Juliana - Workman

Juliana

Workman

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2027

Frederick, Maryland

“Suppose a man is a castaway on an island.” In only my second week at Notre Dame as a starry-eyed freshman, these were the words
that my eyes glossed over for my second assignment in Fr. Kevin Grove’s Theology 10001 class.
The reading, Walker Percy’s “Message in a Bottle” followed this model: a castaway, with no
memory of his previous life, receives two categories of information from across the sea:
knowledge (information he could have reasoned for himself) and news (the information which he
could have not known without an outside source). Upon reflection, I can’t help but recognize the
uncanny parallel that college students have to the castaway, especially from the vantage point of
my “island,” Notre Dame. College is the sea sending challenges of knowledge– those we expect
to encounter– and ones of news– those we could have never imagined– and we have to choose
our response. While I expected to encounter academic and intellectual challenges at Notre Dame,
I never anticipated the amount of emotional and spiritual struggles that I would grow from on
campus. These forms of “news” have blossomed into a greater understanding of the value of
others, our shared humanity, and the intrinsic value of love, particularly for my faith,
community, and family.

In a new social environment, I encountered the fundamental question of what it means to
love. Though I swore it off during Welcome Weekend, homesickness is an inevitable part of
freshman year. The initially exhilarating but ultimately daunting challenge of college and new
independence eventually caused me to realize how much I love and rely on my family. However, the brokenness of homesickness evolved as a“happy fault–” something God could use. My
longing and love for my home and family translated into a greater appreciation for the wider
experience of my community. Engaging with my hall, Badin– attending Hall Councils,
participating in Masses, and even just grabbing dinner with friends– presented me with the
genuine joy that derives exclusively from the extraordinary gift of being with so many other
extraordinary people.

In addition, Notre Dame’s unparalleled approach to theology uncovered another
prominent question of love in my life: how to properly love God. Faith, much like love, is a
commitment that demands action, rather than statement alone. Daily Masses in the breathtaking
Basilica, weekly Badin brownie Masses, 11pm nightly Rosaries at the Grotto, and seeing the
golden image of Mary every morning, gazing protectively over all of us, cumulatively instilled
otherwise inexplicable grace into my life. The radically transformative presence of God’s love on
this distinct campus drew me away from pursuing my own version of perfection and toward
embracing love. Furthermore, solidarity with an active and passionate campus community of
faith helped me recognize the Church as one Body of Christ. Discovering and deliberately
striving for a deeper love for those around me was a major factor in increasing my faith life; as
Fr. Kevin once said, “We cannot love the God we do not see if we do not love the brother we do
see.”

The extraordinary forms of love that Notre Dame introduced me to are absolutely
unprecedented experiences, brought on by unprecedented challenges. Before this university, I
was under the impression that my life would be a continuation of my high-school self. While
being a “castaway” is scary and all-encompassing, it ultimately brings us closer to what matters
most. Now, I can look forward to the future, seeking new challenges of “knowledge” and “news,” emboldened by my gratitude for God, family, and the friends who share my life with
me.

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