Integration SP22-FYS-10102-17 David Lassen 03/03/2022 Wanting is power Today we have lost a very important person. We have lost a mother, wife, sister, aunt, and advocate. was truly a person that should be remembered not only for what she accomplished but for the path she set for others to follow. Xochitl grew up in a neighborhood located on the North Side of Chicago. Rogers Parks meant more to her than what people would expect a neighborhood to mean to someone. There she not only spent the happiest days of her life but she also witnessed injustices against her own people. Constant injustices were committed against her parents and neighbors which shaped the person she became. While other students would get ready to go to their high school homecoming, she had to go to work to help provide for her family. This made her realize that she did not have any time to waste. Coming from undocumented parents, Xochitl was well aware that her life could change in seconds. “Twenty-five minutes to recover from a phone call. Yet such interruptions come every eleven minutes — which means we’re never caught up with our lives.” ("Why we need to slow down our lives" by Pico Iyer- Moreau FYE Week One) Xochitl knew how precious time was and how she had to take advantage of all the opportunities presented to her. A moment that changed the way she perceived life was when her grandmother died. That was the first time she saw tears streaming down her hero’s face. Her dad spent 26 years without seeing his mother because the border separated him from her. His mother agonized two hundred and thirteen miles away from him and the fear of not being able to come back to his https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ established family kept him from seeing his mother one last time. That was the day Xochitl made herself a promise. She promised herself that she would work day and night until the voices of undocumented people were heard. During High School, there was no class that she did not master with academic excellence. She was named Valedictorian of her graduating class and her speech was dedicated to her father. She promised both her parents that no matter how long it took, they were going to be able to see their homeland again. Xochitl was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University Of Notre Dame. Little did she know that her life was going to change. Not only did she attend the University Of Notre Dame without knowing anybody, but she also faced challenges she never encountered before. Xochitl realized how different she was from other classmates. Not only did she come from an underserved community, but her past institution also did not prepare her for the academic intensity of Notre Dame. Not being able to connect with her classmates really affected her social life and there were times that she felt like giving up. She would call home every day because hearing her parent's voices reminded her why she was there. “It's because of his faith that he never lost hope”. ("Hesburgh Film" by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two) Despite Xochitl being at a Catholic institution, she did not have a strong affiliation with religion. She put her faith (trust) in herself. Whenever she felt like giving up, she looked back at everything she had accomplished. She would remember the promise she made to her parents and that allowed her to push through hardships. Her first semesters at Notre Dame were truly the hardest. Xochitl felt empty and found herself missing home more than ever. There were times when she wondered if Notre Dame was the right fit for her. She was truly unhappy and felt like people were prejudiced against her. She https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 realized that this was interfering with a live-well life. Through one of her classes, Xochitl realized that “Joy–the sense of the rightness of the way in which one is living one’s life.” ("Three Key Questions" adapted from Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three) She then realized that joy could be achieved through listening to one's needs. Xochitl found hobbies around campus and most importantly was able to find watts to help the Hispanic community. Her freshman year, she volunteered to read books in Spanish to little kids at Holy Cross Elementary School and she also got a research assistant position translating immigration data in Spanish. This feeling of doing something for her community truly made her feel joy. She continued on helping people even if she did receive anything in exchange. The fact that she was making a difference in someone’s life was her biggest reward. She truly discovered her path to a life well lived. Xochitl discovered her passion. She really enjoyed helping people. She saw her parents through them. She decided to major in Political Science because the major felt the most closely related to understanding why injustices occur and how the governmental system works. There is no “best major” out there - but there is a “best major for you." (“Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development Moreau FYE Week Four) Even though her parents would have loved seeing her as a Doctor or Engineer because of the well-paid jobs, Xochitl knew that there was more to life than money. Her dream was to go into congress and represent the voices of the unheard. She always believed that in order to make a change, a change had to be made in the system. Xochitl graduated and continued on helping underserved communities as well as advocating for their human rights. One of the biggest rewards she received wasn’t just the joy that she was making a change but the fact that she was inspiring other people to follow her path. Her little brother, Oscar, meant the world to her. Seeing him proud of her was the biggest reward https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41088/files/471831?module_item_id=146508 https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ she received. Back in college, she had a conversation with him that really made her reflect on her actions. Xochitl was insecure and often doubted her place at Notre Dame. Once she heard how proud her little brother was, she started to be more grateful for what she had. (Discernment Conversation Activity- Moreau FYE Week Five) “But then I began to realize that some of the things that I can do, the movements that I have already, can be a blessing for some others.” (“Five Minutes” by Grotto- Moreau FYE Week Six) She realized that there were many people out there that would love to have the opportunity she had. She stopped focusing on the negative things and appreciated the positive things. Gratitude was another feeling she discovered that opened up her path to a life well-lived. “Close your eyes; see with the other one then we are no longer saddled by the persistent judgments or ceaseless withholding, our constant inclusion” (“Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.JTattoos on the Heart - Moreau FYE Week Seven) Xochitl started focusing on herself, her goals and everything fell into place. She ignored the people that doubted her and excluded her. It was not easy and at times she still felt uneasy, but she persisted. Wanting is power, she lived by that phrase and it helped her live a life well-lived. Everything she promised, everything she desired, she achieved. Not only did she comply with the promise she made to her parents, she was able to get other people to see their homeland and family again. I can say she lived a life well because she followed her heart and did everything in her hands to make a difference in this world. https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/41088/modules/16418