The scene: your typical Notre Dame dorm room, floor space maximized by futon, lofted bed and a few chairs nestled in the remaining crevices. The occasion: a gathering of friends watching an away football game televised live on NBC.

As the advertising segment drew to a close, the light tinkling of background piano music began and a sweeping view of campus from above captured the glint of the setting sun as it sparkled on the golden dome. A friend quieted the chatter of the filled room and directed our attention to the screen.

“Shhhhh, it’s….us,” she whispered in a tone of highest reverence. A tone reserved for the solemnity of Christmas Eve Mass, the beauty of a newborn baby, the hushed rustle of skirts before the bride makes her appearance.

All heads in the room turned to watch the commercial, absolute silence extinguishing all other momentary sounds and obligations. The commercial continued, the script taken from Father Jenkins’ inaugural address rolled on, speaking of “our goal: that no one ever say we dreamed too small.” It concluded with dramatic flourish, like all other commercials, “this is….the University of Notre Dame.”

The silence broke and everyone exchanged smiles around the room. Chatter resumed and the game continued. Though this year’s football season has long been forgotten sometime between premature snow flurries and the intensity of finals, the memory of that moment remains.

The irony of the situation was that throughout the entire commercial (and our lives since move-in weekend for that matter) the golden dome—the iconic symbol of everything that Notre Dame has been, is and will be—stood less than 100 feet from where we sat. For some incomprehensible reason, seeing sweeping aerial views coupled with touching music grounded us in gratefulness, joy and love for everything surrounding us on this campus.

As 2014 begins, it will inevitably be a challenge to remain present and appreciative. Don’t let the nasty weather of the winter months, the re-adjustment to dining hall food after break or the crush of new class work let you fail to appreciate the year that lies ahead at one of the greatest (maybe the greatest, but I admit my bias) universities on earth. Nothing should ever make you lose the all-encompassing sense of pride and love for Notre Dame—sometimes all we need is a little reminder.