Peggy Hnatusko Moreau First Year Experience 29 April 2022 Mission Statement: One Man Can Change The World Finding a purpose: for me, this semester has been particularly stressful. As the end of freshman year comes to a close and sophomore year approaches, many of those around me have begun to figure out the career paths they want to pursue. Unfortunately, the idea of figuring out which direction I want to take in life brings me a great deal of stress. Frequently, I remind myself that as long as I follow my passions, I will find success. However, during my management class, I was informed of data which contradicted that statement. My professor showed us a study that showed a lack of correlation between following a passion and finding happiness and/or success in one’s professional life. So, then, how have I been able to find a sense of meaning in my life? Below, I will list a few examples of times over the past year that have allowed me to find a sense of purpose in life: Family : Legacy families at the University of Notre Dame are very prominent; I am glad to say that I am also a legacy member. Not only did my father play football here, but my mother, two aunts, older brother, and twin sister all either went or currently go to Notre Dame. This past year, after getting in early admission to Notre Dame, I was sure that I would end up alongside my older brother and cousin. Unfortunately, my sister was initially deferred from the university after applying early. However, after re-applying, she was accepted as a regular decision admit. On top of that good news, I also found out that another one of my cousins would be attending Holy Cross College, which is across the street from Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, family is a common theme amongst the student body and alumni network. Thankfully, I am blessed not only to be surrounded by my Notre Dame family, but my immediate family as well. The presence of this community has given me comfort and provided me with the confidence to grow as a person. Friends : Over the last summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to become very close with my high school friends. During a time of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, my friends provided me with a sense of relief from the struggles of reality. Whether it be through a beach day in San Francisco, or a baseball game at the Oakland coliseum, I felt as if each moment I spent with them created a sense of joy. I was once told that “you are the company you keep.” I was thankful to spend the summer with passionate, caring individuals that inspired me to be the best version of myself. Travel : Fortunately, my older brother’s friends have cars on campus. As avid football fans, we were able to follow the Fighting Irish football team on almost every one of their games this year. This meant that I was able to see new states I’ve never seen before, including the rolling hills of Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia. Driving through these parts of the United States gave me the opportunity to realize the vast space that exists in our country. During these drives, I was able to spend a great deal of time looking out the window, reflecting on my life. Not only was I able to develop a more worldly perspective, but I grew an even greater appreciation for the beauty of our country. Because of my experience driving through the country, whenever I have friends considering traveling through the intercontinental United States, I recommend that they spend a couple extra hours driving, rather than flying. Faith : This past summer, I listened to a speech by a Princeton professor, in which he encouraged me, along with the crowd of hundreds listening to find our “north star.” Recently, I have found that God is my north star. In turn, this has allowed me to come to the realization that Notre Dame is the perfect place for me. The combination of faith and academics at Notre Dame gives me the confidence that I will find the vocation that is right for me. Ultimately, I believe that I was put onto this Earth to use my light from God to inspire others and be a force for good in the world. I believe that if I continue to trust my hard work and keep faith in God, everything will work itself out. Recently, I have been thinking about what makes a good human being. In my dorm room, I have my goals posted on my wall, along with sticky notes that give me motivation before I walk out of the door in the morning. This past week, I decided to put a new sticky note on my board that read: “Be Humble. Be Kind. And Keep Faith in GOD.” Although cliché, these words have begun to meet so much to me. I am a strong believer in myself: I believe that with the tools that God has given me, I am blessed with the ability to accomplish anything I want in life. However, despite all the gifts I have been given, I am well aware that this all means nothing if I do not treat others with a sense of love and compassion. Additionally, I remind myself that no matter what I achieve, staying grounded and humble is just as important as being kind. So, then, who is the man I want to become? I want to be a man of faith that works to use the opportunities I have as a tool to make a difference in the lives of others. For human beings, it is important to keep in mind that one singular being truly can have an impact on the lives of others. Often, people see themselves as hopeless individuals because they do not believe that they have the capacity to make an impact on the world. People get wrapped up in their own bubbles and fail to see the impact they can make on the lives of others. However, people can make an impact on their small circles and their impact on the world can be exponential: if an individual works to make an impact on their community, that impact can be spread from one individual to another, and the world can change a great deal. This impact has the power to develop relationships, create a better world for those living in the present, and to create a better future. Ultimately, I believe that my success is defined by my ability to change the world. Fortunately, I truly believe that one man can change the world . Ultimately, I remind myself of 12 rules to live by: 1. Slow down and reflect: everyone has room to grow ( Why we need to slow down our lives by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One) 2. Treat others as you want to be treated ( "Hesburgh" by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two) 3. You only live once ( "Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die" by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three) 4. Live as if you know your dreams cannot fail ( "'Exploring a Life Well-Lived - Career Development Reflection' Activity" by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four) https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41039/modules/items/149873 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://nd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0AGRyH4SWX0bz38 https://nd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0AGRyH4SWX0bz38 5. Do not be afraid to take the step that others are unwilling to take ( "Week Five IrishCompass Activity" by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Five) 6. Make an effort to look on the bright side of things ( "5 Minutes" by Grotto - Moreau FYE Week Six) 7. Make an effort to make everyone feel welcomed ( "Why the only future worth building includes everyone" by Ted - Moreau FYE Week Seven) 8. Dream big ( "A Learning Journey Together" by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week Nine) 9. Appreciate the uniqueness that comes with each individual ( "The Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame" by du Lac: A Guide to Student Life, University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week Ten) 10. Seek to understand and learn ( "Passion Isn't Enough" by Hidden Brain - Moreau FYE Week Eleven) 11. Act with Courage ( "Constitutions of the Congregation of the Holy Cross" by Congregation of the Holy Cross - Moreau FYE Week Twelve) 12. Believe in yourself, because one man can change the world ( "Mission" by The University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week Thirteen) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z1bZTNU9tpjCnuC9iDFLjslYaX0v4XpBwClh_GynKfo/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z1bZTNU9tpjCnuC9iDFLjslYaX0v4XpBwClh_GynKfo/edit https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41039/modules/items/150006 https://www.nd.edu/about/mission/