Integration Three Nyugen Moreau First Year Experience 22 February 2022 A Life Best-Spent I always spent time with those whom I cared about. I made it a priority, throughout my life, to build connections and relationships with those whom I felt connected to as a result of similar and dissimilar experiences throughout my lifetime. Living in a life during a time period marked by great technological growth, I found time to take myself away from the screen in order to spend time with my kids and wife, while also being an active member of the community in which I lived (wherever that may be). During my time at Notre Dame, I became aware of the “Many in Silicon Valley [who] observe an “Internet Sabbath” every week, during which they turn off most of their devices from, say, Friday night to Monday morning” (“Why we need to slow down our lives by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1). It was during this time (the weekends), where I was able to spend the most meaningful time with my family: coaching sports teams, helping my kids with school, and spending time outside of the office with my family, a lot like his father before him. However, those who knew me knew that I was never afraid to be myself, regardless of what others may have thought. I understood that, to live a life well-lived, I had to take in the advice of those around me (parents, friends, or even professors) while also never being afraid to create my own path. Father Ted, former President of Notre Dame who, “did a lot of things that were not very priestly” was still able to be highly regarded in the Congregation of Holy Cross as a priest, but also in every other facet of his life (“ Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca - Moreau FYE Week 2). I, similarly, was somewhat unorthodox in my methods as a result of my education at Notre Dame, which led me to think deeply about my actions while also remaining true to myself. Part of this thinking process was derived from Michael Himes, who claimed that there were three things to consider with respect to making life decisions: “1) Do you get a kick out of it? 2) Are you any good at it? 3) Does anyone want you to do it?” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week 3). Without these three questions from Himes, my life would most likely have stayed the same course because I almost always answered these questions subconsciously as a result of the way I was raised as well as my education at Notre Dame. My main use of these three questions was discerning a career, which at first I thought was going to be a doctor, but instead chose a career in finance. I chose this because I wanted to balance my lifestyle with success in a field as well as satisfaction with it; I understood that “career satisfaction/success depends in part on how well a person can identify and implement his/her career self-concept, which is comprised of your values, interests, personality, and skills” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” - Moreau FYE Week 4). With respect to finance, I felt that my enjoyment in the field as well as the time I was able to spend with family later in life was a balance that was manageable, yet challenged me to pursue new skills and seek knowledge as well as new opportunities. Influenced by family in the field and peers at Notre Dame, I was able to find helpful resources who helped me build new relationships, both in the office as well as close relationships outside of it. My closest relationship has been my best friend since birth: my sister, Morgan. She has indubitably served as my biggest role model while also being my closest friend. Throughout my life, she has seen me build (and break) some of the most meaningful relationships in my life, whether it be childhood best friends, girlfriends, or teachers. She understands that, “I value holding strong relationships with others, and that I place what it takes to build those relationships above my own personal values” (by - Moreau FYE Week 5). When it came to relationships, I often enjoyed making others feel extremely important to me by completely investing myself into the relationship. I believed that living a life well-lived meant spending time and creating strong relationships by making others feel joy through them. When choosing who to make these relationships with, I often quoted the Good Samaritan Parable that goes as follows: “Seeing the injured man lying on the ground...he paid out of his pocket for him to be assisted” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). I never overlooked any person when engaging myself with them, whether the person was a janitor cleaning at midnight or a high level executive of a Fortune 500 company, I never disregarded their presence, essentially never choosing to ignore the “injured man lying on the ground” as so many did. Also, however, through the means of my work, I too was considered by my community a Good Samaritan, whether it be through actions or donations. Finally, I never took life too seriously by always, as my dad said, “smiling through life.” I clearly understood that too much “introspection can cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a host of unintended consequences” (“The Right Way to be Introspective” by (Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6). While I never impulsively ran through my life, I understood that sometimes some decisions (which may have been stupid) were okay, meaning that I was able to constantly have fun with those around me even if, sometimes, the action did not wholly benefit me. These stories, I believe, are the ones that I want those to remember me for, not for any successes or ideas but the fun stories that are able to bring a smile to the faces of those who hear them when told. https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39639/modules/items/147011 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39639/modules/items/146950