The 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address - Essay Example

 David Foster’s commencement speech of 2005 at Kenyon College is an influential text in relation to the above objectives. Its style and thoughtfulness drive the point home that, outside our minds, we should care about others. It does this from an obvious and seemingly simple viewpoint. The speech is especially memorable for its remark on firearm suicide, which when taken alongside his later suicide, leads to an increased emotional attachment to the text. In the words present in the speech, Foster makes a concise argument regarding the need for students of a capitalist society to be more aware of their surroundings and the generative possibilities that may be in existence behind antagonisms and frustrations encountered every day.

            Wallace opens his speech with a parable-like story of two young fish. He says, “Two young fish are swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, "Morning boys. How's the water?" The two young fish swim on for a bit. Eventually, one of them looks over at the other and goes, what the hell is water (Wallace & Kenyon College 4). Wallace opens his speech in this way with an intended salute to the standard requirement for most speeches in America, which tend to use a parable to lead into the main idea. This becomes the theme of the entire speech. The most important and obvious realities are usually the most difficult to discuss. Wallace discards any mention of the importance of a University degree in moving the student forward, preferring to discuss knowledge that can be applied in the world. He goes on to make the point that a University degree does not reflect so much on one’s capacity to think, but instead it reflects the preference of what one will think. While this seems obvious, Wallace is candid in stressing the value of that which is obvious.

            Foster moves on to contend that all we know concerning the world is visible and under our noses in the media. He contends that, deep down, even when it does not show on us, we see ourselves as the universes’ center. The emotions and thoughts of other individuals must be communicated for us to know them, but it is only possible to focus on what is ours since it is the foremost urge and we consider it real (Wallace & Kenyon College 4). Foster contends that hope exists if only we realize the hardwired setting that defaults to self-centeredness and makes moves in resetting it. He moves that there is a need to shift views and see the world through new lenses while shattering the lens, which sees only the self.

            Wallace shifts gears while sticking to the original theme, and almost comers across as sympathizing with the graduating students in that they have little idea of the rat race that is ahead of them. He discusses a scenario that rarely makes it onto commencement speeches by giving a daily example that includes, in clear detail, waking up early, traffic jams and long hour days, shopping for dinner groceries, poor lighting in the stores, traffic jams back home, bed, and all this again (Wallace & Kenyon College 5). While graduates have witnessed this lifestyle with their parents, they have not gone through it personally. The reason that people are stuck into the cycle is due to the universe-centre default setting, as well as one’s own emotions and needs dictating the priorities from the surroundings. However, again, individuals have the choice to place emphasis on the obvious.

            Wallace is especially emphatic on the need to shift to the obvious. He points out the day-to-day scenario using a different lens. For instance, why get mad in a traffic jam while everyone else is also unhappy? He also contends that one should not be so fast to yell at a driver weaving in and out of traffic since probably their child is in need, and they want to get home. In addition, it is also possible that those ahead of you in the supermarket have harder lives compared to yours (Wallace & Kenyon College 6). Wallace stresses that it is essential to be aware and give oneself the choice of looking at an issue with a dissimilar view. This, according to him, is what real education is. He defines it, through his speech, as the ability to view things via the sacrifice and situations that others experience. Real education then becomes a discipline, attention, and awareness.

            Foster concludes the speech via a reminder to the students regarding the choice they have, in life, to reset the self-centered default wiringHe goes on to remind the students that the obvious and simple can be found around them and that they should keep telling themselves that it is all water.