Integration 2

Integration 2 Prompt 1 Becoming properly acquainted to college courses has been tricky, not only because a majority of the classes to choose from are themselves difficult to master, but also because there are simply so many courses to choose from. It is both incredibly enlightening and terrifying to come to college and have your previously firm perceptions of where your academic strengths lay be challenged so early on. I discovered this when I enrolled in Beginning French I. I had taken four years of Latin in high school, so I technically had the option to exempt into a higher level of Latin at Notre Dame. I wouldn’t have to take as many semesters of a foreign language in order to fulfill university requirements had I done this, but I wanted to use college as a n opportunity to learn a new language and broaden my horizons. I visited Lourdes, France on a pilgrimage a year ago, and, while the place and its people inspired me, I was disheartened by how large of a role the language barrier played in my experience. So, I settled into French with the hope and intent that this was in fact a good decision, academically and personally. I was almost immediately blindsided by how difficult it was to pick up a new language entirely from scratch. You never truly realize how many different aspects of a language exist until you try to piece them all together. The Holy Cross pillar of Mind played a significant role in my decision to continue with the language, however overwhelming it first seemed to me. Because I decided to invest myself in the study with the purpose of fostering a deeper understanding for and ability to speak the French language rather than for the grade on my transcript, I was able to find purpose in altering the way I studied. Similarly, the Holy Cross pillar of Hope guided me as I transitioned strategies, as I was hopeful that my additional time and effort would pay off for me in the long run. I slowly began to understand that the key to learning a new language was to constantly be practicing it; the more familiar I became with the French language, the more easily I could learn new material on the first try. In similar vein to our Week 6 study of academic mindsets, I subconsciously knew that I had to develop a growth mindset before I could even identify what a growth mindset was. Adapting to classes that I found difficult would be the only way to overcome my obstacles and succeed. In Week 5, when we discussed Learning & Memory, I discussed in my online response how I found notecards to be an effective way to memorize information. I take definite advantage of this technique in my French class; I frequently have French notecards on me in case I have a spare moment to review. Since adapting the way in which I was studying, I have steadily seen improvements both in my grade and in my comfort level with the French language. Going forward, I hope to continue this upward trend in my abilities.

Integration 2 Prompt 2 In Integration 1, I spoke about how difficult it was initially for me to decide what activities to be a part of at Notre Dame. Just as with course selection, the sheer number of activities is overwhelming. While I know my interests and what I enjoy to do, finding time to do everything I want to do can be a true challenge. One of the great things that I’ve discovered, however, is that you don’t have to go very far at Notre Dame to find things to participate in, and the residential life system makes it so. There are so many chances to be a part of planning, promoting, and being a part of activities within my dorm that I don’t have to search very far for ways to take a break from my studies, and improve my community in the process. This weekend, my dorm, Lyons Hall, is hosting our signature event: the Mara Fox 5K Run, a race that we hold in memory of a former Lyonite. I’ve been involved in the promotion of the event to my friends outside of the hall and I’ve also volunteered to work the event. I enjoy this activity for multiple reasons. First of all, it reminds me a lot of some of the community service that I would do in high school, so there is a familiar comfort involved. The Holy Cross pillar of Heart is deeply involved with this mindset; I enjoy doing activities in which I can give back to my community. Secondly, it provides me a wonderful opportunity to form new relationships with people within my dorm. The Holy Cross pillar of Family is very important in the Notre Dame residence halls; your dorm is your home away from home, and the people are your family away from your family. Planning and promoting an event requires a lot of collaboration, so the Lyons family has had to be supportive of each other and willing to embrace each others’ opinions when it came time to decide what would make the event a success. In a sense, by trying to build an event that the Notre Dame community would enjoy, we ourselves were learning a valuable exercise in building community the Notre Dame way, which we discussed in Week 1 of Moreau. In working together towards a common goal, we developed a strong sense of personal responsibility in the context of the community we are in. Similarly, we learned were able to develop strong interpersonal relationships, which we learned in Week 3 of Moreau, are characterized by a system of mutual support and respect. Had we lacked regard for each others’ opinions or decisions, we would not have been able to carry out our spirit week and signature event in the way we hoped and wanted. Going forward, I hope to spend more time getting to know the leaders within my dorm, lending my talents wherever I can, and, possibly, have the opportunity to hold a leadership position myself in coming years.