Integration 3 Gardes1 Bailey Bushman Moreau FYE 4 March 2022 Who Tells Your Story? If the Broadway play Hamilton taught us anything, it was that it is almost impossible to determine the legacy you leave behind. We work so hard to leave a lasting impression on the world, but we ultimately have no control over how our story gets told after us. Today, I am here to tell Katie’s story, but it is hard to do it justice. Katie lived her life to the fullest with a desire to help those around her, and she got up every day pursuing this passion. I can say without a doubt that Katie experienced a life well-lived, so let us reflect on what she has accomplished and how she influenced those around her. Katie worked extremely hard throughout her entire life, through the good and the bad. When times got overwhelming, she took a step back because she realized that “the more time [you] spend away from [your] work, the better that work will be, most often” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). At a young age, she was able to realize that living your own life is more important than living the life others want you to live, and this helped her pave her own path. When she did lose track of herself and her goals, she was able to acknowledge that and redirect herself rather than avoid it. She recognized that “it’s impossible to have a complete and honest human story if one doesn’t speak of human failings as well as human successes” (“Hesburgh'') by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2). She knew that admitting failure was hard but necessary for growth. She never forgot the pain and failures of her life, but she made sure to embrace the joy and happiness more than anything. These traits I just mentioned about Katie were reflected not only in her daily life but in her career, as well. She acted as a role model for many younger women as she became a https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 Gardes2 successful orthopedic surgeon, a field dominated by men. She showed those around her that, when you put your mind to something, you can achieve anything. She wanted to support the other women around her to do the same- to be the best they could be. She had a calling to the medical profession, combining her love of STEM with her passion for helping others. She made sure that her profession tapped into her talents and embodied what she loved because she knew that “joy always pushes us forward” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week 3). She worked to reach her goal, and she did. While she loved her job with every ounce of her being, Katie also found joy in smaller hobbies, making sure not to restrict her interests. She used her cooking and baking skills as a method of relaxation while also bringing happiness to those around her who would share these meals with her. She used her artistic talents to bring unique creations into the world, commenting on the beauty of the world around her. She found a love of walking– of exploring her city. She learned not to take for granted the pleasures of life because she knew that life was not always easy. She worked through the hardest time of her life, after being diagnosed with an eating disorder, because she knew that it could only get better; she recognized that life “is not always linear…” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Merulo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4), and it helped her push through. These hard times helped her recognize the importance of leaning on others when you needed to most and being there for those around you just the same. As her grandmother mentioned, Katie was driven by her passion for helping others and deepening her knowledge, and there was no doubt she did that throughout her lifetime (Discernment Conversation Activity with Patti Gardes Week - Moreau FYE Week 5). She made sure to spend time meditating and reflecting on herself and her goals, allowing her to have https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40388/files/473345?module_item_id=147866 https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ Gardes3 deeper insight into who she was and what she was experiencing and to be present and experience “stronger relationships, a clearer sense of purpose and greater well-being, self-acceptance and happiness” ("The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There's a Wrong Way)" by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6). When she doubted herself, she turned to those around her for support, and she was not afraid to admit to her struggles; she found that revealing these struggles and being vulnerable was the only way to truly build connections with others because it is how others empathize. Katie truly understood that “...life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYS Week 7). She worked to foster relationships with friends, family, and patients, being fully aware that it was these connections that brought deep meaning to life. She built a beautiful friendship with her sister, fixed her relationship with her father, found a model in her mother, and lived and laughed with friends. She even developed bonds with her patients. After all, it’s one of the main reasons she was driven to the medical field– to connect with a wider community and give back by building stronger relationships. At the end of the day, Katie knew that death was inevitable, and she accepted that by not letting the fear of death stop her from making the most of every second of her life. She worked to develop strong virtues and personality traits, she was successful in her professional career, and she cared deeply about those around her. She was passionate, hardworking, and loving. She was a leader to other women in the medical field. She left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. Today, I am the lucky one who gets to tell her story, and she will forever be a model of someone who lived a life well-lived. https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript