Summary Of Kenyon Commencement Speech By David Foster Wallace

Kenyon Commencement Speech

One of the best commencement speeches that were given was by David Foster Wallace. Many may say that he was a brilliant man, which he truly was. In his speech you can say he gave a life lesson to his graduating class and the people among them. He gave his perspective of what “freedom” really is. Freedom is to be able to care of others instead of just yourself, to be able to be free from your own mind, to be able to change your default setting. You can be in control of your heart and your mind; be their master and be able to command them your wants and needs. Always try to think long and hard about your life decisions and everything that defines who you are. People can agree or disagree with Wallace’s point of
You need to make your life decisions for yourself and keep your fingers crossed that you really have yourself figured out and you’re absolutely sure you know what you’re doing and where your decisions will lead you. Your mind and your heart are only under your control and they will do as you say. Now we all know that the mind and the heart don’t always get along, one can want one thing and the other one can question that. It’s alright to be confused, but to be able to tell yourself to keep calm and comprehend what is going on with yourself and what is around you will only satisfy you. Wallace states, “This I submit, is the real freedom of real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted. You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn’t. You get to decide what to worship” (207). This statement that he made is nothing but true. You should be able to think for yourself and react the way that you feel. Never make a decision based on the decisions of your parents, colleagues, friends, because you can have your own morals and beliefs, and that’s what makes you, you. To have freedom is to be your own person, think logically, and know the right way to react in