Commencement Speeches Essays

Commencement Speeches Essays Commencement Speeches Essay Commencement Speeches Essay Commencement Speeches BY kyleh21 Not Your Typical Commencement Speeches Something you dont plan to hear during your high school or college graduation is that youre not special. But, in fact, that was the primary message David McCullough had to deliver in his commencement speech to the graduates of Wellesley High School. David Foster Wallace and George Saunders also shared unusual, but thought- provoking messages to their respective graduating classes. With each of these unorthodox speeches comes insight into common human fallacies, whether it be elfishness or negligence or egocentrism. Although these speeches have been given very recently (within the last ten years), they all carry extremely powerful messages that should be considered and adopted for years to come. David Foster Wallace, who struggled with depression for nearly 20 years and eventually succumbed to it in 2008, shared quite a gloomy message for what normally is a cheery day in a persons life. His speech dealt with the egocentrism that lives inside all people, whether they acknowledge it or not. He xplained one of the most commonly frustrating scenarios we experience, being stuck in traffic after a long day of work, and how it always feels like everyone is in our way. But he instead asks us to consider how these other drivers are being affected by US. Perhaps the driver who recently cut you off had a sick child he was rushing to the hospital and YOU were in HIS way, for example. He tells us that once we live our lives in a way that fosters kindness and patience and consideration towards others, we will feel more fulfilled. Likewise George Saunders shared a plea for kindness. He shared his prediction that as we grow older, we gradually become kinder. So, he asks, if that is to happen, why dont we Just hurry up and start right away? Finally, David McCullough told graduates that they arent as special as they think they are. This is something quite uncommon to hear at your graduation. However, we all have our braggadocios tendencies and tend to want to conquer great obstacles so we can show off to others. My favorite excerpt from McCulloughs speech is his message to climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air, and behold the view. What makes all of these speeches great are that they each deliver messages that make them unique from quintessential commencement speeches. The typical messages of congratulations and praise on the graduates hard-work have been replaced with messages delving into and dissecting human selfishness and arrogance. Personally, I enjoyed the speeches because they each gave me a different way of viewing myself, others, and the world around me.