Moreau Integration 2 Integration 2 Assignment Moreau First Year Experience 12/3/21 Throughout my life, I have continued to understand that each experience can have multiple different outcomes based on the way that I perceive and respond to them. I have come to know that perceptions can have a deep impact on the way one reacts to a situation and also can provide a catalyst to a new outlook on life that one may not have thought of previously. During this semester, this idea is extremely prevalent in my life and I have come to know that the way I respond to something can have a deep impact on myself and future experiences. My experience at Notre Dame has come with great achievements and also big adjustments that have caused me to develop a deeper understanding of myself but have also strengthened my faith in God. My experience in college has caused me to look deeply into my relationship with God and further understand His plan for me and ways I can further develop a community of God while a student at Notre Dame. During the past four months at Notre Dame, I have learned the importance of the role that resilience and hope plays in fostering a community that involves unity and faith. As a student, resilience has played a major role in helping further my academic career by constantly being open and being able to adjust to the new unexpected situations that are placed in my path. Through being resilient, I have the ability to develop a deeper sense of hope for what is to come in the future and also be hopeful for God’s unique plan for me. These experiences have emboldened me to further enhance the Notre Dame community through furthering the recognition of God’s presence within each person I encounter as well as developing relationships that are meaningful and fruitful. Therefore, my experience at Notre Dame has led me to be even more resilient in situations but has also guided me to be hopeful for the new experiences that God brings forth and has provided a compass in creating a community of unity and love. The past four months have truly involved self development and also have guided me to enhance a deeper understanding of myself through my faith and developing relationships with others. Whether it was through adjusting to the new college environment of living away from home or living with someone I did not know very well, each of these experiences have taught me the importance of being resilient and embracing each situation that God brings me as a blessing and a part of His plan for me. This has truly guided me to further foster a deeper relationship with God and further understand who God is calling me to become. This was further discussed in Week 9 of Moreau, in which the class highlighted the importance of being relient and trusting in oneself during different situations. In an article written by Julia Hogan she states “ Trust yourself. Don’t look to others for approval or for directions for how to live your life. Look at all of the options out there for living life and pick the ones that you feel called to” ("Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit" by Julia Hogan- Moreau FYE Week 9). This quotation truly exemplifies the importance of recognizing oneself and being resilient through developing a sense of trust in one’s actions. This has truly been prevalent in my life because during my experience at Notre Dame I have come to know that to truly embrace the college experience, I have the responsibility to first seek to understand my genuine, unique qualities and remove the fear of what others will think of me. Through being able to understand and embrace my unique qualities, I am able to further develop a deeper relationship with God and also understand the importance of hope. Throughout my life, I have always understood the importance of hope but I have come to know that hope provides the light during a situation that seems to be engulfed in darkness. I have realized that hope involves being able to recognize God’s presence and understand His plan for me. Through being able to recognize the presence of hope, I have realized that it leads me to develop a different perception of the situation and understand that it is part of God’s plan. One experience in my life that truly exemplifies this was when a member of my class this past year, Maria Middleton, passed away due to a brain tumor. During the time leading up to and after her passing, each member of our class was deeply upset and felt a tremendous amount of grief over the loss of one of our “sisters”. However, Maria’s family truly provided a sense of hope during this dark time in which they continued to exemplify their overwhelming faith in God and their trust in God’s plan for Maria. Even after Maria’s passing, Maria’s parents comforted each classmate and continued to provide words of hope and compassion during this difficult time. Although https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/health-and-wellness/letting-go-of-expectations/?utm_source=fall_2021&utm_medium=class&utm_id=moreau https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/health-and-wellness/letting-go-of-expectations/?utm_source=fall_2021&utm_medium=class&utm_id=moreau this experience was truly difficult, Maria’s parents continued to use resilience as a compass in searching for hope that brought light during this dark time. This truly impacted me because it helped me understand God’s role in hope and the overwhelming influence that faith can have on the outlook of a situation. This was further discussed in Week 12 of Moreau in which Rev. James King states, “-the conviction that the Son of God died willingly, even for the sake of those who persecuted and abandoned him, in order to bring us through darkness to glory” (Holy Cross and Christian Education by Rev. James King C.S.C Moreau FYE Week 12). This quotation truly exemplifies the role that faith plays in developing a sense of hope even in the most difficult situations. Jesus completed the ultimate act of love by sacrificing Himself on the cross in order to bring each of us on Earth out of the darkness and into eternal light with Him in Heaven. This idea has truly impacted my outlook on life especially during my time at Notre Dame. The past four months have brought joy, stress, new friendships, and a deeper sense of faith. Each of these experiences have led me to develop a deeper sense of resilience but also view each situation that I encounter with a sense of hope. Through being able to recognize hope, I have the ability to change my entire outlook on a situation and even my life. Through recognizing my own self development and also understanding my ability to be resilient and further grow my sense of faith, I have the ability to help foster a community that involves unity and kinship throughout the world. During my time at Notre Dame, I have been able to experience the sense of community that is extremely strong at the university. However, I have come to know that I have the responsibility to help foster this sense of community and further the community through enriching the unity at Notre Dame. This was further exemplified in Week 10 of Moreau in which Father Jenkins describes, “We cannot proclaim the love of God in Christ without seeking the unity of all Christians”(Wesley Theological Seminary Commencement by Fr. John Jenkins C.S.C -Moreau FYE Week 10). My experience at Notre Dame has truly taught me the importance of Fr. Jenkins’ message of seeking love through unity. One experience that truly exemplifies this is through my experience as a reader at the Basilica. As a reader, I have the responsibility to engage the congregation in understanding God’s message that He calls each of us to proclaim. Each time I read, I continue to feel this overwhelming https://president.nd.edu/homilies-writings-addresses/wesley-theological-seminary-commencement/ sense of unity and community in the Basilica as each person listens intently to what was being proclaimed. This sense of unity emboldened me to further that throughout my daily life by recognizing the presence of God within each person I encounter and being open to the unique qualities and ideas that each person possesses. Community truly involves fostering a sense of hope for furthered unity among all individuals. In Moreau Week 11, Parker J Palmer suggests, “This simple fact has critical implications: community is not a goal to be achieved but a gift to be received” ("Thirteen Ways of Looking at Community" by Parker J. Palmer- Moreau FYE Week 11). This quotation emphasizes the idea that community is truly a “gift” from God and should therefore be embraced and furthered. My experience at Notre Dame has truly guided me to develop a deeper appreciation for each blessing and opportunity that has been offered to me, however the Notre Dame community has continued to encourage me to foster the unity that has been established and further it through my own unique way. I am truly hopeful for the next four years and I look forward to what God has in plan for me, and I plan to continue to strengthen the community through trusting in myself and seeking goodness. Therefore, my experience at Notre Dame has taught me to be resilient but has also guided me to use hope as a compass in fostering and furthering the unity that is a hallmark of the Notre Dame community. Through being resilient, I have the ability to look at each experience in a more positive and hopeful lense. Through using hope as a source of strength and comfort, I am able to further recognize God’s presence in every aspect of my life. Hope can truly play a major influence in fostering community through faith and seeking unity among all individuals in community. Through being able to embrace my faith, I have the ability to make a positive difference in the world and create a community of kinship in God’s name. http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/