Reflection on Mission, Values & Engagement
Jesse Lopez
1) Given what you know about this topic so far, please reflect on the heritage and values of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in the context of your own values and belief system.
I believe that Notre Dame as a university tries really hard to make a community that is accepting of many people of different backgrounds. I personally am not the most involved or aware of what goes on NDNU campus due to the fact that I am a commuter, But speaking in behalf of my encounters in class, I can truly say that professors commit themselves to create just systems and relationships within the learning community and ultimately each student. There are specific professors that I have had that make sure that they develop a relationship with each student and ultimately it affects the student’s grade positively.
2) What opportunities have you had at NDNU to develop relationships that honor the dignity or sacredness of each person or each being, including human and non-human beings? Why is this important? Can you apply this concept to the kinds of decisions you may have to make in your future professional career? Have any of the Community Engagement activities you’ve done this semester given you opportunities to develop in this area?
One thing that sticks out to me about this hallmark is the way I develop and appreciate relationships, I also respect individual differences. In any environment you are faced with many people of different backgrounds and beliefs. Some beliefs may go against yours but i’ve learned through countless experiences, from working in groups for class projects, working in my job that although my opinion may be different from someone else's, I need to respect their choices and values because I would want the same respect in return. I believe it is really important to value the sacredness of individuals because in life you will encounter many people but if you walk the face of the earth with a close mind, you ultimately put a target on your back and this can affect your life in many ways. For example no one wants to work with a person who doesn't listen to others or respect them. In my professional career I will definitely apply this concept because being able to honor on sacredness and dignity shows that you’re capable of being open minded to new ideas and being a great team player. Working with CP partner, it is very important to understand that everyone has different needs that may not be like mine, so on that aspect yes.
3) Have any ethical issues arisen for you during your time here as a member of the NDNU campus community? Did any of these arise out of your Community Engagement activities? Have you been challenged to assess your own ethical stances in any way? In what ways, if any, have these ethical considerations involved issues of justice or peace? In what ways, if any, have they caused you to change the way you think about your own future career choices?
I wouldn’t say that I have experienced something very extreme on campus. If anything I would say the biggest challenge for me on campus has been working with a group. Working with a group entitles each individual to give their two cents. Sometimes I may think they are wrong or don’t completely agree, but I have come to realization that not everyone thinks like me. I have become more open minded to new ideas and have been working on positive feedback. I believe this has truly challenged me to change my old ways but it will make me a better person and it will help me make future career choices when I have to take into account other’s opinions.
4) Have you, in the context of this or any class at NDNU, had opportunities to apply your classroom learning to address community or social problems? If so, did this make your classroom learning more successful in any way? In what ways, if any, did you find Reflection-Action-Reflection to be a useful model for combining classroom learning with social engagement in this way?
I think when I go out with my friends and we have conversations about what’s going on in the world, I have definitely applied things I have learned in my classes to the way I approach conversations. For starters I have learned how to listen and secondly I have accepted the fact that I won’t always be right. Sometimes along the way you have people who don’t want to give up because they feel as if they're right even if they’re not, I’ve learned that I cannot waste my time on those people because it’s like beating a dead horse.
5) How do you personally define diversity? What have you learned during your time at NDNU about the challenges and rewards of embracing diversity? Is embracing diversity of value to the human and larger Earth communities?
I would define diversity as the state or quality of having many different forms, types, ideas. In regards to people, it is people who are of different races or who have different cultures or take part in a variety of groups or organizations. Besides the fact that NDNU is a diverse community it is nice to see that everyone is treated equally and that there are events at the university where different people of different cultures or religions embrace it and educate people about themselves and what they believe in and where they come from.
6) In what ways, if any, have you had opportunities at NDNU to build a sense of community with others? Who were the “others”? Were they students? Teachers? NDNU staff? Were they people you met through community engagement activities? Were they non-human beings? Who benefited from these interactions? Do you feel that you built a sense of community for those others or with them?
Besides the fact that NDNU is a very clicky school and if you play a sport you only hang out with people on your team. But I have noticed that people of the same major also hang out with one another outside of class. Personally this applies for me, I hang out with people that are biology majors. Within this group of people we all help one another when we need it, we share notes, participate in group study sessions and look for each other for support. I feel as if it weren’t for these people my experience at NDNU would be completely different and I feel as if I couldn’t have done it without them.
7) Have you had opportunities at NDNU to develop or refine your spiritual or ethical leadership skills in working toward a more just society? What specifically were those skills? How do you see yourself applying those skills during the remainder of your education and/or during your life and career after college?
Spiritually no, ethical possibly. But I walked into NDNU with a set of great ethics that I have imposed on myself throughout college and haven’t lost sight of them. As I continue to grow and continue my path in college I develop better skills that will help me for the future, such as avoiding procrastination, using my resources wisely and finding a set of friends who want to see you succeed. In regards to ethics I am the same person today that I was when I first started at NDNU my freshman year. I do not really feel like this question applies to me.
