Moreau Capstone Integration


Jayden Vrins

Catherine Wagner

April 29, 2022

Moreau Capstone Integration

Inspire, provide, and create

As a Junior in high school just beginning to think about college, I had very little idea of
what I wanted to do and what my purpose in this world would be. Through the application
process and my first year at Notre Dame, however, I have been able to better understand myself
and thus have found what truly inspires me in my pursuit of knowledge. Ultimately, my mission
is to foster more diversity in higher education and build a school in Curacao that will provide
kids with the resources to attend the very best schools in the United States and the world. As I
continue my journey at Notre Dame, I hope to utilize the values, relationships, and knowledge I
develop to build on my mission and make it a reality.

My time in Moreau and Notre Dame has allowed me to become a more complete student,
family member, and member of society. This will help me to fulfill my mission and live a life
well-lived. One of the first things I learned was the importance of separating myself from the
hectic nature of school and work. In the article, “Why we need to slow our lives down?” they
explain, “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 our lives
down?” by Pico Lyer, Moreau Week One). Another important development for me this year was
adjusting to my new schedule in college and the vast amount of free time I have. This was both a
positive and a negative. Although I had a lot of time to relax, the amount of free time I had
caused me to be extremely complacent early in the year. For this reason, I forced myself to
always be busy and do something productive. In doing this, I put a lot of pressure on myself
which was extremely unhealthy. The article by Tasha Eurich, states, “In truth, introspection can
cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a host of unintended consequences. Sometimes it may
surface unproductive and upsetting emotions that can swamp us and impede positive
action.”(“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich,
Moreau Week six). My introspection caused me to be extremely negative about my work habits,
thus forcing me to constantly compensate by doing work all the time. When I had a conversation
with my mom during the interview week for Moreau, she also told me that my biggest flaw was
that I was too hard on myself. This was important to hear from another person as it forced me to
confront the truth. Ultimately, I believe that it is important to balance life, work, and mental
health to work on my mission statement and live a life well-lived.

https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/
https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/
https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/


Another huge aspect of living a life well-lived is accompaniment. Whether with family,
friends, or community, the accompaniment will always be a huge aspect of my life. As Steve
Reifenberg explains in his story, “The beauty of using accompaniment is in the blurring of the
lines between us and them, doctor and patient, donor and recipient, expert and novice. Instead,
we are partners, walking together, towards a better future. “(Teaching Accompaniment: A
Learning Journey Together by Steve Reifenberg, Moreau Week 9). To summarize, Reifenberg
explains that we, as humans, are all on the journey of life together and for that reason, we should
always come to each other's aid. One of the main reasons that I want to give back to my
community is my appreciation of the position I am in today. I recognize that I am extremely
fortunate and realize that I would not be in the spot I am in today without people helping me get
here. For this reason, it is almost my responsibility to help others achieve their potential as well.
Another one of my goals is to be an inspiration. Without those who inspired me, I would not
have even applied to Notre Dame. My Economics teacher served as one of my biggest
inspirations in high school to pursue Economics. The stories of both Father Hesburgh and Terrel
Hunt were also influential in helping me understand what I can do with the education I receive at
Notre Dame. Terrel Hunt's short biographical explains, " As a career member of the U.S. Foreign
Service, he works to strengthen global security, protect American citizens, and promote values
that advance peace and universal human rights.”(Domer Dozen Gallery, Moreau Week Two).
Hunt took the rounded and complete education he received at Notre Dame and is now using it to
promote good in our world. Terrel Hunt’s story gave me a lot of motivation as he showed me that
a Notre Dame education was worthwhile to foster change. Although Terrel Hunt and my
Economics teacher in high school put me on the path to finding a solid career, I ultimately
decided to major in both Business Analytics and Economics because I felt that they suited my
interests, skills, and desires perfectly. As the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development
explains, “....... career satisfaction/success depends in part on how well a person can identify and
implement his/her career self-concept, which is comprised of your values, interests, personality,
and skills”(Meruelo Family Center for Career Development, Moreau Week Four). Ultimately, the
most important factors when deciding on a career path are happiness and purpose. One has to
realize first if the career path will bring them joy and then if it will ultimately fulfill them and
their purposes as community members and children of God.

Despite the big goals I have in my mission statement, throughout Moreau I have learned
to appreciate the journey as well as the destination. An important part of living a life well-lived is
cherishing every little moment that comes your way. Every moment is special and every moment
is a gift from God. As Sister Theresa Aletheia explains “We try to suppress the thought of death,
or escape it, or run away from it because we think that’s where we’ll find happiness, she said.
But it’s actually in facing the darkest realities of life that we find light in them.”( '' Meet the nun
who wants you to remember that you will die” by Ruth Graham, Sister Theresa Aletheia, Moreau
Week Three). I truly believe that it is in the face of death that we truly recognize life’s blessings.
When my uncle died early on in this semester it was extremely difficult for me as I was away
from my family and did not get the chance to go to the funeral. Despite this, it made me

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit
https://domerdozen.nd.edu/
https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html


appreciate what I had and that I was still here able to achieve my goals and dreams. He was a
great man and was always kind to others, putting everyone else in front of himself. He lived a
life well-lived and inspires me to live a life that would make him proud. Ultimately, anyone can
live a life that inspires change even if it is the smallest of differences. In his speech, “Why the
only future worth building includes everyone”, the pope states “A single individual is enough for
hope to exist, and that individual can be you”(“Why the only future worth building includes
everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis, Moreau Week 7). The Pope goes on to explain that love
requires sacrifice. I know that doing what is right requires giving up something you want but that
is just the sacrifice I have to make to fulfill my purpose. I recognize that others like my family,
teachers, and even friends have sacrificed what they wanted for me to have the opportunity to
have a better life. For this reason, I almost feel obligated to do the same for others which is why I
want to give back to my community by building a school.

Part of living a life well-lived and completing my mission statement is being courageous,
wise, and accepting. As Dr.Robin D’Angelo explains, “It became clear over time that white
people have extremely low thresholds for enduring any discomfort associated with challenges to
our racial worldviews.”(Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism, by Dr. Robin
D’Angelo, Moreau Week Ten). Ultimately, to develop empathy one has to understand the
experiences of others. In this way, one can gain more acceptance and understanding of the lives
of others. I believe this is a valuable asset to have in the professional world as it can allow you to
develop deeper relationships. Wisdom is another valuable trait I hope to develop in hopes of
achieving a life well-lived. In my view, wisdom comes from understanding multiple perspectives
and viewpoints. This is why many news sources today are super dangerous. This is summarized
in the podcast stating “We treat politics as entertainment, following the latest updates like we
follow our favorite sports teams. Instead, he says, we should think of politics as a way to acquire
power and persuade our neighbors to back the issues we support..”(Passion Isn’t Enough” by
Hidden Brain Media, Moreau Week 11). Finally, being courageous and taking risks is probably
the most important aspect of living a fulfilling life and accomplishing my goals. As Dean G.
Marcus Cole explains, “While my education and position do not grant me immunity from racial
violence, they do place me in a position to do something about it.” (I am George Floyd. Except. I
can Breathe by Dean G. Marcus Cole, Moreau Week 12). This was the most valuable lesson for
me over the past 3 years as it influenced my entire perspective on my education. The Dean’s
words are the exact reason I believe a complete education is so valuable as it puts you in the
position to change the world with the knowledge you acquire. Whether you do it or not however
is completely up to you and if you are willing to be courageous.
It is through courage, knowledge, and a desire to inspire change that I can fulfill my mission
statement over the next decades of my life. With the principles I have learned and will develop as
I continue my journey of self-discovery, I hope to inspire, provide and create just as those did
before me.

https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript
https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit
https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/
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/