Five Parts of a Notre Dame Heartbeat

The human heart beats around 103,680 times per day (New Health Advisor), each contraction pumping blood to the lungs and other cells of the body. But other than its physical function, the heart has been seen throughout history as the center of cognition and the center of feeling. Unfortunately, the heart is simply a powerful muscle that keeps the human body alive. However, Father Moreau’s pillar of Heart still has value, as the heart still symbolizes the best of courage and the human spirit, even if those do not physically reside within the vessels and chambers of the heart.

While thinking about this pillar of Heart, I also thought of the five letters of an electrocardiogram that make up four different components of the EKG (Nurses Learning Network). With this assignment, I could think of no better format to structure my presentation and essay on the five pillars (or letters, in this case) of my education.  This essay is also summarized into a Prezi presentation, which can be followed along with the essay. Since I don't have a premium subscription, I cannot embed the presentation into this site, but it is viewable through the link above. 

 This is a summary shot of the first part of my prezi.

Discovery

When you think of discovery, you usually think of explorers setting off across the ocean searching for new lands and a new life. Before coming to Notre Dame, I saw discovery as people in a lab looking for the newest treatments for disease. However, through my short time here, I’ve found that discovery is so much more.

Discovery can mean finding the answers to the big questions of cancer, disease, world hunger, or mental health. But discovery can be in the little things. It can mean discovering the TV show that makes your friend smile, finding your favorite food in the dining hall, or seeing the sun fall a certain way over the dome. It means being open to small miracles in life, even if that’s just getting all green lights when you’re driving. Through my volunteer work with A Rosie Place, a respite home for medically fragile children, I’ve discovered so much about myself and about other people. Working with these children can be difficult because they’re mostly non-verbal, but I have just had to be open to learning how to make them smile and enjoy themselves. I’m discovering how to understand people who can’t speak for themselves in a way that I’m used to, and discovering their inherent dignity and worth.

Father Moreau writes about a similar theme with his pillar of Mind, which is more about seeking understanding. These pillars are similar in that they seek to be open to spirituality and reason, accepting all disciplines while trying to learn. The Moreau course has helped me discover campus resources and become more comfortable in stepping out of my comfort zone.

This pillar means more than the end goal of a discovery; it means having an open mind to whatever life gives to you to discover.

Engagement

Engagement means being an active participant in life. This includes classes (where you’re usually graded on participation), but more importantly includes engagement in the campus, regional, and global community.

I’ve talked about my work with A Rosie Place, but I’m excited to be engaging with a new experience this summer with the Orange County Catholic Worker. During the Summer Service Learning Program, I will be engaging with part of the homeless population of Orange County. This is scary, but it should be because I’m getting out of my comfort zone and confronting real human issues. It’s not that I haven’t dealt with real problems before, but working with the homeless will be a new eye-opening experience. The values discussed in the Moreau class helped me to understand that I have a duty to serve others and expand my world beyond my family and Notre Dame.

Father Moreau discusses the importance of serving the world with his pillar of Zeal, which is fueling the desire to help others. Engagement is similar to this pillar, but encompasses a more concrete desire to directly engage with the world around us, including serving others.

Hope

My father always told me PMA: positive mental attitude. It was terribly annoying growing up, but I believe that it has had a great impact on my life. Even though I can be self-deprecating at times, I try to always look at the positive side of experiences and the good that can be derived from any situation.

I’ve applied this after getting a D on a General Chemistry exam, and in other classes and experiences. I honed this skill of rebounding from failure with hope during high school, coming back from being rejected from the school dance team, and after failing my Pre-Calculus final (Still got an A- in the class by the beauty of averages). Within the NDSO, it means persevering through the pieces, even though they are the most challenging I have ever played, and hoping that I will be able to learn them.

Father Moreau also has a pillar of Hope that’s more religious in its orientation. My interpretation is more secular, but the general message of optimism and positive thinking remains the same.

Equality

I came from a public high school, and was always taught that everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness no matter their age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or religion. In other words, I'm a proud product of public schools.

The standard of the law must always be upheld, as should equal opportunities for everyone in society. As a pre-med, this extends to healthcare as well, but that is a discussion that would take many pages and presentations.

In my education, this means that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed on campus. Equality doesn't just mean that everyone is given a fair shot. Everyone should feel welcomed and a part of the University community. Notre Dame does an excellent job of making everyone feel welcome, and I feel like I am a part of this campus. That also has a lot to do with the fact that I fit the Notre Dame stereotype: white, upper middle-class, alumni family, and an ND fan since Day 1. However, I know a lot of students on campus that don't fit that stereotype, and feel out of sorts. 

Our Moreau class talked about “cultural competency,” but it’s difficult to do that when 75% of the campus is white, and the other 25% is lumped into the “other” category, which is very disheartening. I know that, theoretically, we shouldn't see color, but we do. It's easy for me to say that I feel like a part of this campus when 75% of the student body looks like me. Notre Dame is doing a good job of talking about diversity, and bringing diverse ideas and people to campus, but there is always more work to be done. 

Father Moreau discussed this a bit with his pillars of Family. Family means that everyone belongs to a community, but we can only bring that into reality when all are welcomed and treated as unique and equal members.

Compassion

Compassion is one of the most important human qualities we possess. Our vast reserves for caring for others is what makes us unique members of the animal kingdom. There’s not much to be said for compassion except that it must be practiced to be understood. Through my shadowing experiences, summer jobs, and volunteer work, I’ve come to realize that it is one of the skills that cannot be gleaned from the pages of a textbook. No amount of reading about values or self-help books can teach you how to comfort a crying kindergartener, empathize with a nervous patient, or play with a medically fragile child in the best way they know how.

The Moreau course has integrated compassion and serving others, and I’ve tried to become a more compassionate person in my daily life. That may mean holding the door for someone, or letting them borrow an umbrella or making them a cup of coffee when they’re stressed. Just like Discovery, it’s the little things that matter the most.

Father Moreau included this in his discussion of Zeal, because you need compassion in order to understand how to serve others.