Wallace, David Foster "This is Water" Kenyon College Commencement Speech 2005 In the speech "This is Water" David Foster Wallace attempts to explain how the general populace is self-centered and what a person can do to change the "default setting" within our mind. Wallace's main point is to get his audience to understand and realize that they have a daily choice to make between being inconsiderate and acknowledging those around them. They can either remain conceited and unsympathetic towards others, or they can change and attempt to see and understand the situations of those around them as they go through their daily trials. Wallace uses various examples to explain and expand his argument.
The complexity of the essay relies on determining if Wallace is only against
In his commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005, David Foster Wallace was tasked with the responsibility of imparting some wisdom onto the graduating class. Wallace’s message to a room of full soon-to-be college graduates at the precipice of the of their impending true adulthood, he offers them a message that cuts through the mess and concisely delivers a message that many would ironically overlook, which is for the students to realize that at times, imperative life lessons are not only the ones that they cannot conceive or believe, but the ones that are obvious but hard to acknowledge let alone discuss. The lesson in this is that no matter how instinctive that cynicism is, it is imperative that people must try to more honest and open
The most beneficial thing in life is to study something that interests you. When students are choosing what college to further their studies they consider: the cost, the social status of the school, and the programs the college carries. Professor Mark Edmunson gives his message on what students should consider in his article "Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here?", published on August 22nd 2011 in Issue 74 in The Oxford American. This essay is about Edmundson's viewpoint on education and that it is hard to get one. But if you do something you enjoy doing and work hard at it you will become successful.
Caroline Bird’s argument against postsecondary education is incorrect, specifically her beliefs that students are exposed to too many options and graduates only desire jobs that save people. First, Caroline Bird shares her belief that “a college experience that piles option on option …merely adds to the contemporary nightmare.” Although too many options are sometimes overwhelming, limiting choices would also create undue pressure for students. For instance, as a student, I am exposed to several options: what classes I should take, what major I should major in, what professors I should take, etc.
People being educated can be a great influence to people in today’s society. Charles Murray believe that a college degree is like a “a price ticket for employees”. The two reasons Murray says is that “employees do not value what students learned, just that the student has a degree” the other reason is “employees do not even look at applicants who have no college degree”. College is beneficial and plays a big part because we can gain more knowledge and learn how to be a responsible young adult and about our own
He told the students that if everyone would be honest with themselves and others they would admit to being self-centered egotistical jerks. He said we were born thinking that way but the good news is we can reprogram ourselves by changing our perspective on others and being empathetic to other people’s situations and feelings. Wallace also
As a college student who is currently spending thousands of dollars to further my education and achieve a career goal, it was, at first, disheartening to read Caroline Bird ’s essay “College is a Waste of Time and Money”. However, after thoroughly examining her points, I now see that her essay is illogical. In her piece “College is a Waste of Time and Money”, Caroline Bird argues against the idea that “college is the best place for all high-school graduates” (1); in other words, college isn’t for everyone. Throughout her writing, Bird supplies her readers with evidence that explains how, for some individuals, college is a waste of not only time and money, but of intellectual effort, as well.
In addition, she appeals to the emotions of her audience by writing on a deeper emotional level and referring to college as a self-finding, life-changing experience, rather than another unpleasant chore in one’s life. Throughout Addison’s article she successfully builds strong emotional connections with her readers through words of philosophy and personal experience. Addison’s techniques for appealing to the emotions of the audience are undoubtedly
What is education and how does that education lead to success? Many authors and historic figures have reached education through many different paths. According to them, being educated does not mean a diploma judges your level of intelligence. Although, it is argued that to be successful one must an educated person. I believe that to be educated, one must not give up in the learning process no matter the difficulty of it because education is involved in one’s success paths, but the way education is learned does not define the destined path to success.
It is easy to think college is not worth the cost to become better, but getting educated makes people better, and happier in the future and sometimes even in better health (Leonhardt 25 ). Becoming a better and happier person is good for everyone. Even former President Obama says “‘Education helps us be better people. It helps us be better citizens. You came to college to learn about the world and to engage with new ideas and to discover the things you 're passionate about -- and maybe have a little fun’”
In David Foster Wallace’s “ Kenyon Commencement Speech,” he discusses the importance of liberal arts education in “teaching you how to think” (Wallace, 199). He mentions how education is beyond the knowledge we learn, but about simple awareness will impact the choices we make for better or worse. The real value of education cannot be found in a career (you may or may not be fired from), but it can be found in the way you view things through a different perspective and by considering how other factors can contribute to everyday life. This new approach in thinking will allow us to appreciate our lives and overcome our inner “default setting” towards the world (Wallace, 199). I agree with Wallace’s argument because the purpose of higher education should not be about having career-specific skills and obtaining a degree, but about intellectual and personal growth will help us survive in the real world.
His education from college will benefit him to get a better job so he does not have to slave away at a factory. “All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to
Education is life itself. - John Dewey Over the years, several philosophers in Education have emerged to address issues plaguing the education system in society. One such philosopher is John Dewey; he is known as one of the greatest American Modern Thinker's in education. The above mentioned quote by John Dewey suggests that education is life itself.
By the end of my speech, my audience will be better informed and persuaded (if they haven’t already) into realizing that attending and graduating college will lead them into a better life in the future. Thesis: Even though college is a choice, everyone should realize that it is the best choice to make in order to make a good living. I. Introduction: A. AGD: Your twenty- three years old, working at a fast food place. You’ve been working there for the past five years and haven’t moved up in rank.
