stable and allow me further my emotional IQ as well as refraining from distancing myself from others. I want to be remembered as one who has a strong mind and can fight through difficult times while still remaining emotionally balanced. This directly relates to my relationships with others during my life. When Father Greg Boyle talks about the importance of amiable relationships, I became aware of how important it is to have life-giving relationships throughout all stages of life (“Tattoos on the Heart - Chapter 8” - Moreau FYE Week 7). Successful and quality relationships are observable signs of a life well-lived because it shows the mutual respect and compassion that each person has for each other. In my opinion, one way to understand a person’s integrity is to look at their relationships with others. After I pass, I hope that I can be remembered for the type of friend I was; a friend who was there for others, a friend who listened and cared deeply, a friend who passed no judgment, a friend who made an impact on those around her. In my opinion, a life cannot be well-lived unless you help others to become their best selves, challenging them to think differently and grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually. And through these deep connections, loved ones can also aid in my growth (Week Five Discernment Conversation - Moreau FYE Week 5). An observable sign of a life well-lived that can often be overlooked is also opening up to the special people in life and letting them know every part of you, both the good and the bad. Because of these heartfelt relationships, I will be remembered as someone who forged life-giving connections and who had the ability to be vulnerable and open. Brooke Ashley Pierpoint lived a life-well lived through her ability to act on her passions, live in the moment, learn from and appreciate past experiences, reflect on her well-being, respond positively to hardships, forge life-giving relationships, and be vulnerable and open to https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39614/files/523975?module_item_id=167990 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit Pierpoint 5 loved ones. She led a life of compassion where she truly impacted the world around her. Brooke will be remembered for her big heart and her ability to help others live their lives to the fullest.