Finding Purpose 

The college application process was a rude awakening to the fact that I struggle with self-reflection and often self-identification. I was forced to write in a space where I had to boast myself to boards of admission, but I often did not know what to boast. I lacked certain insight as to my internal structures and beliefs, as I think that I am still developing those, and it is actually beneficial that they have not been cemented yet. I don’t necessarily have a roadmap planned out for my future like The Game of Life, but the college application process did help me discover what I’m looking for: a passion. I’ve always been a passionate person, whether it be a school project, a team sport, or a faith organization, I tend to entrench myself in whatever I am doing. In all honesty, I believe that I am at my most healthy when I am passionate about something. It is with this notion that I believe that at Notre Dame, I am searching for my next passion. The growth that I’ve experienced in these first seven weeks have been monumental in aiding my search.
I believe that my self-esteem is now something that I can control. Almost every teenager has struggles and bouts with their confidence and self esteem; I was no different. I had bad tendencies of comparing myself to others, setting unattainable standards for myself, and ultimately feeling like I was not good enough. However, getting into a school like Notre Dame really changed my trajectory. That may initially sound shallow, but I wasn’t desperate for validation more than I was fulfilled to see my hard work pay off. I was glad that I showed the courage to put myself out to a school that I loved, and they welcomed me with open arms. Brené Brown defines the word courage as “from the Latin word cor, meaning heart - and the original definition means to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One). Notre Dame is a place which values such courage, and I believe that my self-esteem has really hits its stride since they embraced my courage. I also believe that Notre Dame’s emphasis on growing the heart and mind will significantly help me develop internally. Throughout the college process, I was asked more often than not to write about all of my strengths and to promote the goodness within myself. However, this can be overwhelming to one’s self-esteem. “Adam I is built by building on your strengths. Adam II is built by fighting your weaknesses. You go into yourself, you find the sin which you’ve committed over and again through your life, your signature sin out of which your others emerge, and you fight that sin and you wrestle with that sin. Out of that wrestling, that suffering, then a depth of character is constructed” ("Should You Live for your Resumé... or your Eulogy?" by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two). David Brooks makes a key distinction that really knowing oneself and maintaining equilibrium within ones self-esteem requires honest self-assesment. I believe that I’ve always been very honest with myself; I’ve sometimes acted a little too much like Adam II.
I’ve noticed very quickly that Notre Dame is very different from other schools, most notably by its unforgiving Catholic culture. Friends from my hometown at other universities across the country find it hard to believe that my dorm hall has a Chapel, or that we have welcome Mass in our football stadium. However, I believe that Notre Dame’s backing of faith is a true sign of strength. Coming from a non-Catholic high school, I was originally afraid of a possible culture shock at Notre Dame. Instead, I’ve found that the university uses faith to promote its students. Dora from the class of 2022 states “Faith matters to me because it gives me a foundation upon which I live. By this I mean it provides me a foundation of purpose, morality and what I believe to be truth” (Student Reflections on Faith - Moreau FYE Week Three). I believe that a greater focus on faith will help me grow and find my best self, especially considering how much it has helped others at the university.
 I believe that in order to be my best self at Notre Dame, I must surround myself with people who also push me to grow instead of try to pull me down. “A friend who uses you may treat you like a therapist but never ask about how you’re doing. Or it could be the friend who just wants access to your social circle, scouting your friends as potential romantic interests or even finding a way into your professional connections” (“Five Signs You're in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four). I believe that I’ve already found great friends at Notre Dame, and I’m extremely blessed for such a reality. One example is that my friends have collectively come back from the dining hall, each with an apple for me, knowing that I was studying very hard for the night. I believe that I’ve found a group of friends who collectively work for each other, and it’s such a great thing to have. I often struggle with anxiety in regards to my success, especially at Notre Dame. “It is simply this: Notre Dame du Lac has been given to us by the Bishop only on condition that we build here a college.· As there is no other within five hundred miles, this undertaking cannot fail of success, provided it receive assistance from our good friends in France” Fr. Sorin Letter to Basil Moreau by Fr. Sorin - Moreau FYE Week Five). I share Fr. Sorin’s stress that I cannot fail at Notre Dame, but I lack his genuine confidence. I believe that I will continue to gain confidence in my abilities as my time at Notre Dame continues, but for the time being I’m very glad to have a strong support group ready for me at any notice. 
I believe that home is indeed where the heart is, and I’ve never felt that sentiment more than at Notre Dame. This is not to say that I don’t like where I am--I love Notre Dame--however, you don’t realize the small things that you took for granted back home once you leave for school. For me, I miss the long chats with my mom while doing the dishes after dinner, or the banter I would have with my soccer team while we took our gear off after practice. I believe the “Where I’m From” poem speaks volumes about the little things we take for granted. “Besides being a poem in its own right, “Where I'm From” can be a map for a lot of other writing journeys” (“Where I'm From” by George Ella Lyon - Moreau FYE Week Six). I believe that it’s important to recognize the little things when you can, because it can further develop one’s faith and respect for their peers. Just as it is our job to appreciate the little things, we must confront the large, systemic problems in our world that need to be addressed. “There are perceptual illusions, for example, in which white subjects perceive Black faces as angrier than white faces with the same expression. Race can bias people to see harmless objects as weapons when they are in the hands of Black men and to dislike abstract images that are paired with Black faces” (“How to Think about Implicit Bias” by Keith Payne, Laura Niemi, and John M. Doris - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Implicit bias is just one example of a reality in our world that some people are not willing to accept. I believe this could certainly be tied to a lack of an Adam II in our society or a weakness of courage, or the heart. I believe that as individuals, it is our duty to work for the good of humanity instead of ignore it, and I believe that Notre Dame is instrumental in promoting such a pursuit. 
Despite the cliché, I believe that the experiences I’ve encountered in my first quarter of school at Notre Dame has fostered a lot of growth within me. I believe that I’ve strengthened my courage, self-assesment, faith, relationships, respect, and willingness to do good. A year prior, I often found myself unsure of my surroundings, unconvinced by my faith, and unappreciuative of all that was good in my life. Thanks to these first seven weeks, I believe that I now have important traits in my toolkit to help me in my search of a passion or purpose.