Ethan - Chiang

Ethan

Chiang

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2027

Oakville, Canada

Saying goodbye to my high school was one of the easiest things I have had to do. I was the first
out the door when our graduation ceremony concluded. During the months preceding Welcome
Weekend, I romanticized the view that my college experience would differ—that I would find a
community I felt I belonged to. Halfway into my freshman year, I’m glad to say that my hopes have largely come to fruition. I
was welcomed with a characteristic warmth, and I have been able to find fulfilling relationships
within the Notre Dame community.

However, through reflections in Moreau like the Semester Mapping Activity, I realized some
more nuanced things about the relationships I have formed and the communities I have joined. I
noticed that my troughs or periods of brokenness stemmed from a detachment from community.
But, the important distinction was that it wasn’t for the same reasons that I felt detached from
community in high school.

It was because of the dissonance that was manifesting in my life. On a preliminary level, it was
the dissonance between needing to commit to my academic and extracurricular life, and also
dedicating time to sustain my relationships with others. More interestingly though, this
dissonance presented itself as my energy and time were dispersed to various communities I
belong to, whether in the classroom, dorms, clubs, etc.

How could I nurture genuine, long-lasting relationships if I was forced to spend a fleeting
amount of time with each community? As my schedule became increasingly packed, I felt as if I
was constantly rushing from place to place with limited tethers to quality, meaningful
relationships. Small talk and cursory greetings replaced conversations.
Although our experiences have not been identical, Emery Bergmann provides valuable advice on
dealing with isolation, noting “[...] how necessary it was for people to be open about isolation on
college campuses” (“Advice From a Lonely College Student” by Emery Bergmann - Moreau
FYE Week Nine). It speaks to the salient antidote of collectively acknowledging our shared
feelings and lived experiences, which can make us feel less alone in our struggles. In fact,
reading through the Encounters narratives from other students validated the dissonance I was
feeling.

Much like Kintsugi art (“Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop” by Grotto Network
- Moreau FYE Week 10), encountering and identifying this brokenness in my life has served as a
valuable inflection point—it encourages me to dedicate my time to the communities and
activities that matter the most to me.

Ultimately, my experiences this past semester have generated various opportunities for personal
growth. As winter break approaches and I finish one-eighth of my journey here, the anticipation
of saying goodbye to Notre Dame, even for just a month, already feels more difficult than saying
goodbye to the high school I spent four years at. And I’m just incredibly grateful to be at a place
that makes goodbyes something worthwhile.

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