FINAL INTEGRATION, Clingan Plan to Pursue my Potential I cannot believe my first year as a Notre Dame student is already drawing to a close. In highschool, I never even imagined making it to Notre Dame and yet now here I am- already a fourth of the way done with my journey. My first year at Notre Dame has been a ride I will always remember. Both with its challenges and its highlights, I can confidently say that being a freshman has made me grow in profound ways. I think a big reason behind this personal growth has been this Moreau class, so I want to say a special thanks to you. With our running list of community norms that we identified at the start of the semester, you made everyone including myself feel welcomed and pushed us all to contribute to class conversations. In the many discussions we’ve had over the semester, I have developed a clearer understanding about what I want my personal mission statement to be and how I will go about pursuing it. To begin with, when I think about pursuing a life well-lived, what immediately comes to mind is how I can act to achieve my greatest potential. As each of our classes started with a thoughtful prayer, I have come to realize how important staying grounded in faith is. God has a plan for me. Therefore, I should not worry about the things in this world that I cannot control like my orgo exams or the grades I received in Writing and Rhetoric that I wish could have been better. By having faith in God, I know that everything will work out in the end, and this has helped me control my stress. Being in Flaherty, I have been very thankful for our Sunday night masses that allow me to continually reconnect with God after a long week. The time I spend in mass gives me a space to slow down my mind. Previously I never realized just how important it is for us to pause in the middle of our day. However, “It’s only by stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our life) really means” (Why we need to slow down our lives, Pico lyer, Moreau FYE W1). This year I often struggled with an overwhelming workload and let stress get the best of me. I kept pushing myself and didn’t give myself a break. However, I still remember the conversation I had with my mom when she recommended that I start to journal for 10 minutes in the middle of my day to de-stress. Since then, I have started to journal whether it be in between classes or sitting outside on library quad. The time I spend journaling has helped me develop a reflective attitude and see life differently. Thus, I believe that part of attaining a life well-lived requires finding time to pause and finding the little things in daily life that make me happy and grateful. When thinking about a life well-lived, I have found it incredibly helpful to ponder the question posed by Fr. Michael, “Is this a source of joy?” (Three Key Questions, Fr. Michael Himes, Moreau FYE W3). Thinking about this question has helped me discover what I am most passionate about and what will fill my life with meaning. To me, I pursue a life well-lived by giving back to others, and I have noticed that I’m most happy when I surround myself with others who share my values. When exploring Week 4’s Navigating Your Career Journey, I found that potential career paths that will leave me most fulfilled are rooted in the medical professions (Navigating your Career Journey, Center for Career Development, Moreau FYE W4). I’ve seen this passion reflected in my love for the Compassionate Care in Medicine club. Each week, I look forward to attending club meetings and hearing from the guest speakers who share their https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/files/467215/download?download_frd=1 https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ stories helping the sick. I can see my life being animated in the coming three years by continuing my involvement in this club, promoting the amazing work that it does, and potentially being a club leader and organizer. In the discernment conversation I had with my grandpa during week 5 of this semester, I was overwhelmed by the difficult questions about what I want to do with my life. However, my grandpa helped me see in myself the empathy I have for others and solidified my understanding about what I am most interested in. I still remember him telling me, “to not take life too seriously” because he always wants to encourage me to have new experiences and seize the day no matter what it brings (Discernment Conversation Activity, Moreau FYE W5). This is the type of attitude I want to bring with me for the rest of my time at ND. I plan to not get too worked up about school, because that way I will still have room to be there for others. During my first year at Notre Dame, I have tried to pursue a life well-lived through the relationships I have formed. The people around us and the connections we form are essential to a good life. My mission in life is to grow in solidarity with others and strengthen communities in a world that seems to be increasingly divided. Fr. Hesburgh is a symbol for how I wish to relate with others. In the midst of conflict and controversy, he once spoke, “I got both nation’s delegates to attend even though they weren’t Catholic. But I sat them next to each other, and for one hour a week, they were in the same room- talking” (Hesburgh, Jerry Barca, Moreau FYE W2). Fr. Hesburgh shows us that it is important for us to have hard conversations with those we may disagree with because it is through these conversations that we can be reconciled with one another. Therefore, I too hope to continue to encounter those with varying opinions because that is how I can learn new perspectives. Additionally, in my pursuit of a life well-lived, I challenge myself to “go beyond the social bubbles” that only seem to reinforce what I already believe. For instance, I have learned to recognize the danger that “Echo chambers lock us into a particular worldview” (How to Avoid an Echo Chamber, Dr. Paul Blaschko, Moreau FYE W11). So, part of pursuing a good life for me involves continually seeking new knowledge. Over the course of this first year, sometimes I felt like I didn’t know enough about current events and the realities other people were facing across the globe. However, I have started to prioritize becoming a more informed citizen by listening to podcasts and making it a goal of mine to read the ND Observer to hear more about what current students are experiencing. This will animate my life over my remaining 3 years at ND by encouraging me to stay educated. My goal in this life is also to be more inclusive to those on the margins. As Fr. Greg Boyle writes, “Allowing folks into my jurisdiction requires that I dismantle what I have set up to keep them out” (Tattoos on the Heart, Fr. Boyle, Moreau FYE W7). I believe I am called to walk together with those who are marginalized and that first can start by getting to understand the lived experiences of those who suffer. Part of my mission is rooted in serving my community. At Notre Dame, by being involved in FoodRescue ND and delivering excess food to homeless shelters, I have seen firsthand the impact we can make in this world when we reach out to those beyond our “jurisdiction.” Pursuing a life well-lived also is rooted in how I respond to challenges and confront suffering. As we discussed in class, it is important that we reframe our “why” questions to “what” questions because “Asking what could keep us open to discovering new https://www.lifelongfaith.com/uploads/5/1/6/4/5164069/practice_of_discernment_-_learning_program.pdf https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/modules/items/167944 information about ourselves” (The right way to be introspective, Tasha Eurich, Moreau FYE W6). When we think in terms of why, we often form limiting beliefs and see things negatively; however, when we ask what instead, we allow ourselves to accept the thoughts and emotions that we are feeling and move forward. Part of my mission is to view every new day as an opportunity to become better and not dwell on the past, whether that be failures or suffering. Already this semester, I have had to do this in many of my difficult classes. In orgo specifically, after receiving an exam score I wasn’t proud of, I worked to see how I might do better on the next one instead of getting upset over a test that was already behind me. In addition, I want to mention the words of Dean Marcus Cole that have inspired me throughout my time here. He wrote in the midst of police brutality against black lives, “I am George Floyd. Except I can breathe. And I can do something” (I am George Floyd, G. Marcus Cole, Moreau FYE W12). These words are powerful. They touch on how we are all connected and equal, but they also speak to what it means to stand up for what is right. We each must do something when we see oppression or hate. That is why I made an effort to do GreenDot training and learn to take an active role when I witness problems in my own community. In the next 3 years, I plan to be equipped to stick up for others with bravery. In life, I seek to comfort those around me and be supportive. It is important to remember that “We are all connected, tied, and bound together” (Teaching Accompaniment, Prof. Steve Reifenberg, Moreau FYE W9) and thus it is through this that I hope to always be there for others. I have found support in many McWell services on campus when I needed someone to talk to, so I hope I can also be there to accompany others at their times of need as well. I actively pursue a life well-lived everyday by being open to people’s differences and promoting diversity and inclusion. Notre Dame writes in its own mission statement, “We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality” (Spirit of Inclusion at Notre Dame, ND Mission statement Moreau FYE W10). As I have met so many new people during my time here, I have formed friendships with so many people from different religious and racial backgrounds. Yet these differences shouldn’t really matter. I treat others as I would want to be treated. Lastly, I think the previous Integration to “write our own eulogy” was very impactful. As I was forced to reflect on the course of my life so far, I had to wrestle with what kind of mark I wanted to leave on this world and how I wanted to be remembered. I recall writing a lot about the types of relationships I wanted to form because I believe an essential component to pursuing a life well-lived is surrounding yourself with people who you love and who lift you up to be a better person (Integration Three- Defining a Life Well-lived, Moreau FYE W8). With that said, I want to continue to get to know the people in my classes and make more of an effort next year to be more outgoing. Additionally, when writing my personal mission statement during Week 13, I recall writing that part of my life’s mission is to be more grateful and appreciative to my parents who have done so much for me (“Finding Purpose When You’re Feeling Lost” Khang Tran, Moreau FYE W14). As the year is coming to an end and I will be home soon, I think it marks a perfect time to do something nice for my family to show them just how much I love each and https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/ https://thedreamdean.com/2014/04/11/a-life-well-lived/ https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/career-and-finance/how-to-focus-on-what-matters/ every one of them. Without them I wouldn’t be where I stand today. When all is said and done, I strive to live my life inspired by faith, grounded in love, and remembering hope for each day moving forward.