Inegration Three Bryan Reaume Moreau First Year Experience 25 February 2022 In Loving Memory of Preface: I find the idea of writing my own eulogy a little awkward and egotistical, but it must be done! I’m going off the perspective that this would be read at my funeral and addressed to my loved ones. “All of my other vocations, all of the many ways in which I live my life, must contribute to that one all embracing demand, that one constant vocation to be fully, totally, absolutely as human as I can possibly be” ("Three Key Questions" by Fr. Himes - Moreau FYE Week Three). This is a piece of knowledge that has become more prominent in this time of mourning of our loved one. Life, and humanity, is something that is more fragile than we tend to think, and unfortunately, only becomes more prominent in times of loss. was someone who always strove to be as human as she could be, striving to connect and impact others, which has been proven successful as I look around at the many faces that are here to celebrate her today. While it is painful, it is important to focus on what she has done versus the empty space she will leave behind. Corinne grew up in Portland her whole life, where she was able to be surrounded by something that brought her true peace: access to natural beauty and the outdoors. I had the privilege of being able to share time hiking, camping, and backpacking with her, and I can say from personal experience that I have never seen her more at home than when she was surrounded by pine trees, laughing by the campfire. Someone once said “ It’s really hard to motivate mailto:corinnedenae@gmail.com https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40299/files/467258?module_item_id=143051 yourself to do well if you’re just not interested in that subject matter or activity, or maybe your skill is lacking so it gets frustrating quickly.” (Navigating Your Career Journey by Muerolo Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four) which has shown to be true, as I have never seen anyone be more motivated than Corinne when it came to making it to a viewpoint before sunrise, or to get a campfire going despite all the wood being drenched. It seemed fitting that her last moments were spent watching the sunset off the edge of a cliff, before she wandered a little too close to the edge. Corinne did have her faults, she was human, but in a way I loved her more for them. Her ability to procrastinate the smallest task, to sleep 14 hours at a time, to find humor at borderline inappropriate times. Her own dad said that her inability to do something perfectly the first time would hold her back from trying new things (Week 5 Reflection by Jason Bradley - Moreau FYE Week Five). But she was quite self aware, and never took herself too seriously. That ability always made people around her feel comfortable and not judged for their own faults. “If we’re not self-aware, it’s almost impossible to master the skills that make us stronger team players, superior leaders and better relationship builders, either at work or in the rest of our lives.” (The Right Way to be Introspective by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). She tended to find herself in a lot of leadership roles, when it came to volleyball, or search and rescue, or planning things for her friends. She always tried to build up those around her, and push people to be the best they can be. She did this while owning up to her own errors and imperfections, and trying to lead by example. It is a hope of mine that people will remember her this way. While she died far too young, Corinne had a lot of love to give. As Greg Boyle once said, “Bridging the gulf of mutual judgment and replacing it with kinship is tricky indeed” (Tattoos on the Heart - Moreau FYE Week Seven). She liked getting to know people from different https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KE5HS7_8HOpZ1rcm-vl0g29z7pndQ8CCXoz9yD7O28E/edit?usp=sharing https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40299/files/523820?module_item_id=167949 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40299/files/523820?module_item_id=167949 backgrounds, always going out of her way to be friends with exchange students, talking to friends of friends, simply out of a desire to understand people better. She worked actively against judgment for things like immigration, sexuality, race, culture, religion, and more, and thought that the only way to bring peace in turbulent political and social climates was if we sought to really understand each other's backgrounds. We have lost someone very important to all of us, and it’s a shame we will not get a chance to see the things she would have done and the people who would have had the opportunity to experience her love. What we take away, and choose to build is what Corinne would have wanted us to do. Part of this is taking time to reflect on our own lives and how we would want to be remembered and reminisced on at our own funerals. As Fr Hesburgh himself said, "My basic principle is that you don't make decisions because they are cheap; you make them because they're right." (Hesburgh by Jerry Barca - Moreau FYE Week Two). Doing things with integrity and honesty and in the best interest of others is what will impact others. Following your own passions, the things that bring you those brief moments of mental flow and serenity is how you will come to the end of your life with gaiety and peace, rather than regrets. “Half the confusion in the world comes from not knowing how little we need.” (Why we Need to Slow Down our Lives by Pico Lyer - Moreau FYE Week 1) It really is true that family, friends, and fulfillment is really all we need to have that life well lived, a life we wouldn’t regret when it came to an end. Corinne would have been honored to see you all here today and to hear us commemorate her memory, and would want you to take the advice that I have offered in her example. She will be greatly loved and missed. Thank you. https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/