Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, April 26, 2018

Why undecided is okay

I came to school last fall as an undecided major. As a freshman in my first semester of college, I found it easy to deflect the ever-present “What’s your major?” question with a laugh and a quick change of subject. e veryone always told me I’d have time to figure it out and I always agreed. b ut I didn’t actually think that nine months later, I would still be deflecting that question.

And yet here I am, three weeks from the end of my freshman year at notre d ame, and I still have no idea what I’m doing. That realization shouldn’t entice as much dread as it does. I’m nineteen years old — how should I know what I want to spend the rest of my life doing? b ut the fact of the matter is that it’s really hard to do anything when you don’t know what you’re doing. While I don’t have to decide my career or declare a major tomorrow, I do have to register for classes. Whatever career I ultimately have will likely be influenced by whatever major I choose, and whatever major I choose will be influenced by what classes I register for. While this may sound like an infinite regression into insanity, I don’t think it’s entirely misguided.

As much as I would like to scream at the next person who tells me “ d on’t worry, you’ll figure it out,” I have to believe that they’re not entirely misguided either. At the end of the day, I know that I will graduate, I will have a job and it won’t matter how messy the road I took to get there was. e ventually it will be figured out, even if I never sit down to consciously figure it out. r eleasing control of your own life is one of the hardest things to do, but realizing that it is impossible to decisively plan your future is one of the most important. e mbracing ambiguity is scary because it’s essentially the same thing as embracing insecurity. It can be embarrassing to say “I have no idea what I’m doing” to your friend who is planning on being a doctor, or your roommate who knows exactly what business field she wants to enter. b ut if you look at yourself primarily as an employee, you strip yourself of the humanity that makes education worthwhile.

Life is going to unfold however it may unfold, regardless of the anxiety or insecurity you bring with it. Instead of dreading uncertainty, I am trying to understand that ambiguity is not necessarily detrimental. While it is important to actively take steps to figure out your life, it’s perhaps more important to come to terms with the fact that no one can simply “figure out their life.”

We’re all a little bit undecided.

Contact Nicole Simon at nsimon1@nd.edu

The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

letter to the editor

The (un)natural light

As my first year here at n otre d ame wraps up, I find myself eager to return home to Grosse Pointe, m ichigan — and hopefully to better weather. m y mother visited only last weekend, and we found ourselves touring n otre d ame in 40-degree freezing rain. As miserable as it sounds, we were still able to enjoy ourselves. o ur time was spent walking and talking, viewing all of the beautiful landscapes and buildings n otre d ame has to offer. We toured the s nite m useum of Art, walked past b ond h all and s aint m ary’s Lake and found ourselves admiring the still-maturing c harles b h ayes Family s culpture Park. Without a doubt, my mother and I admired the beauty of n otre d ame.

b ut not all of it.

We did not particularly admire the countless, empty n atural Light cans strewn across campus. n or did we enjoy the empty Kilwin’s containers pressed between fence posts. And we certainly did not adore the soggy Taco b ell wrappers stuck to the sidewalk.

Take the s culpture Park, for example. m y mother and I were inspired to visit so that we might have a nice relaxing walk. Upon arrival, however, we were inspired only to remark upon the poor upkeep of the park, and the University in general. We picked up smashed beer cans and old c hipotle wrappers until it became overwhelming. We were sick of the cold, and even more sick of the trash.

As my mother and I walked away from the Park, we had a conversation regarding this poor upkeep. m y mother noted that the University seemed to acquire a fair amount of trash on s aturday mornings, likely caused by some impatient members of the student body. I agreed, but pointed to another possibility. When was the last time we saw a trash can? Yes, these students who litter are totally wrong in doing so, but if they cannot be stopped, is there not another solution?

Let’s think.

If I walk from LaFortune s tudent c enter all the way back to my residence within d uncan h all, I will pass only one trash can, assuming I take my normal route. If I alter my walking route, I will pass two trash cans, yet both are in front of s outh d ining h all. n ow, this may sound like an appropriate sacrifice of time for the proper disposal of trash, but let’s imagine a less patient — and possibly less sober — member of the student body. Also, we could imagine a different route, one with no trash cans on the way. And say, this student has trash which he or she might not want his or her rector seeing (i.e. our friend, n atty Light). o r maybe, said student has a cold beverage during a n otre d ame winter storm. And it could

be that this student just really has to go to the bathroom, and does not have time to find a trash can before he can find a tree. As n otre d ame students, we have all seen this, and we should all know that it is completely unjustifiable. Yet, does it happen?

The answer is, yes. Just look around on campus. Trees are decorated with r ed s olo cups. Plastic bags travel like tumbleweeds along the quads. s quirrels are turning over beer cans before finding their acorns. A university which prides itself on its aesthetic beauty is all too often riddled with trash.

s o how can n otre d ame help?

This problem is not exclusively the University’s fault, but I do believe n otre d ame has to take the first step in solving any problem — acceptance.

n otre d ame is a university, and as a university it must accept the unfortunate prevalence of littering. It also must realize this problem is bound to continue. I applaud the great strides the University has made in recycling, and the efforts of the sustainability campaign are exceptional. h owever, n otre d ame now needs to take steps to get these trash cans and recycling bins onto the campus. s o please, n otre d ame, put in some extra trash cans.

s tart with d uncan h all, where our exterior trash can was actually removed! To be fair, it was removed by some rowdy advocates of n atural Light, but the point remains. In its place, we are left with a slab of bricks and four metal rods protruding from the ground.

o r, you can start with the s culpture Park, where my mother and I spent our time picking up trash rather than appreciating art.

r egardless of where you start, n otre d ame, I ask you to please, begin making the change. There needs to be a higher number of trash cans and recycling bins on campus. As for finishing the change, it is up to us: the student body. We need to do a much better job in maintaining the beauty of our University.

And for those who argue that trash cans will take away from the beauty of the University, I offer this as advice. What is more beautiful? I would much rather have visitors commenting on the prevalence of trash cans than the prevalence of trash.

If we, the University and student body, pride ourselves on the beauty of our campus, then a hesitation to action is unwarranted. n ext fall, my first year will be a thing of the past, and I certainly hope the abundance of litter will go with it.

Ethan Utley first year April 22

James Weitzel

d iversity c ouncil

Let us grow: haha lettuce

We can understand ourselves better the more we tell our story and the more we listen to the stories of others. I am not writing about reporting every little thing daily — e.g., I went to three classes today, did homework, ate dinner, etc. — rather I am focused more on how we interact with those around us. h ow does this lead us to knowing ourselves better? I’m not going to say it’s by obsessively talking about ourselves — that can just turn into an obnoxious one-sided conversation, no? — but by constantly updating who we think we are in relation to ourselves and others. b eing an aspiring engineer, I never thought much for the common narratives that flood social media because they all seemed so pointless, e.g. people posting about something they did, food they ate, a cute dog they saw – I actually don’t mind those posts too much – etc. b ut there is something deeper that can be said about those stories of experience, those of personal struggle, those of deep connections or those of dramatic realizations of who we are

called to be. In these stories, there is often a theme of change, a change in understanding, a change in inner relationship, etc. n ow if we all be honest, I think we can all agree that each of us is always changing or growing in some sense — I reluctantly use “growing” because change can also come through pruning too: John 15:2. b ut, we are all having a human experience; we are growing into ourselves.

When we tell our authentic stories about our growth, we are not only acknowledging that we are not constant beings, but we are also giving someone else the opportunity to empathize, to see our experiences through us in the stories we tell; in a sense, to grow with us. I am not saying to internalize other people’s experiences and make them your own, since we can never experience what someone else goes through, but I am saying that our stories are continually being updated as we grow into them.

o n the n ew o rleans Pilgrimage, we heard many stories of personal hardships, but those stories will always be simply something to pass the time, unless we take the time to reflect on how the stories of others affect the story of ourselves. There are lessons to be learned about ourselves in every

story. A pointless story has no meaningful ending. e ach time we tell a story, we know where it will end up to communicate some meaning. The same story can told differently to express convey something else.

s o what am I trying to say? I think I can wrap it all up with the word — listen. Listen to how people have reflected on their lives, listen to how the master storytellers can convey such truth in an interesting way, listen as you grow in relationship with others, listen to the evolution of your own story, listen to what your heart yearns for. o r not: you don’t have to listen to yourself, you know.

You can reach James Weitzel at jweitzel@nd.edu

The Diversity Council of Notre Dame advocates for awareness, understanding and acceptance on issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other intersectional identities in the Notre Dame community. The viewpoints expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Diversity Council, but are the individual opinions of the author. You can contact Diversity Council at diversnd@nd.edu

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

reflection on the mendoza bubble struggle

In my four years at n otre d ame, I’ve collected a lot of secrets. I know the best time of day to sneak food out of the dining hall. I know which offices have the best candy dishes — Theology, thank me later. I can even tell you the best bench locations categorized by mood, time of day, squirrel visibility, etc. b ut my biggest nd secret turned out to be common knowledge: The soap dispensers in m endoza don’t work. They haven’t in ages.

For the last several semesters, I have stuck my hands under the dispensers, waved them around, gave up and settled for rinsing and drying my hands at least two or three times per week. And instead of saying something, I let it go every single time. I thought maybe it was a “me problem,” like perhaps I was using the soap dispensers incorrectly.

I believed this wholeheartedly until the day I cracked the case of the m endoza b ubble s truggle wide open. It was a morning like any other: I sat through two classes and was finishing a third when I got up to take a little break and roam the

halls. o n the way back from my walk, I stopped in the bathroom and saw something I hadn’t seen in a long time — the soap dispenser was dispensing soap. And not only that, it was dispensing soap all on its own.

The ridiculous sight of the sink overflowing with foam lit a fire in me. I decided to day was the day I get to the bottom of this soap business. I went to tell the lady at the desk of the m endoza Library that the soap machine was running haywire and she told me she was aware of the problem. I mentioned that they have never worked before and she explained to me that someone came to fix them months ago, but it didn’t work out for some reason, and today they were finally getting fixed.

I spent the rest of the day stewing in the foolishness of this seemingly trivial situation. Perhaps I was just procrastinating, but perhaps I was on to something. This event certainty wasn’t my first time feeling alone on this campus; I am a first-generation black student from a lowsocioeconomic background who struggles with

b ipolar disorder. b ut just like with the b ubble s truggle, there were people around me who were working through the same thing in silence. It wasn’t just me who couldn’t get the soap dispensers to work, it was everyone. m y friends. m y classmates. m y professors. And no one said anything all this time, because no one wants to be the person to admit that they didn’t just wash their hands.

It is hard to start a conversation if the subject makes us uncomfortable, but silence is seldom productive. A solvable problem turned into months, perhaps years, of inactive soap dispensers in m endoza. s o, next time you feel that you and you alone are faced with a particular problem, mention it to someone. Just say it out loud and see what happens.

I think you’ll find that you not alone way more than you think.

Happy Birthday: you’ve got enough stamina and drive to reach far beyond your expectations. open up and embrace change this year. you will grow personally, professionally and financially. Partnerships will develop with people you can count on, and matters that were of concern will disperse as you move forward with confidence and the will to make your life better. your numbers are 5, 12, 18, 24, 32, 44, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A reserved approach will help you get things done while remaining within your budget. don’t let anyone put pressure or demands on you. know your plan and execute it with finesse. educational pursuits and spiritual growth are favored.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A little charm and a whole lot of drive will help you achieve what you set out to do. o bserve the experts and learn as you go. mingling with people who have something to offer will help you master your own style.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): keep an open mind and listen to what’s being said or offered, but don’t feel rushed to make a promise or decision that will tie up your time. look at change realistically and do only what’s feasible and fits into your lifestyle.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): you can make a difference if you get busy doing things to improve your environment or a cause you believe in. your dedicated effort will be rewarded. don’t let an emotional issue ruin your mood or your desire to help others.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): use common sense when dealing with work or someone from your past who let you down but wants a second chance. concentrate on your work and getting things done on time and within budget. strive for perfection. choose quality over quantity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): share your thoughts, and you’ll gain confidence as well as support. networking, educational pursuits and social media will play a role in the way you get the word out and build a following. opportunity will sprout if you are diligent.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The adjustments you need to make at home in order to balance your budget may seem a little restrictive at first, but once you adapt, you’ll have less stress and worry, not to mention extra cash flow to take care of emergencies.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A money matter will not add up. don’t leave your assets in someone else’s care. history repeats itself, so don’t give anyone the chance to fool you or take advantage of you more than once. Take care of your affairs personally.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): emotional problems will surface if you discuss your private life or display your feelings openly. someone will use your vulnerability to take advantage of you. choose your words wisely; don’t trust anyone with secrets that can make you look bad.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): make adjustments to the way you handle your personal finances or domestic chores. your contribution will help you feel you have a say in matters that can influence your lifestyle and family decisions. stick close to home.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): consider the best way to help an organization or good cause. A practical outlook and suggestions will make others pay attention. look for the best way to handle anyone trying to sabotage your plans. moderation will be in your best interest.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): you’ll know what’s best for you regarding how you earn your living and the type of work you prefer to do. A chance to advance is within reach, and discussing contracts and what you want should be priorities.

Birthday Baby: you are charming, popular and reliable. you are focused and progressive.