Fr. Ted Memory Book

Click here to read what members of the Class of 2011 have to say about Fr. Ted.

Senior Wisdom Project

Graduating seniors were asked "What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at Notre Dame?"

“Step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Take a chance. Don't be afraid to fail. Something that may seem just beyond your reach, or something that you may believe you aren't qualified for might be exactly the role that fits you perfectly. I'd rather try and fail than know I never tired.”
- Matt McDowell

“To see not only with my eyes but also with my heart.”
- Claire Fisher

“You cannot fix or control everything. Do your best to deal successfully with problems within your control. Think about the situations within your influence, and try to make a positive impact. Pray about the troubles that are out of your control, and trust that God will bear the weight of your worry.”      
- Melissa Nolan

“The best thing about Notre Dame is that you pay $50,000 a year for the best of the best – education, athletics, facilities, classrooms, dorms, food – but the most valuable thing you get from Notre Dame is something you can't put a price on or pay for...and those are the lifelong relationships you build here.”
- Nick Lezynski

“Invest in a huge, puffy down jacket with a hood. Otherwise, you (and your hair) will not survive Notre Dame winters.”     
- Lindsay Schwartz

“Trust God. He has a plan for your life and will guide you, even to unexpected places.”
- Joe Sheehan

“I have learned that ‘for everything there is a season.’ That we must trust the seasons of our hearts, as we can trust the seasons of the year.  Even when winter is heavy and grey and seems indomitable...spring always comes.  I have learned to accept the deaths of autumn more gracefully...and, as Wendell Berry says, to practice Resurrection. "
- Kaitlyn Kiger

“Don't spread yourself too thin - whether it be for classes, extra-curriculars or Nutella. Never skimp on Nutella.”
- Margaret Devany

“Spend 4 months in London.”          
- Ryan Patton

“Although college at Notre Dame is compared to life inside of a bubble, it is a bubble that I wish would never pop. By confining my undergraduate experience to 1,250 acres, I have grown closer with friends, classmates and professors than I ever expected. The lessons and values that I have gained here are ones that I will carry with me the rest of my life, no matter where it takes me. When I received my Welcome Home packet the summer before my freshman year, I had no idea that Notre Dame would become the place I felt most welcome at. Although I am reluctant to let my four years come to a close, I am beyond blessed to know that Notre Dame will always be a place that I can call home.”
- Anonymous       

“…with age comes wisdom. No matter how hard we try to study, we learn through living and interacting with others. At Notre Dame, I have been given the opportunity to meet incredibly interesting and intelligent individuals. Through them, I have grown leaps and bounds since that fateful first day at the University of Notre Dame.”    
- Anjelica Nguyen               

“… be confident in who I am and what I believe. We all have wonderful thoughts, beautiful talents, and diverse viewpoints to bring to the conversation of life. In order to make ourselves heard and make a difference in the world, we must have the confidence to share these gifts.”    
- Grace Loppnow

“Whatever you're afraid of, do it.  That's the only way you can ever grow.”        
- Casey Larkin

“Probably the most important lesson I learned at Notre Dame was to learn what the four words ‘We Are Notre Dame’ really mean. Sure, I'd heard these words at football games or pep rallies but it took me four years to realize what those words mean. It means more than just cheering together for a sports team. The phrase ‘We Are Notre Dame’ encapsulates what a truly exceptional community this school is… We could stand together in the good times and in the bad times. We are Notre Dame when we break bread together, when we cry together, when we laugh together, when we make a late night run to LaFortune, when we study for finals together, when we attend dorm events together. When everything we do is something Our Lady would be proud of, when we lead lives worthy of the namesake of our university - that is when I know we are Notre Dame.”              
- Cornelius Rogers

“How to dodge the sprinklers.”
- Anonymous

“… always view things with a sense of curiosity - to never hesitate to question the status quo and to never simply take something as fact or personal belief without really examining, questioning, and accepting it for oneself… In order to grow as a person and achieve one's full potential in this life it is absolutely necessary to look at things with an almost child-like sense of curiosity, excitement, and hunger, always remembering to keep an open mind and open heart, resisting the urge to make assumptions about or pass judgments upon others and never fooling oneself into the false belief that one has achieved any sufficient level of knowledge or understanding.”
- William Teschke

“Remember your accomplishments but don't let pride overshadow who you are.”          
- Derryl Miller

“Its ‘Notter Dame’ not ‘Notrah Dahm’. ”
- Brina Stachecki

“Go forth and do well, but more importantly go forth and do good. The professor who really hit this lesson home for me is Carl Ackermann. As a business student, being reminded of the emptiness of amassing wealth merely for the sake of amassing wealth is extremely important. Ackermann, who walks the walk, did just that. I will forever treasure my time here at Our Lady's University, where being good-hearted is not merely valued, it's expected.”
- Brian Dondanville

“Enjoy each moment and don't take life too seriously; joke and have fun, and everything will work out OK in the end.”        
- Courtney Ensslin

“Passion and desperation yield the greatest results.”
- Andrew Hessert

“If my time at Notre Dame has taught me anything, it would definitely be to live. Don't just exist for the purposes of being seen or to work towards other people's goals. Just live. Live for what you want and for what you believe in. Live for your own happiness because you're only as happy as you can make yourself. Despite our belief, we don't have control over everything. However, we do have control over our own happiness. So why not just live for that. Everything else will come with time, patience, and an unrelenting will to succeed.”
- Dashaun Gasque

“Follow your bliss, meet as many people as you can and sleep on airport floors if it means a cheaper flight abroad.  Walk to class barefoot once it's warm, go on spring break at least one time and always eat Taco Bell after going out. Carry a flash drive and a couple bobby pins wherever you go, don't talk about fourth grade slumber parties in a job interview and eat the cheddar crumbed scrod in the dining hall whenever you can (which is every time because it sounds so gross that nobody else wants to try it).  But most of all, breathe in the magic that fills this oasis of a campus, let the sun reflecting off of Mary put a sparkle in your eye and never forget that you are, and forever will be, Notre Dame.”
- Emily Murphy

“In the past four years, Notre Dame has taught me how to embrace and overcome adversity; to never back down to any challenge; and to always fight for what I believe in. I am very grateful for all my experiences at ND.”         
- Sadie Pitzenberger

“ALWAYS set multiple alarms for your morning wakeup.”
- Erin

“The most important thing at Notre Dame (and in life) isn't what you do or accomplish, but who you're with and what you mean to them.”   
- Anonymous

“Never turn down the opportunity to experience everything Notre Dame has to offer, be it attending a women's soccer game or a lecture on a subject you know nothing about! You never know when you might be a part of a national championship season or see a nationally-renowned speaker.”           
- Patrick Brown

“Never spend too much time thinking about 'how to seize the moment'. Time goes so quickly here that you have to just do it. Put yourself out there. Jump in. Enjoy. And most of all – resist the urge to be ordinary.”
-Kate Clitheroe

“Appreciate the dining hall, because you'll miss it once you live off campus!”
- Off-campus Senior

“…seize every moment you have.  Life can get very hectic and it is easy to fall into just checking things off a to do list and moving on.  But in doing so, we lose a lot of the joys certain moments can bring.  I have come to appreciate slowing down and simply enjoying the moment I am in, even in the midst of the million things I seemingly have to do at times.  Time goes by too quickly as it is; you gotta savor each moment as it comes.” 
- Anonymous      

“There's a big world out there. Surround yourself with good people. Find meaning in what you're doing. Be thankful for everything you've been given and proud of what you've accomplished. Laugh at yourself. Try to be a good person and remember who you are. You can take on the world... and change it for the better.”
- Amanda Cosfol

“Think of others first, pray, and smile.”       
- Mike

“Always keep an open door,
Go meet people you don’t know,
Build a family where you are,
Be the first to say hello.”  
- Emily Rankin

“Take your University requirements early, so you don't end up being the only senior in a class of 160 freshman at 9:35 in DeBartolo. Most of them are made for freshmen and sophomores, so don't put it off. SERIOUSLY, TAKE THEM NOW!”
- Anonymous

“In the end, nobody cares what your GPA is.  It's nice for a resume, but it's says very little about a person as a whole, especially in terms of their personal happiness.  Developing lasting relationships, experiencing the opportunities Notre Dame has to offer and learning about yourself as a person are much better investments of time than schoolwork.”
- Erin M. Reinke

“Be true to yourself. Don't compare yourself to others. Avoid competing with others. Just be who you are. Have fun.”
- Meghan Huffman

“Don't be afraid to ask for guidance.  There are a lot of people that are more than willing to give a helping hand.  People at ND and ND alumni are always willing to help out one another.”
- Michael Wu

“You've got to let that grotto light stay with you; let it fill your soul and shine in your eyes, then reflect it back to the rest of the world. No matter what pains may befall you, if you can harness the light of those hundreds of softly glowing candles that surround you during a quiet moment at the grotto, you can handle anything that comes your way.”   
- Katie Shircliff

“Never, ever, leave your wingman.”
- Christopher White

“You learn a little bit of humility when surrounded by the best of the best and suddenly not being on top is a smack into reality.  However, when you learn that you still have something unique and still have something to offer, now that's something special.”
- Margaret Skinner

“… these four years go by fast, but the best times are the worst decisions. Deciding to go out on a random Tuesday, road tripping to New York for the Yankee Stadium game at 9:30 pm on Friday night, and celebrating St. Patrick's day to the fullest have been some of the best memories in college.”
- Caitlin Casey

“Don't ever same-side it at the dining hall.”
- Anonymous

“…by looking back and wishing you could redo your past Notre Dame Experience, you actually take away from your Notre Dame present and future.”           
- J.P. Gallagher

“Never let your work pile up too much. Never skip a chance to spend time with your friends. Never wait too long to get toppings for your fro-yo at North Dining Hall.” 
- Anonymous

“It is important to ensure that the decisions you are making are reflective of who you are and who it is that you really want to be.”
- Anonymous

“Accept you limits, but accept nothing less.”
- Stephen Mattingly

“The world is a lot smaller than you think, especially after meeting people from across the globe at Notre Dame, so treat everyone as a potential friend.”
- Casey Cockerham

Just because it's sunny outside doesn't mean it's warm.
- Ellen McCready

“Notre Dame has taught me to reach.  To not always be comfortable.  You won't have as much fun if you never take any chances.”    
- Andrea Bailey

“That you should try everything, even stuff you wouldn't normally think to try or think you would like, you might surprise yourself! You should make time for the important people in your life, it goes by too fast!”
- Megan Fitzgerald

“Take the time to appreciate every aspect of life (where you are, who is there with you, what you are doing, etc.). Take advantage of everything you can, and enjoy the moment.”               
- Melissa Coles

“Never miss a chance to go to Mass at the Basilica - It's not every day such a beautiful and historic church will be within walking distance, and it's a great way to find God's peace in the bustle of everyday life.”               
- Patrick B.

“That God is faithful and with you even when you're ready to discard your faith out of despair and frustration - sometimes those episodes of doubt are the most nourishing times for your spiritual life.”            
- Anonymous

“Success is measured not by the degree you earn but by the number of close, genuine friends you make.”
- Inoh

“Pick a major you love, not a major you're good at. Constantly ask your self, "Do I love this? Is it worth it?" If it is, you're golden :)”
- Stephanie DePrez

“Life is all about priorities. No matter how great or successful you are, you can never have it all. Figure out what is most important to you and make your hardest decisions based on that. As long as you always keep things in perspective I don't think you'll ever have any regrets about the decisions you've made in life.”
- Anonymous

“Never underestimate the power of delegation. As long as people have a sense of shared responsibility, they'll be willing to work.” 
- Allen Murphy

“[The] zealous pursuit of knowledge should not overshadow the fact that we are a community of faith and love at heart, teaching us lessons of love and of faithfulness to others… As students, we are here to not only confirm each other's beliefs, but more importantly to shake them, to question our values. From this questioning we construct a greater understanding of others - one that is more intuitive and attuned to the nature and needs of our global community, especially those who are different from ourselves. In this way, we come to truly understand and practice the great gifts of acceptance, forgiveness, and universal love in every aspect of our daily lives.”
- Annette Marie Ruth

“Plan on deviating from most of your plans.”
- Isabel Chirase

“Humanity is wonderful. There are great people all around you; and all it takes is a "hello" to begin to discover all they have to offer.”               
- Anonymous

“Embrace every moment.”
- Claire Streitman

“There's an overwhelming amount of talent at Notre Dame.  Never forget, you are one of those amazing and talented people.  So go forth with confidence, and be grateful for all that Notre Dame has given you.”             
- Katie Heinzen

"Don't procrastinate in trying new things.”
- Jake Pardo

“When you received your Notre Dame acceptance letters over four years ago, each of you were not only invited to attend one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country, but you were also invited to join a mission—the mission of becoming one of the greatest forces of good in the world.  This invitation was not simply for the past four years.  This invitation had no expiration date.  It is indefinite.”
- Brittany Johnson

“Think always of Christ. Think of how you can use the skills God gave you to help your fellow brothers and sisters.”
- Maria Lama