Moreau Integration 2


Progression of Authenticity and Self Growth in Community

Understanding and embracing being independent is one of the biggest challenges a
person faces in life. Outside of the mental aspects of independence comes the influences of
physical constants. Throughout my first semester, there have been many new unexpected
adversities that I have faced that have affected my overall character. It has made me reflect on
how to not only overcome these adversities but also what questions I should ask myself when I
am faced with a challenge. These questions include what are you made for? And what are you
made of? I am so grateful for the opportunity to research and be involved in the Notre Dame
community in its mission to keep students adapting to change and in a healthy and positive way.

I think it is important to identify self traits first because they have an overall effect on the
personality that is portrayed to others. For me, the question ‘what are you made of?’ makes me
reflect on how I internally interact with myself. By keeping a positive mindset and being
confident in myself it is simpler to believe that I am made of more than just my physical makeup.
I feel that I am made of love, compassion, confidence, and even sometimes a little dose of
healthy fear.

All of these traits revolve around being able to believe in yourself and not allow mistakes
to affect every part of your life. I admire Julia Hogan's ability to explain this to readers in her
article Why Letting Go of Expectations is a Freeing Habit, Hogan states, “Remember that none
of us is perfect. We all make mistakes. We will disappoint people. We’ll disappoint ourselves.
But the world doesn’t have to end when that happens” (Julia Hogan, Week 9). Embracing
imperfection is imperative to breaking the cycle of gravitating towards comfort and staying
within a bubble without new experiences. Knowing that not everything has to be perfect reveals
character traits that exemplify resilience and authenticity which only enhance a person’s ability
to overcome challenges and come out stronger.

Having some healthy fear not only helps me continue to accomplish my goals but it also
creates a well-rounded foundation for my life. Throughout my life, I have played sports,
participated in clubs and events that have shaped who I am. Sports were always my outlet where
I was able to embrace my passion for living a healthy lifestyle, stay connected to my community,
and influence others through leadership. One thing I always noticed in sports was my fear of
failure and letting people down. Father Kevin made an excellent remark in response to this fear
of letting people down, he said “shift that fear of letting people down into a category of
curiosity”. Honestly, I never thought about it in this way until now and I think that this advice
will definitely be useful as I continue my academic and social experiences at Notre Dame.
Curiousity creates a foundation for a more positive and healthy mindset. Throughout sports, I
eventually learned how to cope with this fear because I used fear to motivate me and work even
harder for myself and my team. This is where having rules for life can help understand exactly
what you are made of because they are personal ways in which you can set goals and accomplish
them. One of the biggest takeaways from exploring more about having “rules of life” is that they
are not concrete but rather open to change because we are in an ever-changing world. My rules



of life, while broad, can be implemented into any situation. For example, my first rule is “give
things time to develop” and my last rule is “don’t settle” (Week 12). These two rules work hand
in hand in exemplifying that patience is the key to living by these rules. I truly believe that if you
can lead life with love and compassion good things are bound to happen. While there is more
that contributes to each person's version of “good”, I think it is important that each individual
recognizes that what they are made of is important to embrace what they are made for.

Being yourself is one of the most important life rules that I try to live by and personally I
take time to invest in what and who I am passionate about. Whether that be friends, teachers, or
even coaches knowing that people feel cared for and wanted has always been a goal of mine. I
feel that I am made for actively participating in a community and helping others. The community
at Notre Dame is full of many different people that have come together to share similar
experiences regardless of social constructs. I think it is important to recognize that as a
community we have all come to Notre Dame to create our story, part of that story is the
community that surrounds us. I think that it is so important in creating an inclusive environment
based on experiences. Kirsten Helgeson is admirable in her action of bringing people together no
matter their differences by using a form of artwork to repair the breaks that may be prevalent in
people’s lives (Kirsten Helgeson, Week 10). This passion that she shares with others not only
helps those who are suffering but in some sense, Helgeson is using her passion to create a shared
experience for all of these people. Personally, I believe that feeling welcome in a community is
created through connecting to others. Notre Dame has done a fantastic job of allowing students
to meet new people and emphasizes making new connections everywhere they look.

Throughout the past few years of my life, I have learned what the difference between
actively participating in a community and just being part of a community is. Actively
participating in a community comes from connection and conversation. Having a mindset in
which we treat a community as a product rather than a gift that we have been given shows the
difference between being part of a community and actively participating in one (Week 11). I have
a passion for helping others and strive for good change within the community. While this may be
uncomfortable at times because there are many different opinions and setbacks that is how one
becomes even more involved in a community. As we mentioned at the beginning of the semester
part of facing change comes from vulnerability and how willing people are to give themselves to
others. The ability to be vulnerable plays an important role in participating in a community and
allows for each authentic personality to be cherished and accepted no matter what social norms
are in place.

I am so grateful for all of the experiences that have come my way in life and I only know
that the best is yet to come in regards to future experiences through my career, life, and family.
The foundation I have created for myself although it does consist of some bumps in the road
(because who doesn't) is stable enough that I am able to divide my focus between myself and
others. In reflection, I have come to realize that what truly makes me happy is using my strengths
and weaknesses like love, compassion, motivation, and fear to invest in others and initiate
change.