Moreau Intregation Two


Finding Myself Through My Notre Dame Journey

As my first semester at Notre Dame comes to a close, I’ve done much reflection upon my

experience here so far, as well as upon my life as a whole. Through the readings and QQCs that

I’ve completed for Moreau, I’ve allowed myself to take a step back from the stress of life and

other classes, and focus more on how I can become the best version of myself. In this process

and attempt to be the best me I can be, I’ve found that I’ve become more compassionate and

open minded to many of the new and unique experiences that I’ve encountered at Notre Dame

thus far.

Though never easy, I have begun to realize that the expectations and goals that I set for

myself and whether or not I achieve them, while motivating, cannot and do not define me. I

struggled with this for a long time in high school as I worried about the college application

process and how I would react to potentially being denied from prestigious schools like Notre

Dame, Northwestern, and Michigan. While I do know that there is no problem with setting

difficult goals for myself, it was the expectation that I must achieve them that hurt me the most.

Despite the fact that I knew that the admissions process was both extremely difficult and

competitive, with how much work I put into doing well in school and extracurriculars, I almost

expected to get into these top ranked universities. As Hogan stated in her article, “Those

expectations are the bars we set for ourselves. When we meet (or surpass) them, we feel like we

are worthy. If we don’t meet those expectations, we feel like the exact opposite — that we aren’t

good enough.” (“Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit” by Julia Hogan - Moreau

FYE Week 9). Reading this text and understanding this distinction was extremely important to

me. It helped me to understand that goals themselves are absolutely a good and positive thing,

but that the expectation that comes with them is what leads us to disappointment. Since then, I

have continued to be ambitious and set goals for myself, but have attempted to do so without the

expectation and pressure that I would’ve put on myself prior.

I have found that one of the biggest challenges I have faced since being here at Notre

Dame is how I have strived to be the best member of our campus community I can be. Though I

have not been here for long, I’ve come to realize that just about everyone I have met here has

been kind and loving. As a result, I have done my best to continue to spread and show this same

https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/health-and-wellness/letting-go-of-expectations/


care and love towards others. I believe that this itself is the biggest challenge we face in our

community here, attempting to uphold the incredible respect and compassion that so many

people here show to one another. I feel that this also relates to Devron’s article debating whether

or not schools should teach critical race theory. As Devron states, “The conflict between those

who favor solutions from critical race theory versus those who prefer a common humanity

approach has followed a predictable pattern of polarization. It mirrors the secular political

discourse of the day, pitting cultural conservatives and progressives against each other.” ("Should

Catholic Schools Teach Critical Race Theory?” by Christopher J. Devron, S.J. - Moreau FYE

Week 10) In today’s political climate, I’ve noticed that many people have started to view others

not as the human beings they are, but instead as members of a party supporting an agenda. These

views, however, are extremely divisive and as a new student in this new community, I’ve placed

this challenge on myself to remove external and internal bias. As a result, I’ve become much

more open minded and eager to put myself into unique, new, and even uncomfortable situations,

knowing that it is from these where I will experience the most growth.

It’s easy for me to get along and form connections with people who are similar to me. In

high school, this was very simple. We all lived in the same town and knew one another, many

from even before coming to school together. Here at Notre Dame, however, I was put into a

totally new community, surrounded by totally new classmates and professors. It was once I

arrived at this incredible university that I began to truly challenge myself to strengthen the bonds

with everyone around me, regardless of our backgrounds or even whether or not we had shared

interests. As Palmer stated in the week 11 text, “Community is that place where the person you

least want to live with always lives.” ( "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Community" by Parker J.

Palmer - Moreau FYE Week 11) This quote means a lot to me and represents college

communities very well. While it is true that many of the people that I live with are my closest

friends, there certainly are some that I’d rather not be living with. However, rather than being

annoyed by this, I have instead challenged myself to embrace it. In this process I have tightened

bonds with others around me and I feel as though I have made a positive contribution to the

Notre Dame community.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/06/03/critical-race-theory-catholic-high-schools-black-lives-matter-240792
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/06/03/critical-race-theory-catholic-high-schools-black-lives-matter-240792
http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/


Every day, but particularly throughout my time here at Notre Dame, as a student and part

of a community and mission much bigger than myself, I have strived to be the best version of

myself that I can be every day. As Father King wrote, “Moreau believed that life was essentially

a personal, daily struggle for union with God in which the Christian modeled himself after the

Son’s example of fidelity. While none of us can be so perfect, the aim for the Christian was

twofold: to reach one’s fullest potential in this world while remaining focused upon the ultimate

goal of fullness in the life to come.” (“Hope - Holy Cross and Christian Education” by Fr. James

B. King C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week 12) As I attempt to give everything I can to this

extraordinary Notre Dame community, I have started to find a better balance in my life; a

balance that, for a long time, I struggled to find and maintain. This balance is between my search

for self-growth and the maintenance of healthy relationships with those around me, all while

striving to achieve my academic goals. In doing so, I know that I will not only make important

contributions to our Notre Dame community, but continue my journey of self-growth as I strive

to discover more and more about myself every day.

https://campusministry.nd.edu/assets/105621/