In my second semester of college, I took a university seminar titled, “On the Road: The Study of Quest Literature.” This course was all about the great quests of fictional characters, and we read many classic novels such as The Odyssey, Frankenstein, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Gulliver’s Travels. It’s been three years since taking the course, and I can unfortunately admit that most of the lessons have diminished into foggy memories. With that being said, if I learned anything about quest literature from the course, it was one specific theme: the journey doesn’t end at the conclusion of the novel. Countless times I remember hearing my professor raving about the final paragraphs of the stories, saying, “that’s the best part of the quest – the story just keeps on going.”
After reading my fair share of quests, it is evident that there is a distinct pattern that they follow. Every protagonist starts their quest as an evidently flawed character, whether it’s because of their limited capabilities or their poor character. The story heavily involves travel, often of great distances and including great sacrifices that are meant to make the character stronger. Finally, and most importantly, the continuity of the journey is true for almost all quests. Odysseus begins to rule Ithaca once again, Victor Frankenstein’s creature retreats into the darkness, and Sir Gawain makes his journey home as a new man. There might be certainty to the conclusion of the story, but there is no definitive ending.
With my graduation being just a month away, there have been many questions that have arisen in my mind about the end. Families will come to celebrate with us, we share our final moments together in this space, and then many of us will go our separate ways. While the future can be frightening at times and the idea of commencement feels more like a funeral, I have opted to adopt a different mindset about the conclusion of my time here: my journey at Notre Dame has been a great quest. As a flawed character, I came to the university to undergo a transformation of character and strength. While this part of the story may be nearing its conclusion, my journey is far from over, and I will continue to use the lessons from my story as I seek new horizons. With that being said, here are a few lessons I learned throughout my time at Notre Dame that will stay with me throughout my life.
1. Do good for its own sake and not with the expectation that you will get something in return.
While I can own up to my mistakes and acknowledge the ridiculous amounts of time that I wasted during college (specifically on my phone), I will never consider the time I gave to others a waste. Sometimes doing the right thing will feel pointless. Other times you may be doing good and not be around to see the results of your hard work. Even with those deterrents, there is more to be received than there is to be given. Perhaps there could be more money to be made or more success to be earned, but the friendship, connection, and satisfaction that come from consistently pursuing the good in the world will make you an even wealthier person.
2. People are mirrors.
While they may not have the frame or luster to their literal counterpart, their personalities and ambitions reflect the people and surroundings in their lives. The circumstances that people are born into might be out of their control, but there comes a great opportunity to control what one reflects, and that comes from the way that they angle their mirrors. A mirror pointed at the ground will reflect nothing but the material goods that scatter the earth, and one that is perpendicular to the ground has the ability to reflect the people and systems surrounding it. There is another angle, however, that is far greater than the previous two: one that is angled towards the heavens and has the ability to scatter God’s light in the dark and hidden places of the world. It is important to put the right people in front of you and angle your mirror in the right direction.
3. Do difficult things.
Regardless of what you study or involve yourself in on campus, Notre Dame doesn’t give you much of an option; you will have to deal with difficulties in your four years. In the first few years of school, I envied the easier path; I saw it as an option for less work, less struggle, and more fun. Now having seen the growth that can come from the difficulties, I have come to realize that choosing the easy path is rarely the best option. Having battles in your daily life makes you a stronger, more interesting person, and it helps you to understand the beauty of the struggle.
4. “Somebody has to be the one to do it.”
In past occasions where I have been daunted by taking a risk, I would often focus on the negative outcomes when making the decision of whether or not to take the leap. Often, this meant that I wouldn’t take the risk. This was until my sophomore year, when I randomly called a college football broadcaster and alum while at work. When asking him about his journey into an exciting yet unconventional profession, I asked him what motivated him to take the risk. “Somebody had to be the one to do it.” That mantra has fueled me to apply to jobs I’m not confident I could get, reach out to people who may not be interested in responding, and pursue interests that are both exciting and unconventional. If someone has to do everything out there, how come that someone couldn’t be one of us?
5. Results have the ability to change your life, not products.
This is more of a takeaway that I learned while studying marketing, but it has been incredibly important to my understanding of how to position myself as a consumer. In my foundations of marketing class, one of the early lectures featured a quote from a famous marketing professor by the name of Theodore Levitt: “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole!” In our society, there is a great emphasis on the features of products and brands that will improve your life. In reality, there isn’t much difference about a product at the very core of its nature. For that very reason, I now look for the “quarter-inch holes” when consuming and am hesitant to become a walking billboard for a brand that just wants my money.
6. There should be a greater “why” behind every big decision.
Whether it’s picking what you wish to study or deciding where you want to move, taking time to reflect on the reasoning behind your decisions is incredibly important. If it is to pursue the good in yourself and others, it is a decision that can be incredibly fruitful and lead to a life of flourishment. If a decision is made solely in order to pursue money, power, or status, there is a significantly lower chance of achieving satisfaction.
7. Prioritizing people is one of the most important things you can do.
The worst times in my life have been the ones when I have lacked community and connection. When embarking on a new quest filled with trials and uncertainties, it is always important to have a group of people you can rely on to make the scratches less painful and the journey more enjoyable.
As I conclude my time at Notre Dame, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the memories, lessons, and friends made during my journey here. Like any great book, there is something to be said about the sadness of seeing the pages dwindling in number as you get closer and closer to the back cover. With just a few pages left, I am grateful to have highlighted a few key moments of my journey as I went, so that as I enter my next quest, and start at the very beginning of a new story, I may have a little more wisdom in my back pocket for what’s to come. Notre Dame, thank you for the quest of a lifetime.