An Introduction to the Five Pillars

            The Five Pillars have come to mean to me a new way of understanding a Notre Dame education. Before school began, I understood a Notre Dame education as one that is used to give back to the community and beyond. Now having a background in the five pillars, I see how they are a part of a Notre Dame education in addition to what I previously understood it as. 

            Each of the five pillar’s individual traits serves a purpose within a Notre Dame education. When all of the pillars are utilized at once, they can be understood as the reason why it is possible to use the education one receives to give back to others. With mind, I have come to understand that one of my purposes is to educate others through my vocation of filmmaking, which is inspired by the pillar of heart. Zeal has helped me to discern what my vocation is and has aided me in realizing that I want to use my gift of filmmaking to impact people’s lives. My sense of hope helps me to trust in this plan God has for me. Knowing that I have built a relationship with the Notre Dame family helps me to have more hope. Because of the five pillars, I recognize more of my purpose within a Notre Dame education.

            I have grown to understand the five pillars through the First Year of Studies course, my experiences at Notre Dame, and the people here. For example, I understand hope through my roommate. She applied to go on a pilgrimage to walk the Camino de Santiago. Her decision to walk the Camino to strengthen her faith exemplifies the pillar hope because she puts her faith into action. I look to her for motivation to do the same in my life. I have understood the five pillars through my experiences as well. I work for Fighting Irish Media, which gave me the opportunity to learn more about television production. This has helped me to understand the pillar of heart, because the experience reinforces my vocation as a filmmaker.

            My new understanding of the five pillars helps me to take advantage of my life at Notre Dame. Because of this, I see myself implementing the five pillars in my daily life at Notre Dame and beyond. At Notre Dame, I can keep the five pillars in mind when choosing classes or doing assignments, as well as within friend groups, when volunteering, or when trying something new. I can implement the five pillars in all that I do during my time in college. In the future, I can use the five pillars as a filmmaker, keeping in mind my reasons for making films when choosing what meaningful films I should make, especially in an industry that focuses mainly on entertainment. I will remind myself that the desire to do this comes from zeal, heart, hope, and mind with the support of family. In this way, the five pillars have and will continue to influence my life.