Kenyon
Commencement Address
At first I thought this
speech was just going to be like any other graduation speech. Wishing luck to
all graduating seniors, explaining them how the real world will treat them and
stuff, instead he used the “fish” story which I thought was extremely clever. I also liked how he kept mentioning that he wasn’t
there to lecture them and give them a sermon over life and morality. I found
super interesting when he talked about the highway, how at first someone hates
all the bad drivers and big trucks. After talking about that he said that what
if the person who just cut me off has to take their child to the hospital? I
thought that the message he was trying to give was that we shouldn’t be selfish
and assume things. My favorite part is when he says: “it is highly unlikely but
not impossible” because that can apply to every single situation in our lives.
Just think about it, we don’t know what other’s life is like, we complain all
the time about such little things when other people have it way more difficult.
It is time for our generation to stop being selfish and assume things based on
how other people act. This speech opened my eyes and made me see things with a
different perspective. It was confusing at times but at the end everything
makes sense and it makes you feel like you are actually there.
I agree with frank because it was surprising to see how different the speech is compared to most speeches given at graduations. The emphasis that Wallace gave on being less selfish and more aware of what other people may be dealing with other then your own problems is a very nice change. Though at the start it wasn't quite as clear till after his major examples such as the story with the atheist and the religious man as well as the example of the supermarket. Those examples struck me more than the fish story at the beginning because it was something I could relate to more easily. The speech was great for me to read and helped open my eyes to a better perspective then just worrying about myself. The speech got me to self-evaluate my train of thoughts which hasn’t happened to me from a speech before. However I couldn’t find myself able to fully except that the whole purpose of college is to help you think this way. I find it hard to believe because classes don’t always really push thinking about others that often. I could understand it if he meant the experiences at college help you think like this because of how many relationships are formed while you’re in college. Though he didn't make it to clear. Overall though the speech was a fantastic read I didn't find it boring like most speeches and really enjoyed Wallace’s perspective on how college prepares you and helps change you into a better person.
ReplyDeleteThis graduation speech is obviously unlike any other graduation speech that you would expect to hear. Normal graduation speeches are normally long and boring about how you are just to spend your life to the fullest. But this graduation is eye opening to reality. I see exactly where you are trying to go with this about our generation. But look back at how we were raised as individuals and ask yourself if you could really change. Yes, you could try to be less selfish but then again, there are just certain things in life that we are all going to be selfish about, whether it be an acceptable type of selfish or a bad selfish, selfish is selfish. What we choose to be selfish over is part of being an individual. Being selfish is just a piece of life that people have come to except over time, depending on the situation. This is a small example but what if your grandmother was in the hospital for being ill while your team is on its way to being state champions. Do you go and sit with your grandmother in the hospital, or do you continue on this journey with your team till you reach the end? My guess is that you would continue to play with your team till you meet the end of that journey, maybe even as state champs. Yes, you love your grandmother and want to be there for her but your life can’t always be about other people. I know that sounds really bad, but just think about it. Some things are going to be put in front of others and to others the situation that you chose may not look so great but that’s just life. Figuring out your order of importance.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this speech is very unique and interesting. I like it a lot because it was very eye opening that the world is not all about us as seen through the many examples he gave. I liked the highway example because one of my biggest pet peeves is when people cut me off when I am driving, or when someone is going 50 miles per hour in the fast lane when the speed limit is 70. It made me realize that it might not just be that they are horrible drivers, they might have just had an experience that changed the way that they feel about driving and makes them become overly cautious. I think it was a good eye opener for me because it showed that I should have sympathy for others and try to look past the present moment and think about what it would be like living in their shoes. I also liked how it was very cut and dry. He didn’t use elaborate examples with vivid detail in order to make a perfect picture in our mind about some example that barely connects with the point he is trying to make that only an English major would be able to pick out. He made it so that the average person could completely understand what he was trying to get across and I thought it was very well put together. I think that something everyone could get out of this is that we need to be understanding of others, and worry more about ourselves then the slow cashier that is taking forever to ring up items.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this speech is unlike any other graduation speech I’ve ever heard. The graduation speech that was given at my high school graduation was interesting, I thought, but this particular one opened my eyes to several different things. The story he told about the two fish was unusual but was particularly easy to relate to. We often try to find the hidden meaning behind speeches, poems, or stories, when it is the most obvious ones we tend to overlook and miss. Those realities are often times the most important ones. In particular, his anecdote about that grocery store was a clever and enticing one to read. He presented a situation that most of us will eventually have to face. I found it enjoyable that he was able to present a certain situation and have the reader/audience in vision exactly what he was trying to relate to us. I enjoyed that he was constantly relaying to the audience/reader that he wasn’t there to give them moral advice and that he wasn’t there to give the same, boring, drawn out speech. Overall, I enjoyed this speech. It was refreshing to read something that wasn’t the same old, same old, “Chase your dreams and you’ll succeed!” or “You can do anything you set your mind to!” as well as the traditional, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Graduation speeches don’t have to be cliche and boring. Kenyon did an excellent job giving an enjoyable and refreshing commencement speech.
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