“Shamrock”

And there’s a magic in the sound of their name…

It’s getting to be that time of year again: The time when the weather starts to cool, the leaves begin to turn, and the Internet explodes with the mere thought of pumpkin spice lattes.

Ladies and gentlemen, fall is upon us.

And while the season certainly conjures a cornucopia of fantasies involving freshly picked apples, chunky knit sweaters, and funky-shaped gourds, I love fall not for the yummy soul food and endless abundance of quaint decorations, but for its greater ability to bring people together and strengthen communities.

Fall fosters connection in countless ways. Communities form when new friends sip steaming beverages[1] beside a crackling fireplace on a blustery autumn day; communities form on the cool metal of high school bleachers as fans gleefully come together to celebrate a shared pride and unifying goal; communities form while gathering around a weathered table to honor a year of blessings and give thanks for the invaluable gift of time spent with people you love.

Fall is practically dripping with opportunities to come together and form resilient bonds. As L.M. Montgomery writes in Anne of Green Gables, “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” There are so many kindred spirits out there: It is all about recognizing the possible connections that surround us on a daily basis.

For me, nothing says community like Notre Dame football. While I love sports, my affinity for Notre Dame football isn’t centered around football as much as it is focused on the effect football has on the Notre Dame community. Young, old, graduates, subway fans: Something magical happens when the leaves begin to yellow and people come together to cheer on the Irish. From strolling down South Quad, to hearing the marching band play on the steps of Bond Hall, to visiting the Grotto for a quiet moment to reflect and soak it all in, every football Saturday members of the Notre Dame family flock to campus and are welcomed home.

Blue, gold, and “Shamrock” green: This is where community thrives.

The dictionary defines a “community” as a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. While this is true, I believe the true definition of community is much richer than this. A community is something you belong to—and that belongs to you—and can return to time and time again. A community is someplace you can find people who think like you—and who don’t think like you—and come together to achieve deeper connection and greater understanding. A community is a source of support, something you can turn to for strength and encouragement when you need that extra boost to take on a new challenge or finish the last mile of your race. Communities mold us, define us, and help us grow: They are the foundations that make everything else possible.

The Notre Dame family has shaped me in countless namable and unnamable ways. Ever since I was a little girl I can remember my family packing up the car and making the quick jaunt from Chicago to South Bend to watch the Irish take on yet another formidable opponent. The university’s profound sense of community struck me even then, and I knew from an early age I wanted nothing more than to one day call this place home.

As a student I met people that would become lifelong friends, eagerly took on new experiences that broadened—and challenged—my perspectives, and consistently dared myself to venture outside my comfort zone and seek new opportunities for growth and continued learning. From writing a senior thesis analyzing an untouched area of literature, to immersing myself in foreign language during a semester abroad, to running my first half marathon, I set goals and overcame seemingly insuperable challenges. And while the effort and achievements were mine, I know I could not have succeeded alone, that the unfailing support of my community buoyed my curiosity and challenged me to turn the impossible into reality.

This profound sense of community has only continued to grow and take on a life of its own since graduation. The friendships formed during my time in Tucson challenged me to tackle an utterly new set of responsibilities and urged me to grow in unprecedented ways. I knew I could seek out a similar support system after moving to Minneapolis, and the Notre Dame Club of Minnesota has helped me blaze trails and make connections in a completely new state. This camaraderie has proven more fruitful than I could have ever imagined, and through book clubs, young alumni dinners, and trivia nights, I have quickly established a crew of familiar faces in a city once filled with strangers.

This is what football season means for me. Every year when the leaves begin to fall, it isn’t about touchdowns, undefeated records, and championship titles[2]. Rather, it’s about what these things symbolize: The community that defines my understanding of what can be possible.

In The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald writes, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” What a beautiful sentiment. One might argue the opposite is true; that fall harkens a time of transition and finality when nature begins her slow, steady march towards winter. And yet, Fitzgerald is on to something: The crisp autumn air instills an invigorating call to action—Wake up! The time is now!—that stirs the senses and offers renewed hope and limitless potential.

So carve out your own slice of community, whatever that might look like. This fall, hunker down and settle into your school community, your football community, your neighborhood community, your friend community, your faith community, or your Peloton community[3]. Find your sweet spot, meet new people, lay some roots, and open yourself to the possibilities that abound when “it gets crisp in the fall,” communities thrive, and “life starts all over again.”

[1] Pumpkin spice or otherwise.

[2] Although—don’t get me wrong— these things are certainly nice… Go Irish, beat Bulldogs!

[3] Yes, this most certainly is a thing. They don’t promote “One Peloton” for nothing!