Young Alumni Blog

Elle Metz

Young Alumni Programs Manager

Today is the American Heart Association’s National Walking Day. This is incredibly convenient because today also marks the start of the Alumni Association’s Spring Step Challenge. As a self-confessed exercise addict, I, along with NDAA social media maven, Josh, are heading up this challenge.

With the arrival of spring (weather update: it has been sunny in the Bend for the last three days. Unheard of), the Alumni Association figured it would be a great time to get in shape. And what is more motivating than a little friendly competition? Maybe a hot fudge sundae, but that is beside the point. The office has been split into 5 teams, elected team captains, chosen team names, and every employee has received a pedometer. For the next six weeks, everyone will keep track of their daily step totals (10,000 steps is thought to be a healthy goal).

If I don’t count my daily run (let’s just assume I didn’t exercise today), my pedometer would only be at about 1,000 steps. It’s 2:50 PM. That’s a little scary. Americans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyle is also pretty scary. I don’t know about you but one of the biggest adjustments I had to make to the working world was sitting at a desk all day. What is the deal?

In high school, we had physical education, we played sports, we at least walked from class to class. In college, we had much more free time. Not only did we walk from building to building across campus, but we had two free gyms within walking distance, intramurals galore and a 5k race on campus nearly every weekend. Suddenly, we graduate, and we’re expected to sit at a computer for 8+ hours a day. Seems a little unhealthy. Why does becoming a grown-up mean sacrificing our activity level? I maintain that we can find a happy medium. Bloomberg Businessweek offers some tips on how to stay healthier at the office.

So join us here at the NDAA in our fitness challenge, get out there in the nice weather at lunch and walk around, take advantage of the longer days and do a run after work, ride your bike instead of driving or make the effort to walk across the office rather than sending an email to your coworker. You could even try and implement healthier policies at your own office. Here are some companies that inspire with their healthy practices.

To thine own health be true

Elle Metz

Young Alumni Programs Manager

Earlier today, I attended a special Mass for our new Pope at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize this was a special mass–I was going because it was one of my Lenten promises. Once I got there, I was happy to be a part of the celebration though. The Catholic Church has a new leader, and that is a big deal. Whether you are Catholic or not, the decisions of the Church have far reaching effects and the potential to do a lot of good.

At the beginning of mass, the priest apologized for not being able to tell us anything more about the new pontiff as he had not met him personally. So to the vast media coverage we go for more information! Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio hails from Buenos Aires (when I told my mother this, she asked somewhat indignantly “don’t they get the Olympics too?” No, Mom, no. That would be Rio de Janeiro) and as such, is the first ever South American pope. He is also the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,200 years, the first Jesuit to ever lead the Roman Catholic Church, and the first to choose the name Francis (I’m not sure why–who doesn’t like the animal-loving Saint Francis?).

Praising Cardinal Bergoglio’s history as an advocate for the poor, President Obama sent him this message soon after he was elected: “As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than 2,000 years — that in each other we see the face of God.” Another president, Father John Jenkins had this to say: ““We at Notre Dame join the Church in rejoicing in the election of Pope Francis…read more“

Elle Metz

Young Alumni Programs Manager

Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world on February 11, 2013 when he announced he would be resigning from the papacy. He cited advanced age and declining health as the reasons for his resignation. Though, the fact remains that his reign was riddled with scandal and he leaves a troubled Catholic Church. Judging from papal history, these sort of things are never as cut and dry as they’re made out to be.

So what does this mean for the church? Who will the next Pope be? And is the church at the crossroads that many are saying it is? While we wait for the white smoke to rise above St. Peter’s, check out what Notre Dame  faculty members have to say about the transition here.

Didn’t get that white smoke reference? Perhaps you want to study up on your conclave rules. If you’re like me, all your knowledge of this intricate Catholic ritual comes from reading The Da Vinci Code (hey, at least it doesn’t come from watching the movie). In preparation for the upcoming conclave, check out its history and explanation here.

And for an overview of the resignation, potential papal candidates and the Catholic Church’s current issues (one of which is better engaging young people–that’s us!), check out this New York Times article “Successor to Benedict Will Lead a Church at a Crossroads.”

The Inauguration…of a Blog

Welcome to the ND Young Alumni Blog! Considering today marks the 2013 Presidential Inauguration, I figured I would go along with our nation’s current theme and begin this blog. New year, new beginnings, new forms of communication. As young alums, we communicate differently. We’re wired in, tech savvy, social media savants and all-around internet fiends. We’re used to sending and receiving information quickly and easily. We expect to connect to our alma mater in a similar fashion. As your Young Alumni Program Manager, I’m here to facilitate this connection, and this blog is one method. Here, will live posts about young-alum-specific topics ranging from ND updates to job search advice to guests posts by your peers. Whatever you want to read about, let me know! Here’s to staying better connected! Go Irish

Elle Metz ’12

Young Alumni Program Manager

emetz@nd.edu

(574) 631-7877