Capstone Integration



Moreau First Year Experience
Professor Wagner
29 April 2022

Journeying into the Unknown

Mission Statement:
I believe that:

1. I am embracing courage by facing my fear of the unknown.
2. I am loved and cherished by family and friends. Grades do not define me.
3. I am a child of God, and He will protect me as I grow in mind and spirit.
4. How much money I make does not define my success. Rather, looking back on my life

and feeling fulfilled with my actions and choices is.
5. It is important not to ask what you can do for yourself, but rather what you can do for

others.
6. Taking down my barriers and being vulnerable with others will help me form healthy,

meaningful relationships.
7. The first step to responding to the suffering of others is simply letting them know you are

there for them.
8. Embracing humanity means holding out your hand and walking together with someone

towards a better future.
9. I can grow in wisdom by actively listening to someone else’s opinion, even if I do not

agree with or understand it.
10. It is my responsibility to others to promote better mental health on campus.
11. Acting with courage means standing up for what you believe in.

In the Mission Statement I created last week for Moreau, I recalled key ideas that I have
come to believe over this semester (“Writing a Personal Mission Statement Activity” - Moreau
FYE Week Thirteen). I found that while creating it, many of the thoughts I expressed in it align
with the beliefs that I included in my second Moreau Integration at the end of last semester,
including the idea that I deserve to be loved and cherished by my family and friends and that I
am facing my fear of the unknown. I believe that my mission statement accurately describes how
I want to orient my life, as it includes morals and goals that are important to me and that I wish
to fulfill as I continue to grow in mind and spirit throughout the next three years.

The first line of my mission statement explains how I believe I embrace courage by
facing my fear of the unknown. I have always been a more timid and reserved person, and prefer
being in the know rather than encountering surprises along the way. When I first arrived at Notre
Dame, everything was new, and that terrified me. I was afraid of my professors, nervous that the
new people around me would not find me worthy of their attention or time, and anxious about
the material I was learning in my classes. Last semester, I filled my time with studying, often

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ur4b9oFy7Mh8adNrwRTIFcanUIJUAI6wnAczkxW-H3I/edit


overworking myself and putting myself in a terrible mental state in the process. I was unhappy
with my new life and contemplated how I would be able to make it through four years at a place
that was making me so miserable. Coming back from winter break, I was determined to start
making an effort to be happier and reach out to those around me, and that is exactly what I did. I
took a step back from fixating on my academics, focusing on my mental health and happiness
instead. I also focused on appreciating the small things, even amongst the bad, and using courage
to face my fear of the unknown. Like Pico Iyer states in his “Why we need to slow down our
lives,” the need for an empty space, a pause, is something we have all felt in our bones; it’s the
rest in a piece of music that gives it resonance and shape” ("Why we need to slow down our
lives" by Pico Iyer, TED - Moreau FYE Week One). I have tried to incorporate this rest into my
everyday life at Notre Dame, and I have found that it has strengthened my drive and commitment
to school while not leaving me burnt out. Additionally, even my friends have noticed how by
taking breaks, I am no longer as fearful of the unknown, which I believe will help me remain
content at the university throughout the next three years. Instead, I take each day as it comes,
looking at it as a new opportunity to grow. I stress about the future, but to a lesser degree, and I
recognize the beauty that comes with the small moments in everyday life, such as grabbing lunch
with a friend or appreciating the beauty of nature. I have also tried to practice recalling the
message of the nun who emphasized “memento mori,” a Latin phrase meaning “Remember your
death.” When I think of this concept, I “intentionally think about [my] own death every day, as a
means of appreciating the present and focusing on the future” ("Meet the nun who wants you to
remember that you will die" by Ruth Graham, NY Times - Moreau FYE Week Three). While it
is scary to do so, I have found that it pushes me to find one good moment in everyday life. I no
longer go to bed crying or sad, rather I feel fulfilled with the day when my head hits the pillow,
knowing that I tried to make the best out of it.

The second line of my mission statement shows that I believe I deserve to be loved and
cherished and that one bad grade on a test does not define me. Throughout the semester, I have
had to work on constantly reminding myself that a grade on a test does not define my self-worth.
Rather, it is my actions towards others and how I treat those around me that do. I grew up in a
small home, with just my mother, father, and dog in the house with me. While some may think
that this might be lonesome for a child, I never doubted that I was loved or cherished. My parents
put me first, and I knew that I was supported, even if my support group was small. Coming to
Notre Dame, I was afraid to enter a new place where I did not know anyone and where my
family was so far away. I was trapped in a terrible mental state the first few months because I
placed so much emphasis on grades and not enough on my happiness or building friendships in
my new environment. I continuously asked myself why I was so sad, and why I felt the way I did
when so many of my friends were so happy at their colleges. This semester, however, I took a
piece of advice from Tasha Eurich, attempting to understand how “why questions are generally
better to help us understand events in our environment and what questions are generally better to
help us understand ourselves” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)”
by Tasha Eurich, TED Conferences - Moreau FYE Week Six). By attempting to discover what I

https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/
https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html
https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/


was feeling instead of why I was feeling it, I found that I was lonely and scared of failure. I was
placing too much emphasis on something that does not truly define a life well-lived. This
semester, I have been open to new friendships, and I have made friends from all different
backgrounds that have admittedly made me excited for the next three years of school. Now,
when I study, I do so in the presence of my friends. This might not always be the best for my
grades, but it makes me enjoy learning, and I find crafty ways to remember the material while
making my friends laugh. Coming from Miami, I was used to diversity, and if I’m being honest I
thought that Notre Dame would lack this diversity. However, I soon realized that just because
someone is the same race or ethnicity does not mean they are the same. Many of my new friends
have similar backgrounds, but it is their life experiences that have shaped them as a person, not
their race. Looking back, I am reminded of Marcus Cole, Dean of Notre Dame Law School, and
his advice on attempting to get to know those around you with an open mind. Like Marcus
advised, I have made the effort to “get to know people who differ from [me]” this semester,
making a “conscious decision and effort to expand [my] circle” (“Dean G. Marcus Cole: 'I am
George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something.” by Marcus Cole, Dean of Notre
Dame Law School - Moreau FYE Week Twelve). This includes people in my dorm, classes, and
even at social events. Throughout my journey at Notre Dame, I hope to continue getting to know
those around me by entering into fulfilling relationships with those I would have probably never
met if I hadn’t reached out. Additionally, I plan to continue surrounding myself with friends
when I study, in the hopes that I no longer find the practice unbearable and eventually find joy in
learning again throughout the next three years.

In the third line of my mission statement, I stated that I believed I was a child of God and
that he would protect me as I grow in mind and spirit. I have struggled with my relationship with
God for a while. I grew up in a church-going family that attended Mass every Sunday. However,
as I got older, I no longer attended church with my family, nor did I pray daily. When I was
accepted to Notre Dame, I had hoped that the Catholic spirit here would rekindle my faith and
that by having Mass so easily accessible I would start attending again. However, I soon found
out that this was not the case. Rather, I had to make a conscious effort to even make it to Mass in
the first place, now swamped with college work that I was not accustomed to. I found it even
harder to get in touch with my faith than it was when I lived with my parents, as my family had
always encouraged me to embrace my relationship with God. During the “Week Five
Discernment Conversation Activity,” I had a conversation with my mother about my faith and
religion, and how I was struggling amid the hard classes. She told me that “it's not about being
the brightest or the best, it's about not giving up and believing God will give you the strength to
carry on” ("Week Five Discernment Conversation Activity" - Moreau FYE Week Five). I went
into the second half of this semester determined to take her advice, making an active effort
during Lent to find time in my daily life to make room for God. This included reflecting on my
blessings, such as my family, friends, and education. I found that I felt more relaxed and
supported when I took a step back and reminded myself that there was something bigger than
myself out there. I might be challenged as I continue on my journey at Notre Dame with hard

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://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/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit


and challenging classes, such as physics, biochemistry, and the eventual MCAT. While I would
usually fall into a dark hole of self misery, I believe that by maintaining my faith and choosing to
trust that God will lead me to where I’m meant to be over the next three years. With his help, I
will make it through, even if I am journeying into the unknown.

The fourth and fifth lines of my mission statement focused on the idea that money is not
everything and that asking what you can do for others is better than asking what you can do for
yourself. For the fourth line, I focus on the idea that how much money I make does not define
my success, but looking back on my life and feeling fulfilled with my actions and choices do. I
was inspired to incorporate this idea into my mission statement after completing the third
integration assignment for Moreau, where we were required to write our own eulogy
(“Integration Three Assignment: Write your own eulogy” - Moreau FYE Week Eight). I found
that when writing my eulogy, I did not focus on how successful or well-off I was, rather I based
my assessment on the quality of my character, reflecting on how I interacted with others. I
believe that this being part of my mission statement will encourage me to continue emphasizing
the relationships I have with others and my interactions with people I do not know rather than
monetary value. I also believe that I will pursue a career in something that inspires me as a result,
choosing to follow my passions instead of a desire for money. I still don’t know exactly what I
want to be, but I hope that I will find my niche. While doing this, I try to keep in mind what I
read on the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development: the fact that finding my passion and
future career is not always a linear process and that these steps don’t take place in a nice, neat
order. Rather, “it’s a developmental process that will recur throughout [my] lifetime and [I’ll]
move between stages as [I] learn and grow” ("Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo
Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). While this may be hard to
put into practice throughout my years here, I hope that at the end of my time here, I am satisfied
with where I have ended up, and have built meaningful and loving relationships with those
around me. For the fifth line of my mission statement, I was also inspired by my eulogy
assignment. While I admit that it is important to put yourself first mentally and physically, I
believe that you should reach out to others less fortunate than you when you are in the position to
do so. I had mentioned in previous assignments that I do not believe God judges you based on
your attendance to mass, but rather your actions as a person towards others. I still believe this,
and I think that being a good samaritan towards others will not only help them but will reward
you with the knowledge that you used your power as a force for good in a crumbling world. Over
my next three years at Notre Dame, I plan to join the MedLife club of Notre Dame, in an attempt
to give back to communities that cannot afford appropriate health care for their residents. I have
been on a mission to Loma Vieja in the Dominican Republic, and seeing the reality of the
members of the village moved me and inspired me to hopefully one day make a difference in not
only their lives but the lives of those in similar circumstances. By committing myself to this goal
for the next three years, I hope that one day I will be a force for good and give back to those who
have not had the opportunity to receive an education of substantial quality of life.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SkhkzZIMH2UwJauu5J_yq76rGV0GcG_lVd8KPBLTFF0/edit?usp=sharing
https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/


Lines six, seven, and eight of my mission statement touch on the importance of
relationships in my life, being beneficial both to myself and the other person in it. Line six will
serve to remind me that taking down my barriers and being vulnerable with others will help me
form healthy, meaningful relationships while I am here at Notre Dame. This is something I
struggled with during the first semester, but by opening up to girls in my dorm I have built
friendships that I hope will last until even after graduation. As much as I regret admitting it, I
have sometimes let my judgment get the best of me and have judged others before I have even
gotten to know them. I remember reading a few pages out of Fr. Greg Boyle’s “Tattoos on the
Heart” and being moved by his ability to accept others different than him without a second
thought. To live out Line seven of my mission statement, I hope to take a piece of advice from
Fr. Boyle: “Close both eyes: see with the other one. Then, we are no longer saddled with the
burden of our persistent judgments, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion. Our
sphere has widened, and we find ourselves, quite unexpectedly in a new, expansive location, in a
place of endless acceptance and infinite love” ("Chapter 8: Jurisdiction" by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.,
Tattoos on the Heart - Moreau FYE Week Seven). I loved this explanation at the end of chapter
eight of his book, and it has stayed with me as I go throughout my everyday life at Notre Dame. I
have expressed difficulty with my roommate before, but after reading this, I have recognized her
differences from me as a part of her character. It does not make her a terrible person, rather it
invites me to widen my sphere and accept her into my jurisdiction. While I am not living with
her next year, I plan to remain friends with her, as I truly think that she is a sweet girl. Line eight
recalls how I believe that embracing humanity means holding out your hand and walking
together with someone towards a better future. I would have to say that I have always had trouble
accepting help, often feeling indebted to the person or judged for showing any signs of
weakness. Just last week, I was crying in my Biology lab over a math test and my friend offered
to help me study. At first, I was hesitant to accept his help. However, I remembered a piece of
advice from a reading we had completed from Professor Steve Reifenberg, This stated that “one
cannot accompany without being accompanied, in the same way, someone cannot be a good
friend without being open to friendship” and that “this requires a great deal of humility”
(“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve Reifenberg -
Moreau FYE Week Nine). I wound up accepting his help and did well on the math exam. During
the next three years here at Notre Dame, I hope to practice refraining from judging others,
choosing instead to incorporate them into my jurisdiction. Additionally, I plan to accept as much
help as I give, keeping in mind that accompaniment is a two-way street.

In line nine of my mission statement, I expressed the belief that I can grow in wisdom by
actively listening to someone else’s opinion, even if I do not agree with or understand it. This
was inspired by the material we covered in class after listening to Paul Blaschko’s “ How to
Avoid an Echo Chamber.” I remember watching the video and thinking about how it applies to
interactions on campus. I realized that there were divisions among the student population
regarding certain topics and that often students were severely divided over issues like politics,
race, and other polarizing topics. While at first, I just considered these divisions to be bubbles of

https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/files/523815?module_item_id=167944
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit


people, I realized after watching Blaschko’s video that “bubbles become echo chambers when
groups give up on tolerating diversity of opinion” (“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr.
Paul Blaschko, ThinkND - Moreau FYE Week Eleven). Throughout my journey at Notre Dame,
I hope to keep this in mind and actively work towards listening to the voices and opinions of
others who I do not necessarily agree with, in an attempt to avoid falling into an echo chamber. I
hope that taking social Psychology classes over the next three years will aid me in this practice,
giving me an insight into why some people think what they do.

Lines ten and eleven focus on my responsibility to others and acting with courage to
follow what I believe in. I have realized over the semester that my education at Notre Dame puts
me in a position where I will be able to make a difference in the world when I am older and that
it is my responsibility to others to use this education for good. Specifically, I want to become an
advocate for mental health on campus. However, this also takes courage to do. Still, I was
inspired by figures like Father Hesburgh and Dean G. Marcus Cole, who both displayed courage
and lived up to their responsibility to others, portraying that we are all human beings and all
deserve an equal quality of life. I know that different races and ethnicities have been a sore spot
for generations, and I think that this is mainly because people try to ignore the issue and shush
controversial conversations. As a Cuban American at Notre Dame, I have witnessed my culture
being appropriated for “Mexican” dorm parties, which I believe to be completely inappropriate.
However, the issue is not talked about, as it often makes those who do not have a Hispanic
background uncomfortable when confronted. However, as I’ve learned in Moreau this semester,
“the antidote to white fragility is on-going and life-long, and we “can begin attempting to
understand the racial realities of people of color through authentic interaction rather than through
the media or unequal relationships” (“Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism”
by Dr. Robin D’Angelo, adapted from HuffPost - Moreau FYE Week Ten). I know that people of
color on this campus feel alienated or isolated sometimes, and I hope to reach out to people who
feel this way, as Father Hesburgh had done. While watching the “Hesburgh” movie by Jerry
Barca, I thought that an important quote that showed how passionate and committed Father
Hesburgh was to his goal of achieving equal rights for all people regardless of race was: “What
Father Hesburgh did by grasping Martin Luther King’s arms that day is he said this is a
partnership in America. Civil rights are not just about black Americans, it's about all of us and
what we are, what are our qualities, what are our values as human beings” ("Hesburgh" by Jerry
Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Father Hesburgh was unafraid to
challenge standard social norms, having the courage to stand up for what he believed was right. I
hope to do the same throughout my education at Notre Dame, as well as after college, in regards
to mental health. While I did not get the commissioner position for McWell in Flaherty, I hope to
be a supportive resource for incoming freshmen throughout the next three years so that they
know that they are not alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit
https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9