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Submitted By LmfaoAnthony
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The Way of Life The 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address was given by David Foster Wallace, a commencement speaker and a graduating student. DFW states stories that would happen realistically in anyone's lifetime due to the choices of one another. He points out certain flaws that each person has done but didn't realize it. He also explains the rules of patience, everyone has done it and repeats it; your actions influence another's mindset similar to yours and inflicts it on another individual who's innocent of his/her flaws. Although, people bring much negativity in the air, there is still room for positivity and that’s the drive of what keeps people going in life. In the 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address by David Foster Wallace, he preaches about the blockades that may be upon the path to your success after graduate school. DFW elaborates realistic conflicts throughout adulthood that brings about a whole other situation to achieve. For instance, "They're the kind of worship you just gradually slip into, day after day, getting more and more selective about what you see and how you measure value without ever being fully aware that that's what you're doing" (Wallace 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address). DFW demonstrates that one action would lead to another, it may be positive or negative, but that's how the way life goes. As flaws fade, don't look back and keep pushing forward. DFW states, "To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties." He explains to his audience of the changes you will realize when you become to full of yourself; inconsiderate. Me being an example, I agree among many others that an opinion is always blurted out or kept to one's self of another individual. This opinion may be positive or negative due to the other's actions. DFW states, "It is my natural default setting." He explains the changes due to the loss of patience in life. I agree that as you migrate from place to place, there is always something that plays with your emotions as you try to maintain, but releases in a certain manner. Your patience teaches you that everything cannot be given your way and you would need to wait through the process of completing it. DFW states, "You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't." In other words, who or what do you idolize? DFW explains the ways worshipping an object or person may bring you towards the wrong path. I agree that worshipping can overpower one's self, therefore be self-centered. When praising an object or person, it can alter major decisions and lead people on in having it your way all the time. In the 2005 Kenyon Commencement Address by David Foster Wallace, he brings about a "fish story" to his audience. He personifies two fishes as two boys who wander around and finds an older fish (adult). The older fish asks, "How's the water?" This phrase is used in a different way instead of saying "How's life going for you?" As the two fishes ignore the older fish, they wonder, "What the hell is water?" As a young boy, you won't realize what life is until reality strikes you when you reach adulthood. As an adult, you would be on your own, your own decisions, your own life, and no one to tell you what has to be done. As these two "fishes" become an adult they realize, "This is water," in other words, "This is life." In my opinion, the "fish story" is the most important passage throughout David Foster Wallace's speech. This story illustrates two clueless young boys growing up without knowing what is the real meaning of life until they become adults. As being a young lad once in my life, I have faced many obstacles where I have been put down and been brought back up throughout the years. These obstacles strengthen me as a person to be better than who I was yesterday and to give what I know in the present. Although many times I have been helped, it would still be a learning lesson for me in life. Soon as I become an adult, my decisions are the beginning of my flaws, knowing that this would be the life of my own to control from here on and out. After understanding this "fish story" it made me reflect back to my past and illustrated the ways of me growing up to the person I am today; the one on the path of success.

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