Integration One


The Backbone to Personal Growth

Root Belief 1: I believe that I grow by having the courage to strengthen my weaknesses.
Whenever I think of someone growing as a person I think of a little plant growing to be a flower.
This idea emerged from the picture books I read in elementary school, but it has stuck with me
throughout my life. When one thinks of how a flower sprouts one can acknowledge the resources
it needs to grow such as sunlight, water, and a good environment. If the flower does not have
these resources it tries to move its stem towards them and fights for its needs. I think that it is
very similar for someone who wants to grow as a person as they must not only work towards
strengthening their strengths but also their weaknesses. However, one acquires to have the
courage to be willing to accept their faults, show them to others and ultimately aid them. As Dr.
Brown mentioned in her Ted Talk, those who are willing to be seen truly seen by others are able
to show vulnerability. She describes how those who achieve to show their true self are the ones
who have a strong sense of love, and belonging, and believe that they are worthy of love and
belonging. She stated, “And so these folks had, very simply, the courage to be imperfect” ("The
Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). I think that those who show
vulnerability are the ones who believe they are worthy of connection and brave enough to open
themselves up. Therefore, I believe that for someone to grow they must show their vulnerability
as one’s weaknesses are tied in with their vulnerability and they will never be able to strengthen
them if they do not identify them. For example, when I moved to Poland freshman year, I entered
a brand new environment where I felt that I did not belong. Meeting a lot of new people and
having to make new friends brought me to be self-conscious of myself and question whether I
was good enough. However, once I acknowledged that one of my weaknesses was being too shy
I started to strive towards putting myself out there. Therefore, by having the courage to fight my
weakness and tackle it I was able to grow as a person and a friend. As David Brooks states,
“Adam I is built by building on your strengths. Adam II is built by fighting your weaknesses. You
go into yourself, you find the sin which you've committed over and again through your life, your
signature sin out of which the others emerge, and you fight that sin and you wrestle with that sin,
and out of that wrestling, that suffering, then a depth of character is constructed” (Should You
Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy? by David Brooks - Moreau Week 2). He explains how
even though our world is filled with Adam 1, a persona entailed with a lot of egos and a deep
craving for success, we must strive towards an Adam II mentality. In order to achieve this
mentality, one must fight their own weaknesses. Therefore, I believe that character development

https://youtu.be/X4Qm9cGRub0
https://youtu.be/X4Qm9cGRub0
https://youtu.be/MlLWTeApqIM
https://youtu.be/MlLWTeApqIM


can only be achieved through building my strengths and weaknesses and having the courage to
build them.

Root Belief 2: I believe that one must have faith to live a purposeful life.
My definition of faith is learning and working out of love and it is reinforced through my belief
in God. Since I was a little girl, I was told that I should act like Christ. I was not just told this just
because of my religion, but because of what the image of Christ reflects: love, hope, virtue
kindness, and humility. I believe that having faith allows me to unravel these characteristics and
act out of them in love. As Fr. Grove stated, “An education, a work of the resurrection” (Two
Notre Dames: Your Holy Cross Education - by Fr. Grove - Moreau Week 5). He explains how if
one has faith and applies it to their daily lives they are able to achieve growth as a person. The
reason for this is because they began to prioritize community service and live the truth to serve.
By helping others, we achieve living a purposeful life as we work towards making a difference in
the world. For example, through having faith and reason, I have pushed myself the past four
years to help my community. Living in Monterrey, Mexico, a place where the majority of the
people live in poverty, I have sought to help by organizing an annual fundraiser for my local
public school. By donating over 150 hygienic and school supplies kits, I helped enrich the lives
of many students in my community. I created bonds with the students through love and faith as I
would also tutor them weekly. At Notre Dame, I continue to learn to love and create
relationships. Fr. Grove states how at this Catholic university one opens up to a family through
reason and faith. However, not everyone must be Catholic to experience this opportunity to grow
as a person. He describes how our lives are not our resumes, but indeed the experiences one
undergoes. This experience is what allows one to live a purposeful life as it entails service to
others and acting out of love in all ways. At Notre Dame, I have joined various clubs that are
dedicated to helping others such as AdoptaFamily and Enable. I strive to continue making a
difference in the world by living a life out of service and love. Therefore, I believe that it is very
important for people to have faith in their life. As Fr. Pete states, “Such a journey requires a
framework that challenges our modern understanding of the meaning of life the Christian
spiritual tradition is clear on this topic at the core of oneself is the very presence of God” (The
Role of Faith in Our Story by Fr. Pete - Moreau Week 3). Fr. Pete explains how individuals must
undergo a journey of self-discovery with a framework in life and answering the question of our
existence. However, the answer to this question entails one having faith as it is discovered
through the presence of God himself. Having faith requires individuals to look at life differently
and rather with a bright aspect. Whenever I think about the framework of my life, I think of my

https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=859bc1a8-0d0f-4eb4-a1c1-d0a45c429187
https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=859bc1a8-0d0f-4eb4-a1c1-d0a45c429187
https://youtu.be/lcZMeqWWOIs
https://youtu.be/lcZMeqWWOIs


new life at Notre Dame. I believe that on my journey of self-discovery at my new home I must
have faith and hope to make the most of it. By continuing to grow my faith at this university will
help me to keep strengthening my core values, live my life to the fullest, learn to love, and have
courage. Individuals with faith are able to tackle challenges in life and learn how to be hopeful
about the future. Therefore, I believe that one must have faith in order to fulfill their purpose and
live a life out of service and love.

Root Belief 3: I believe that I grow by undergoing new experiences and encountering
others.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and lived around 14 years of my life in the same
neighborhood. Up until eighth grade, I was surrounded by the same people since kindergarten.
Our ideologies and mindsets were all very similar as we all had around the same lifestyles. It
wasn’t until I moved to Warsaw, Poland, that I left my little bubble in Houston and ventured on
meeting new people from different backgrounds. I dove into a new lifestyle where I would learn
something new every day, such as how the Poles do not clap nor make noise during a movie, or
that “dzien dobry” means good morning. Through this experience, I gained knowledge of the
Polish language, culture, and issues encountered by that culture. I moved to a new country that
was filled with the sad and rich history of WWII and the communism of the Soviet Union.
Before moving to Poland, I would only feel sorry for the Polish people due to how many suffered
in concentration camps and the crack that was left on the country. I only had one perspective on
this nation that I gained from reading Holocaust novels in school and just as Novelist
Chimamanda Adichie stated, “She had felt sorry for me even before she saw me” (Danger of a
Single Story by Chimamanda Adichie - Moreau Week 7). Just like Chimamanda’s roommate, I
was someone who reflect the risk of listening to just one story about someone and their
nationality. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie mentions how her roommate pitied her because of
where she was from even before listening to her story. This is the type of assumption that one
can make when they only get one aspect of someone’s life. From only reading the sad history of
the Polish people, I never believed to think of them as fighters until moving to Poland. By
getting a new perspective, I came to learn that the Polish people were very hard-working people,
and even if their ancestors were victims of various communist reigns they are perceived as
fighters. Through making Polish friends, I gained an open mindset which allowed me to grow
intellectually as well as a person. I learned the importance of hearing both sides of a story and
how an experience can influence the way one thinks. For example, after writing my poem for
Week 6, I learned how my experience of living in three different nations has made me be the

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare


person I am today. I am both Mexican and American, and by encountering people from both of
these cultures I have gained different perspectives. At Notre Dame, I will be able to continue
gaining a new lens on the world by meeting new people who come from different backgrounds
and learning their perspectives. Therefore, by this new experience in college, I will continue to
grow as a person. I will strive to form lifelong friendships at Notre Dame and learn how to
maintain healthy relationships. As Olivia T. Taylor states, “Attention is one of the rarest forms of
love” (5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship by Olivia T. Taylor - Week 4). She describes the
importance of listening and paying attention to your friend, partner, or acquaintance. At Notre
Dame, I strive for character development by seeking friends who love me for who I am and who
will help me be the best version of myself. Therefore, I believe that I grow as a person by
meeting new people, learning new perspectives, and undergoing new experiences.

https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/