Moreau Integration Two Maria Finan Moreau Integration Two 3 December 2021 Fighting the Good Fight Notre Dame is an inherently unique place in comparison to other universities around the world. This is by no means bad, but rather, I believe that its unique characteristics in terms of faith, community, and rigor have been a net positive in my encounters this first semester. However, a place so drastically different than my small, non-sectarian high school took an adjustment period, and I am blessed to say that I am beyond the struggle that comes with assimilation. During my process of searching for a school that would grow and serve me best, the world seemed to be in more pain than it has ever been in my lifetime. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the world around me throughout my first semester at Notre Dame, and at the very least I am very blessed for that. My grandfather would best be considered a Notre Dame “Subway Alum”. The son of an Irish immigrant in a time period where Irish-Americans were not necessarily celebrated like they are today, my grandfather found solace and a community through the small stereo that connected his Brooklyn tenement house to Notre Dame Stadium. Ever since then, Notre Dame has been an integral part of his lifeblood. He was unable to afford a Notre Dame education, and thus it became a real dream of mine to complete his. I could write for hours about what my presence here means to me and my family, but I’ve actually taken on extra waves of anxiety that I didn’t expect. My family does not hold unfair standards on me, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to find real academic success at such an academically rigorous school, because it has always mattered to me to make my grandfather proud. A question that I’ve found helpful in bringing myself back down to earth amidst rushes of anxiety would be “Instead of letting your life be ruled by the expectations of others or your own expectation that you have to perfect, what if you just did your best?” (“Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit” by Julia Hogan - Moreau FYE Week 9). Being at Notre Dame can feel unreal at points, and hanging onto balance within my life and my family’s lives is very crucial for my mental, emotional, and physical health. I thought college would be a pretty consistent academic grind, which it can be, but I’ve quickly found the importance of managing my time and expectations in a manner that prioritizes my wellbeing. As previously mentioned in my first integration, I came to Notre Dame to find purpose, and I believe that I am still on such a search. Since that time, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is crucial for me to pursue a professional career that works for the betterment of others. Notre Dame’s tagline of being a force for good in the world was a strong pull in my choice to attend the university. It’s important that I do not neglect such a foundational truth. Fr. John Jenkins summarizes this point stating “Of all the graduates entering the wider world this spring, you here today, more than others, have the responsibility, and the training, and the commitment to address the most urgent, most strategic challenge in the country today — the challenge of reducing hatred and promoting love.” (“Wesley Theological Seminary Commencement” by Fr. John Jenkins - Moreau FYE Week 10). I hear about often people taking jobs out of my respective area of study whose goal is simply to build capital for people and institutions who certainly do not need it, and do not do societally productive or moral things with the capital that they create. That lifestyle does not attract me, and I think that it was an important distinction for me to realize that. We live in a world that seems to be ripping apart at a https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/health-and-wellness/letting-go-of-expectations/?utm_source=fall_2021&utm_medium=class&utm_id=moreau https://president.nd.edu/homilies-writings-addresses/wesley-theological-seminary-commencement/ https://president.nd.edu/homilies-writings-addresses/wesley-theological-seminary-commencement/ socioeconomic and educational level. I’ve realized that I want to work in a manner that aids these issues, and I am now excited to work towards fulfilling that passion. Though obvious, I spent a lot of time in solitude this past year thanks to the global pandemic. Like many, I learned the value of my community during my time in quarantine and the need to uplift my community. The emotional pits in my time in quarantine opened up the idea that “when I fall, I see a secret hidden in plain sight: I need other people for comfort, encouragement, and support, and for criticism, challenge, and collaboration” (“Thirteen Ways of Looking at Community” by Parker J. Palmer - Moreau FYE Week 11). My community, specifically the greater St. Louis area, has been ravaged by the socioeconomic and educational divides that I mentioned earlier. I see a real connection between my goals in life and the needs of my community. I’m not here to say that I’m experiencing an epiphany of sorts, but it can always be a place to start. I’m really against the notion of the “savior complex”, but a summer internship or expansive volunteer opportunity that helps my community would be a perfect fit for me to figure out what exactly I want to do, and to try and build bridges that have been destroyed for decades. Just because I’ve found the issues in our society that I want to pursue change in, doesn’t mean that my goals will be accomplished. Income inequality has existed in American society since the nation’s inception, and the educational divide has only grown in contemporary times. However, to lose hope that the world can change is only enabling the issues that are pervading our society. Society is built upon change, “As spirits [humans] belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. This means that while their spirit can be directed to an eternal object, their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for to be in time means to change” (“The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis - Moreau FYE Week 12). Hope in change http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/ http://couragerenewal.org/parker/writings/13-ways-of-looking-at-community/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/28298/files/186733?module_item_id=103506 certainly should not be the sole reason to attack injustice, but it is certainly crucial to hold onto it as the fight will last longer than my lifetime, and will constantly see new obstacles. Notre Dame has taught me that the fight for good is worth it, despite its challenges. I’m blessed that I am able to be here to realize that dream.