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......Contents......
DEBBIEMILLMAN7
DICKCOSTOLO15
BRADLEYWHITFORD25
MICHAELUSLAN37
TOMWOLFE53
MADELEINEL’ENGLE67
MICHAELLEWIS79
NORAEPHRON91
IRAGLASS105
BARBARAKINGSOLVER117
EILEENMYLES133
JONATHANSAFRANFOER151
KHALEDHOSSEINI161
DAVIDFOSTERWALLACE175
CREDITS192
DebbieMillmanSANJOSÉSTATEUNIVERSITY,2013
Formostofmyadultlife,Itraveledasafepath.IrememberinvividdetailthemomentIbeganmyjourney:August1983,thehotmuggysummerofDavidBowie’sModernLoveandSynchronicitybythePolice.AfewmonthsafterIgraduatedcollege,IstoodonthecornerofSeventhAvenueandBleekerStreetinNewYorkCity,wearingpastelbluetrousers,ahotpinkV-neckteeshirt,andbrightwhiteCapeziooxfords.Ilingeredattheintersection,peeringdeepintomyfuture,andcontemplatedthechoicebetweenthesecureandtheuncertain,betweenthecreativeandthelogical,betweentheknownandtheunknown.Idreamedofbeingasuccessfulartist,butinasmuchasIknewwhatIwanted,Ifeltcompelledtoconsiderwhatwasreasonableinordertoensuremyeconomicsecurity.EventhoughIwantedwhatmybestfriendoncereferredtoasthewholewideworld,Ithoughtitwasprudenttocompromise.Itoldmyselfitwasmoresensibletoaspireforsuccessthatwasrealisticallyattainable,perhapsevenfailure-proof.ItneveronceoccurredtomethatIcouldsucceedatwhatIdreamedof.AsIlookbackonthisdecisionnearlythirtyyearslater,Itrytosoothemyself
withthisrationale.Igrewupinanatmosphereofemotionalandfinancialdisarray,somyimpulseasayoungwomanwastobetenaciouslyself-sufficient.Asaresult,I’velivedwithinafairlyfixedsetofpossibilities.I’mnotanaccomplishedartist;I’mabrandconsultant.Idon’tworkalonepaintingcanvasesandsculptingclayinacoldandquietstudio;IworkinabustlingNewYorkCityofficebuildingtocreatelogosforfast-foodrestaurantsandpackagingformass-marketsoftdrinks,saltysnacks,andover-the-counterpharmaceuticals.I’mnotunhappywithwhathastranspiredintheyearsleadinguptotoday.MostdaysIconsidermyselfincrediblyluckythatIhaveafun,steadyjob,andagoodpaycheck.ButIknowdeepinmyheartthatIsettled.Ichosesecurityandstabilityoverartisticandemotionalfreedom.AndIcan’thelpbutwonderwhatmylifewouldbelikeifIhadmadedifferentdecisionsbackonthatbalmynightintheWestVillage.I’llneverknow.ButI’vecometoarealizationovertheyears.Iamnottheonlypersonwho
hasmadethischoice.Notbyalongshot.Idiscoveredthesecommon,self-imposedrestrictionsareratherinsidious,thoughtheystartoutsimpleenough.
imposedrestrictionsareratherinsidious,thoughtheystartoutsimpleenough.Webeginbyworryingthatwearen’tgoodenough,thatwe’renotsmartenoughortalentedenoughtogetwhatwewant.Andthenwevoluntarilyliveinthisparalyzingmentalframework,ratherthanconfrontourownroleinthisself-fulfillingparalysis.Justthepossibilityoffailingturnsintosomethingself-fulfilling.Webegintobelievethatthesepersonalrestrictionsareinfactfixedlimitationsoftheworld.Wegoontoliveourlives,allthewhilewonderingwhatwecanchangeandhowwecanchangeit.Andwecalculateandre-calculatewhenwe’llbereadytodothethingsthatwereallywanttodo.Andwedream.Ifonly.Ifonly.Oneday.Someday.
Ibegantorewritethepossibilitiesofwhatcomesnext.Sofar,theresultshavesurprisedme.Sometimestheyscareme.Sometimestheybaffleme.Mosttimes
I’mjustgladthatI’mfeelingsomethingreal.
Buteveryonceinawhile,oftenwhenweleastexpectit,weencountersomeonemorecourageous,someonewhochosetostriveforthatwhichseemedtousunrealisticallyattainable,evenelusive.Andwemarvel.Weswoon.Wegape.Oftenweareinawe.Ithinkwelookatthesepeopleaslucky,wheninfactluckhasnothingtodowithit.Itisreallyaboutthestrengthoftheirimagination.Itisabouthowtheyconstructedthepossibilitiesfortheirlife.Inshort:unlikeme,theydidn’tdeterminewhatwasimpossiblebeforeitwaspossible.JohnMaedaonceexplainedthecomputerwilldoanythingwithinitsabilities,
butitwilldoabsolutelynothingunlesscommandedtodoso.Ithinkthatpeoplearethesame.Weliketooperatewithinourabilities.Butwhereasthecomputerhasafixedcode,ourabilitiesarelimitedonlybyourperceptions.Threedecadessincedeterminingmycode,andaftertwo-and-a-halfdecadesofwalkingonepath,Ibegantorewritethepossibilitiesofwhatcomesnext.Sofar,theresultshavesurprisedme.Sometimestheyscareme.Sometimestheybaffleme.MosttimesI’mjustgladthatI’mfeelingsomethingreal.Buttherehasn’tbeenoneminuteduringthistimethatIhaven’twishedI
startedsooner.Ireallydon’tknowwhatIwaswaitingfor.Thegrandschemeofalife—maybe,justmaybe—isnotaboutknowingornotknowing,choosingornotchoosing.Perhapswhatistrulyknowncan’tbedescribedorarticulatedbycreativityorlogic,scienceorart.Perhapsitcanbeexpressedbythemostauthenticandmeaningfulcombinationofthetwo:poetry.AsRobertFrostoncewrote,“Apoembeginsasalumpinthethroat,asense
ofwrong,ahomesickness,alovesickness.Itisneverathoughttobeginwith.”Irecommendthefollowingcourseofactionforthose,likeyou,whoarejust
startingout,orwho,likeme,maybere-configuringmidwaythrough.HeedthewordsofRobertFrost.Startwithabigfatlumpinyourthroat.Startwithaprofoundsenseofwrong,adeephomesickness,acrazylovesickness,andrunwithit.Ifyouimagineless,lesswillbewhatyouundoubtedlydeserve.Dowhatyoulove.Anddon’tstopuntilyougetwhatyoulove.Workashardasyoucan.Imagineimmensities.Don’tcompromiseanddon’twastetime.Inordertostrive
Imagineimmensities.Don’tcompromiseanddon’twastetime.Inordertostriveforaremarkablelife,youhavetodecidethatyouwantone.Startnow.Nottwentyyearsfromnow.Notthirtyyearsfromnow.Nottwoweeksfromnow.Now.Congratulationsonthisimportantday.
......DEBBIEMILLMAN......isadesignindustryleader.Sheisthehostoftheaward-winningpodcastDesignMattersandpresidentofthedesigndepartmentatSterlingBrands.Sheisalsoa
presidentemeritusofAIGA,andco-founderandchairoftheMastersinBrandingProgramattheSchoolofVisualArtsinNewYork.Millmanhas
authoredseveralbooksondesignandisaregularlycontributingeditortoPrintmagazine.ShelivesinNewYorkCity.
DickCostoloUNIVERSITYOFMICHIGAN,ANNARBOR,2013
YouknowIhavetostartbytweetingthis...I’maprofessional,sothiswillonlytakeasecond.I’dliketotakeamomenttothankmymotherandfather,andtoremindyouto
thankyourparentsorwhoeverhelpedyougetwhereyouaretoday.Theyhavesacrificedgreatlyforyou.Andwe’llbeoutofhereby3:30,Ipromise.WhenIwokeupthismorningandstartedwritingmyspeechIwasthinking
aboutmyfirstmonthoncampuswhenIwasafreshman.Thefootballteamwentintothatseasonranked#1inthenationinpreseason.Therewasallthisexcitementoncampusleadinguptoourfirstgame,whichwasagainstWisconsin,sowewentupthere—andwelost21-14.Therewasthiscrushingdisappointmentafterwards.AndI’dlikeyoutothinkofthat,soaringexpectationsfollowedbycrushingdisappointment,asametaphorforyournexttwentyminuteswithme.WhenIwassittingwhereyouaresomanyyearsago,butwhatseemslikejust
yesterday,Iwasearningmydegreeincomputerscience[crowdcheers].Yay,nerds.AtthetimetheCSdepartmentwasintheSchoolofLifeScienceandtheArts,soIneededacertainnumberofartscreditsinordertograduate.SofirstsemesterofsenioryearIthought,“I’lltakeanactingclassbecausewewon’thavealotofhomework,andI’lljustgoinandwe’llsayArthurMillerlinestoeachotherandthenIcanworkonmyoperatingsystemsatnight.”
YAY,NERDS.
ButIlovedtheclasssomuchthatmysecondsemestersenioryearItookanother.Istarteddoingstand-upcomedyattheUClub.BythetimeIwassittingwhereyouguysaretoday,withmyCSdegree,Ihadoffersfromthreetechnologycompaniestogoworkforthemasaprogrammer—butIdecidedinsteadtomovetoChicago,trytogetintotheimprovcomedygroupSecondCity,andfromtheregoontoSaturdayNightLiveandultimatefameandglory.IntheHollywoodversionofmystory,whatwouldhappenisIwouldmoveto
IntheHollywoodversionofmystory,whatwouldhappenisIwouldmovetoChicagoforaboutthreeminutes,whereIwouldsufferhorribly,probablyatnightorintherain,andIwouldcomehomeatnighttoadoginagiantloftthatIcouldsomehowmiraculouslyafford,andfallasleep.Andafterthosethreeminutes,Iwouldbediscoveredbyadirectorwhowouldcastmeinafilm,andIwouldwalkdowntheredcarpetandmyparentswouldbeacrosstheredcarpetgivingmethethumbsup.Inthereal-worldstoryofwhathappened,whenIdecidedtomakeabigbeton
myselfandtakethischancebecauseit’swhatIloved,Iwasgrindingawayforalongtime,andIhadnomoney,andwewouldrehearseduringthedayandperformatnightforfree.IwastakingclassesatSecondCityduringthedaytotrytolearnimprovisation.EventuallyIhadtostarttakingonoddjobsbecauseIhadnomoney,soIputmyCSdegreefromMichigantousewrappingflatwareandsellingplacesettingsatCrateandBarrel.ButwhileIkeptonimprovisinginChicagoformanyyears,Iwanttotellyou
abouttwolessonsIlearnedthereduringmyfirstyear.Thefirstonewasthis:WehadthisinstructornamedDonDePaulo.Therewerefourofusuponstage
andabouttenintheclass,andthefouronstagewereimprovisingthattheywereinaLaundromat.Thesceneends,andDonasksus,“Whatdoyouseeupthereonthatstagerightnow?”Therewasnothinguptheresowedescribedanemptystage.Donsays,“Sofartodayyouhaveimprovisedthatyouareinanapartment,anapartment,aLaundromat,andanapartment.Whatareyouguysafraidof?”Wealllookedateachotherasiftosay,“We’renotafraid;whatdoyou
mean?”Hesaid,“Youneedtomakemorecourageouschoices.Thereasonthestageisemptyanddoesn’thaveasetonitissoyoucangooutthereandbeintheKeeblerElfFactoryorbeonthespaceshuttleasanastronautwhohasneverevenflownaplanebefore.”Makecourageouschoices;takebiggerrisks.AcoupleofmonthslaterIwasstudyingwithanotherfamousdirector,named
MartinDemont,andSteveCarellwasoutonstageimprovisingsomething.IwasbackstageandIcameupwiththisamazinglineandIthought,“I’vegottagetoutthereandgetthislineout.”SoIwentoutonstageandstartedtryingtomovethesceneinthedirectionofwhatIwantedtosay,andMartinstopsthesceneandsaystothewholeclass(butreallyhewastalkingtome):“Youcan’tplanascript.Thebeautyofimprovisyou’reexperiencingitinthemoment.Ifyoutrytoplanwhatthenextlineisgoingtobe,you’rejustgoingtobedisappointedwhentheotherpeopledon’tdoorsaywhatyouwantthemto,andyou’llstandtherefrozen.”Hestoppedeveryoneintheroomandsaid,“Beinthismoment.”
Nowbehereinthismoment;nowbehereinthismoment.IstayedinChicagoandimprovisedformanyyears,andgotauditionsfor
manyshows,andgotallnoneofthem.Fortunately,duringthistimetheInternethappened.ThatwasgreatbecausewhentheInternethappened,IdoveinbecauseIsawitasthisextensiblestructurewithamazingpossibilities.IcreatedasequenceofcompaniesoverthecourseofthenexttwentyyearsthatledmetoTwitter.Ifthere’severanexampleoftheimportanceofmakingboldbetsandfocusing
onwhatyoulove,it’sTwitter.WhenJackDorseytalksabouttheoriginsofthethinkingbehindtheproduct,hetalksabouthisfascinationwithmaps,withdispatchsystems,andhowhetookaninterestinhowtheycouldbemademoreefficient.Whenhesentouthisfirsttweet—“justsettingupmytwttr”—hedidn’tplanforPresidentObamatodeclarevictoryonthatplatforminthe2012election.NoneofusatTwitterthoughtthatduringtheearthquakeandensuingtsunamiinFukushima,Japan,thatourplatformwouldbeagreatalternativemeansofcommunicationifmobilenetworkswerespottyintheaftermath.Certainlynoneofusevenhoped,letaloneconsidered,thatourplatformwouldbeusedtohelporganizeprotestsacrosstheMiddleEastandEgyptduringtheArabSpring.Here’stheamazingthingaboutwhatI’veobservedfromthosethings.Not
onlycanyounotplantheimpactyou’regoingtohave,youoftenwon’trecognizeitevenwhileyou’rehavingit.AfewmonthsafterIstartedatTwitter,RussianPresidentMedvedevwascomingtotheoffice.ThatmorningthestreetswereallcompletelyblockedoffandtherewasU.S.SecretServiceandRussiansecurity,soitwasacrazyscene.Iremembergoingthroughthemetaldetector(thatwastherejustfortheday)togetintotheofficeandthereweretheseguysincrazyuniformsandhugedogs—sotherewasthishugebuildup.PresidentMedvedevcameinwithhisentourageandhewasgoingtosendhis
firsttweetfromtheoffice,andeveryonewaswaitingforthattohappen.Ashewastakingatouroftheofficebeforesendinghisfirsttweet,Igetatapontheshoulder,andthispersonsaystome,“Thesiteisdown.”Beingthethoughtful,charismaticleaderthatIamIsaid,“...totallydown?”“Totallydown.”Thenextday,youguysandtherestoftheworldreadaboutPresidentObama
welcomingPresidentMedvedevtoTwitterandtalkingabouthowperhapswedidn’tneedtheredphoneanymorebecausewecouldjustuseTwitter.Butforme,thatmomentwas“thesiteisdown.”Andit’salwayslikethat—notthe“siteis...”part.Theimpactiswhatothersframeforyouandtheworldafterit
happens.Thepresentisonlywhatyou’reexperiencingandfocusedonrightnow.Everysooftenmypastandpresentcometogether.Iwasinvitedtoa
fundraiseratachildren’shospitalintheBayArea,andSteveCarellwastheguestspeaker.SoItookaphotocopyofthereviewofthegroupthatSteveandIwereininChicagoovertwenty-fiveyearsagototheauctionandshowedittohimwhenIgotachancetotalktohim.Welookedatthereview,andtalkedaboutthepeopleinthegroupandwheretheyarenow.Attheendofthatconversation,Stevepattedmeonthebackandsaid,“I’mreallysorryitdidn’tworkoutforyou.”Youcannotdrawthatpathlookingforward.Youcan’tdrawanypathlooking
forward.Youhavetofigureoutwhatyoulovetodoandwhatyouhaveconvictionabout,andgodothat.
Theimpactiswhatothersframeforyouandtheworldafterithappens.Thepresentisonlywhatyou’reexperiencingandfocusedonrightnow.
Here’sthechallenge:sofar,youguyshavegottenwhereyouarebymeetingandexceedingexpectations.Youareawesome;youhaveexcelled.Lookatyou—youlooklikeanamazinggiantchoir.Butfromhereonoutyouhavetoswitchgears.Youarenolongermeetingandexceedingexpectations.Therearenoexpectations;there’snoscript.Whenyou’redoingwhatyoulovetodo,youbecomeresilient,becauseyoucreatethathabit.Youcreatethehabitoftakingagambleonyourselfandmakingcourageouschoicesinserviceofwhatyoulove.If,ontheotherhand,youdowhatyouthinkisexpectedofyouorwhatyou’re
supposedtodo,andchaosensues—asitsurelywill—youwilllooktoexternalforcesforwhattodonext,becausethatwillbethehabityouhavecreatedforyourself.You’llbestandingtherefrozenonthestageofyourownlife.Ifyou’rejustfillingarole,youwillbeblindsided.Here’stheotherproblem:Idon’tfeellikeIcanstandhereandtellyoutotry
tohaveanimpact,becausetheproblemseemssomassiveitseemsimpossibletohaveanyimpactatall,andyouendupfeelinglikeyoucan’tdoanything.Whenyouthinkaboutit,Iran,Syria,NorthKorea;asyougothroughthatlistitmakesmewanttosweat—andnotjustbecauseI’mwearingthisrobethathasnonaturalfibersinit.(Ithinkitwassynthesizedfromtractorfuelthreedaysago.)
naturalfibersinit.(Ithinkitwassynthesizedfromtractorfuelthreedaysago.)Soinstead,whatIimploreyoutodoisbelievethatifyoumakecourageous
choicesandbetonyourself,andputyourselfoutthere,youwillhaveanimpactasaresultofthosechoices,andyoudon’tneedtoknowwhatthatwillbeorwhenitwillhappenbecausenobodyeverdoes.Iliketothinkofyouguysinthemetaphorofmyearlyimprovdaysashavingbeenbackstage,preparing.Andnowyouarehere,andlookateverythingyou’veaccomplished.YouareallsoamazingtomeandIamsoproudofeverythingyou’vedone.Butasyougetreadytowalkoutunderthebrightlightsoftheimprovisationalstageoftherestofyourlife,IimploreyoutorememberthosetwolessonsIlearnedyearsago.Bebold;makecourageouschoicesforyourself.BeintheKeeblerElfFactory;
whatareyouafraidof?Andsecondly,don’talwaysworryaboutwhatyournextlineissupposedtobe,orwhatyou’resupposedtodonext.There’snoscript.Liveyourlife.Beinthismoment;beinthismoment;nowbeinthismoment.Twentyyearsfromnow,youwillbesittinginadifferentseatinthisstadium,
andyouwillbelyinginafieldlookingupattheclouds,andyouwillbeholdingapatient’shandwalkingintosurgery,andyouwillbeevaluatingastudent’sessay,andyouwillbewatchingyourdaughter’ssoccerpractice,andyouwillbestandingbehindthispodium.Berightthereandnowhereelseinthatmoment.Soakitallin,andremember
tosay“Thankyou.”Thankyou.
......DICKCOSTOLO......istheCEOofTwitter.BeforerisingtoInternettechstardom,Costolowasastand-upandimprovcomedian.Helefthiscomedycareertofoundseveralsuccessfultechstart-ups,includingSpyOnItandFeedBurner,beforetakingpositionsatGoogleandthenTwitter.In2013,CostoloearnedtheCrunchies
awardfor“CEOoftheYear.”HelivesinMarinCounty,California.
BradleyWhitfordUNIVERSITYOFWISCONSIN–MADISON,2004
Acommencementaddressiswhatwecallinshowbusinessatoughgig.You’vegotahugeroom,you’vegotabig,distractedcrowdthatthinkstheyknoweverythingabouteverything—andprobablystayedoutalittletoolatelastnightcelebrating.Iheardyouatthehotel,bytheway.Andyou’vegotabunchoffamilymembersofvariousageswhoyouhavetoworryaboutoffendingifyouhappentogetalittletoohonest.Somebodyoncesaidit’slikebeingthebodyatawake.Theystickyouinthe
middleoftheroom,butdeepdowntheyreallydon’twanttohearalotoutofyou.Thesadtruthis,Idon’tevenrememberwhothespeakerwasatmy
graduation.IremembersquintingalotandavaguesensethatIwouldneveragainbearoundsomanyattractive,availableyoungpeopleinmylife.Itismysolemndutytoinformyouthatthatfearisentirelywell-founded.ThisiscomingfromaguywhoworksinHollywood,bytheway.SoIbeginthisaddressnotonlywiththefullexpectationthatIwillsoonbe
forgotten,butwiththeadditionalhumiliationthattherewillprobablybenoonetheretoremindyouofwhoIwas.Ijustwanttotakeamomenttonotethatthecommencementspeakerat
ConcordiaCollegethisyearwasthepresidentoftheUnitedStates,GeorgeW.Bush.Concordiahasabout5,000students.TheUniversityofWisconsinhasabout40,000.Yes,myfriends,thequestionhangsoverthisbeautifulKohlCenterlikeafoulstench.Whycouldn’tyougetamoresignificantspeaker?WhywouldtheUniversityofWisconsin,aschoolwithareputationandthe
staturetoattractagenuineworldleader—atleastsomeuncelebratedpublicservant...theguywhorunsthedogpoundinBaraboo—somebody,forGod’ssake!Whywouldyouoptinsteadforaglorifiedcircusclownfromatelevisionshow?Ican’tanswerthatquestion,myfriends.Thisisuncomfortableforallofus.Ifeelyourshame.OnethingIcantellyouisthatConcordiaCollegeisgettingrippedoff.
GeorgeBushdidnotwritethatspeech.Noway!AbunchofinvisibleWhiteHouselackeys,otherwiseknownasspeechwriters,wroteitforhim.Andhejuststrutteduptothepodium,hereadit,andthenherodeoffintothesunsetinhis
strutteduptothepodium,hereadit,andthenherodeoffintothesunsetinhislittletaxpayer-funded747.Now,youmaythinkthatIaminappropriatelytakingthisopportunitytoattack
thepresidentonameaninglessissuebecauseofmyparticularpoliticalpersuasion—andyouwouldbecorrect.ButIherebychallengetheleaderofthefreeworldtoswearunderoaththathewroteeverywordofthecommencementaddressthathedelivered.Itisnotgonnahappen.Yes,friends,takesolaceinthefactthatifyouhadactuallypaidmeanything
tocomeheretoday,youwouldbeabouttogetyourmoney’sworth.Forbetterorforworse,thishorriblydisappointingchoiceofacommencementspeakerhadtowritehisownspeech.
ThefirstproblemIfacedwhenconfrontedwiththisgrimtaskwasthat,asmywifeandchildrenwillattest,asidefromdrinkingcoffee,Ihaveonlytwoareasofexpertise—reproductionandacting.LetmebeginwiththeonethatIdon’tmindblabbingabouttoaroomfullofstrangers—acting.Youknow,Igetit.Iknowthatit’snotthemostrespectablewaytomakea
living.Iamperpetuallyassaultedbyexamplesofchildren,quadrupeds,andawidevarietyofinsufferableidiotswhoare,onoccasion,capableofactingbeautifully.Thisfillsmylifewithbitterness.Thegoodnewsisthatifyoukeepatitlongenoughandyouactuallygetto
makealivingatthisglorifiedhighschoolextracurricularactivity,younotonlygetalittlebetteratit—givenenoughchances,evenachimpanzeemaytypeadictionary—butyoubegintoseethattheprocessofactinghasthepotentialtoshowusalittlebitabouthowwemightactalittlebetterinourreallives.Itcomesdowntoaboutsixbasicprinciples.Icallthem“EverythingINeedtoKnowinLifeILearnedonMyWaytoaHumiliatingAudition,”andtheygolikethis:NumberOne:Fallinlovewiththeprocessandtheresultswillfollow.You’ve
gottowanttoactmorethanyouwanttobeanactor.You’vegottowanttodowhateveryouwanttodomorethanyouwanttobewhateveryouwanttobe,wanttowritemorethanyouwanttobeawriter,wanttohealmorethanyouwanttobeadoctor,wanttoteachmorethanyouwanttobeateacher,wanttoservemorethanyouwanttobeapolitician.Lifeistoochallengingforexternalrewardstosustainus.Thejoyisinthejourney.NumberTwo:Veryobvious:doyourwork.Whenfacedwiththeterrorofan
openingnightonBroadway,youcaneitherdissolveinapuddleoffearoryoucangetyourselfready.Drownoutyourinevitableself-doubtwiththeworkthatneedstobedone.Findjoyintheprocessofpreparation.NumberThree:Onceyou’reprepared,throwyourpreparationinthetrash.
Themostinterestingactingandthemostinterestinglivinginthisworldhavetheelementofsurpriseandofgenuine,honestdiscovery.Beopentothat.You’veallspentthemajorityofyourlivesinschool,whereyourworkisassignedtoyouandyou’resupposedtopleaseyourteachers.
Onceyou’reprepared,throwyourpreparationinthetrash.
ThepressuretogetintowonderfulinstitutionslikethisisthreateningtocreateagenerationofwhatIcallhiney-kissingrequirement-fulfillers.Youareallsomuchmorethanthat.You’vereachedthewonderfulandterrifyingmomentwhereyoumustbeyourownguide.Listentothewhispersinsideyou.Wehavealotofproblemsinthisworld,andwe’regoingtoneedyoutothinkoutsidethebox.NumberFour:Youarecapableofmorethanyouthink.Ifyou’veever
smashedamosquitoonyourarm,thereisamurderousRichardIIIinsideyou.Ifyou’veevercaughtyourbreathatthesightofsomeonedippingtheirtoesintoLakeMendotainthelateafternoonsunoverattheUnion,you,too,haveRomeo’sflutteringheart.Now,I’mnotadvocatingthatyouallgooutandbleachyourhairsothatyou
canplaythejerkinareallystupidAdamSandlermovie.Idon’tknowwhatkindofanidiotwouldthinkthatisaworthwhilewaytospendtheirlife.Butdon’tlimityourselves.Takeitfromtheprofessionalextrovert:Themostgregariousamongusarefarmoreinsecurethanwewouldeveradmit.Weallgothroughlifebristlingatourexternallimitations,butthemostdifficultchainstobreakareinsideus.
ATTHEENDOFYOURDAYS,YOUWILLBEJUDGEDBYYOURGALLOP,NOTBYYOUR
STUMBLE.
Oneofthefewgraduationspeakerswhowillneverbeforgotten,NelsonMandela,putitthisway:“Ourworstfearisnotthatweareinadequate.Ourdeepestfearisthatweare
powerfulbeyondmeasure.Itisourlight,notourdarkness,thatmostfrightensus.Weaskourselves,‘WhoamItobebrilliant,gorgeous,talented,andfabulous?’Actually,whoareyounottobe?YouareachildofGod.Yourplayingsmalldoesn’tservetheworld.”Let’sjusttakeamomenttohopethatNelsonMandelaandAdamSandler
neveragainshareaparagraph.1NumberFive:Listen.Itisthemostdifficultthinganactorcando,anditisthe
mostriveting.Youcan’taffordtospendyourlifelikeabadactorstumblingthroughapredeterminedperformancethatisoblivioustotheworldaroundyou.
Wecan’tafforditeither.Listeningisn’tpassive.Itisanactofliberationthatwillconnectyoutotheworldwithcompassionandbeyourbestguideasyounavigatethechoppywatersoflove,work,andcitizenship.Andfinally,NumberSix:Takeaction.Everystoryyou’veeverconnected
with,everyleaderyou’veeveradmired,everypunylittlethingthatyou’veeveraccomplishedistheresultoftakingaction.Youhaveachoice.Youcaneitherbeapassivevictimofcircumstanceoryoucanbetheactiveheroofyourownlife.Actionistheantidotetoapathyandcynicismanddespair.Youwillinevitablymakemistakes.Learnwhatyoucanandmoveon.Attheendofyourdays,youwillbejudgedbyyourgallop,notbyyourstumble.Manyofyoustartedhereinthefallof2000.Yougooutintoaworldwecould
nothaveimaginedfouryearsago.Ominousthreatsseektodistractusfromachievingourspectacularpotentialasindividuals,asanation,andasadelicate,shrinkingplanet.Weneedyou.Comeasyouare,armedwithnothingmorethanthetoolsofamediocre
televisionactor.Allweneedisforyoutofindjoyinyourjourney,tofindsatisfactioninhardwork,tobeawareofwhatishappeningaroundyou,tofreeyourselffromyourimaginedlimitations,tolisten,andfinally,toact—nottoplaymake-believe.Thisisn’tatelevisionshow.Thechoicesaredifficultandtheconsequencesarereal.Nomatterwhereyoustandpolitically,weneedyoutoparticipateinanurgent
discussionaboutthefuturethatwewillallshare.Somewillquestionyourqualificationstoparticipate.WegetalotofthatinHollywood.IliketotellthosepeoplethatthereisnothinglessAmericanthantellinganotherAmericantoshutup—sotheyshouldshutup.
Thisisespeciallytruewhenthestakesaresohigh.InthewordsofthegreatWorldWarIIheroandformerU.S.senatorGeorgeMc-Govern,“Thehighestpatriotismisnotblindallegiancetoofficialpolicy,butaloveofone’scountrydeepenoughtoholdhertoahigherstandard.”Ithasalwaysbeenuptothepeopletoholdthiscountryuptoitsspectacular
promise.Makenomistakeaboutit—ifyouchoosenottoparticipateattheballotboxorintheurgentdiscussionabouttheworldthatwewillonedaypassontothenextgeneration,younolongerliveinademocracy.Youhavesentencedyourselftoacivicgulagdictatedbythewhimsofthosewhochoosetoparticipate.Inshort,myobnoxiouslyyoungfriends,youdon’tjustgetdemocracy—you
havetomakeithappen.Iurgeyoutoextendthatcalltoactiontoeveryaspectofyourlives.Letmebeclear—Iwantyoualltostaythehelloutofshowbusiness.Thelast
thingIneedisabunchofyoungpeopleinvadingmyjobmarket.ButIdowantyoutobeanactorinyourownlife.Infuseyourlifewithaction.
Don’twaitforittohappen.Makeithappen.Makeyourownfuture.Makeyourownhope.Makeyourownlove.Andwhateveryourbeliefs,honoryourCreator,notbypassivelywaitingforgracetocomedownfromuponhigh,butbydoingwhatyoucantomakegracehappen—yourself,rightnow,rightdownhereonearth.IwillleaveyouwithsomethingIhavelearnedfrommyonlyotherareaof
expertise,besidesthecoffee—beingafather.Wesitintheshadeoftreesplantedlongago.Wehaveallarrivedatthiswonderfulmomenttogetherbecauseofcountlessgesturesofhopemadebygenerationsthathaveprecededus—thebabyborn,thefamilybegun,theuniversityfounded,thecareandnurturingofourschools,ourcommunities,awonderfulvarietyoffaiths,and,ofcourse,ourfamiliesandtheirfamiliesbeforethem.Thelineoffireracingacrosstimethatwecalllifeisburningbrightlyinallof
youatthismoment.Wecelebratethejoyofyourachievement,butwemustgivethanksforallthatbroughtushere.Andwemustbekeenlyawarethatourstupendousgoodfortunecarrieswithitanobligationtokeepthatflameburningbrightlyintothefutureforeverylivingthingthatisandisyettobe.Congratulations,Classof2004.Gooutandplantsometrees!Thankyou.
1.Sincegivingthistalk,IhavediscoveredthatthisquoteisactuallyfromMarianneWilliamson’sAReturntoLove(NewYork:HarperCollins,1992)but
isoftenmisattributedtoNelsonMandela.Liveandlearn.
......BRADLEYWHITFORD......isanAmericanactorwithmorethaneightyactingcreditsforfilmandtelevision.HeisbestknownforhisroleasDeputyChiefofStaffJoshLymanonTheWestWing,forwhichhewontheEmmyforBestSupportingActorin2001.Helives
inLosAngeles.
MichaelUslanINDIANAUNIVERSITYBLOOMINGTON,2006
Morethanafewyearsago,Iwassittingrightwhereyouare...literallyinoneofthoseexactsameseatsoutthere...listeningtoagraduationspeakerproclaimhowimportantitistosucceedinyourjob.ItwouldhavebeenaninspiringspeechexceptforthefactthatneitherInorhalfmyfriendshadajoblinedupbycommencementday.Soundfamiliartoanyoneoutthere?Atmygraduation,allIhadwasaverybigdreamandaverybigquestion:
“BloomingtontoHollywood:Howdoyougettherefromhere?”Icouldn’tjustdeclareIwantedtoproducethedefinitive,dark,seriousBatmanmovieandmakethatleapinasinglebound.Theproblemwas:(a)Ihadnofamilyinthemotionpictureindustry,(b)Ihadnofriendsinthemotionpictureindustry,and(c)Ididn’tcomefrommoney,soIcouldn’tbuymywayin.Ihadtostartonmycareerpathwithaseriesofsmaller,achievablegoalsthat
couldleadmeintotheworldofBatman.IneededsomethingIcoulddoatIUthatwouldgetmeontheradarinHollywoodandinNewYork.IndianaUniversityempoweredmetogetajobwhichcouldeventuallylead
metomydream,anditdidsobycateringtotheneedsofoneindividualstudent.Here’showithappened...andbelieveme,it’shardtobelieve:WhenIwasanundergrad,IUhadanexperimentalcurriculumdepartmentin
theCollegeofArtsandSciences.Ifyouhadanideaforacoursethatwasnontraditionalandhadneverbeentaughtbefore,andifyouhadthebackingofadepartment,youcouldappearbeforeapanelofdeansandprofessorstopitchyouridea.Iftheyapprovedit,yourcoursewouldbeaccreditedandyoucouldteachitoncampus.So,Icreatedacourseoncomicbooks,claimingcomicstobenotonlya
legitimateAmericanartformasindigenoustothiscountryasjazz,butalsoascontemporaryfolklore...modern-daymythology.ThegodsofEgypt,Greece,andRomestillexist,onlytodaytheywearcapesandspandex.WiththebackingoftheFolkloreDepartment,Iappearedbeforeapanelof
professorsanddeans.Ienteredadark,mahoganyroomwithaverylongconferencetablerightoutoftheJusticeLeague’ssecretsanctum.Now,keepinmindthiswastheearly1970s.Myhairwasdowntomyshoulders,IwaswearingaSpider-Manteeshirt,andIthinkIstillhadmylovebeadson.
wearingaSpider-Manteeshirt,andIthinkIstillhadmylovebeadson.Theprofessoratthefarendofthetablelookeddownatmeoverthoselittle
half-glassesperchedontheedgeofhisnose,andsaid,“Soyou’rethefellowwhowantstoteachacourseon‘funnybooks’atmyuniversity?”IknewIwasindeep...trouble.Heletmespeakfortwominutesandthenhecutmeoff.“Mr.Uslan,”hesaid,
“Idon’tbuyyourtheory.Comicbooksarecheapentertainmentforchildren.Nothingmore.Nothingless.Look,IreadthemallwhenIwasakid.IreadeveryissueofSupermancomicsIcouldgetmyhandson.Butcontemporaryfolklore?Modern-daymythology?Irejectyourtheory.”
Itwasmymomentoftruth.IinquiredifIcouldasktwoquestions,andhesaidIcouldaskhimanythingIwanted.SoIaskedifhewasfamiliarwiththestoryofMoses.Hetoldmehewas.IthenrequestedthatheverybrieflysummarizethestoryofMoses.EyeingmeasifIwereinsane,herepliedthathewasn’tsurewhatgameIwasplaying,buthewouldplayitwithme.Theprofessorsaid,“TheHebrewswerebeingpersecuted;theirfirst-bornwere
beingslain.AHebrewcoupleplacedtheirinfantsoninalittlewickerbasketandsenthimdowntheRiverNile,wherehewasdiscoveredbyanEgyptianfamilywhoraisedhimastheirownson.Whenhegrewupandlearnedofhisheritage,hebecameagreatherotohispeopleby...”Isaid,“Thankyou.Thatwasgreat.YoumentionedbeforethatyoureadSupermancomicsasakid.DoyouremembertheoriginofSuperman?”Hedid.“What’stheoriginofSuperman?”Iasked.Theprofessorsaid,“TheplanetKryptonwasabouttoexplode.Ascientistand
hiswifeplacedtheirinfantsoninalittlerocketshipandsenthimtoearth.There,hewasdiscoveredbytheKents,whoraisedhimastheirownson.Whenhegrewup...”Suddenly,theprofessorstoppedtalkingandjuststaredatmeforwhatseemedlikeaneternity.Hethensaid,“Yourcourseisaccredited.”OhmyGod,Iwouldbeteachingtheworld’sfirstaccreditedcomicbooks
course!I’mwalkingonairbacktomyapartmentwhenallofasuddenIrecallwhatanIUbusinessprofsaidtome.Hesaid,“Beingcreativeisnotenough.Youmustmarketyourselfandyourideasifyouwishtosucceed.”SoIpickedupatelephoneandcalledUnitedPressInternational,thehuge
wireserviceinIndianapolis.IaskedtospeaktothereporterwhocoverededucationinIndiana.AmangotonthephoneandIstartedtoscreamathim:“What’swrongwithyou?!?Thepressissupposedtobethewatchdogforthepeople.Ican’tbelieveyou’relettingthemgetawaywiththis!”ThereporterpleadedwithmetoslowdownandexplaintohimwhatIwas
talkingabout.Isaid,“Ihearthere’sacourseoncomicbooksbeingtaughtatIndianaUniversity.Thisisoutrageous!Areyoutellingmeasataxpayerthatmymoneyisgoingtoteachourkids‘funnybooks’?!ThismustbesomeCommunistplottoinfiltratetheyouthofAmerica!”AndIhungupthephone.IttookthisreporterthreedaystofindoutifIUreallyhadthiscourseand,if
so,whothelunaticwaswhowasteachingit.HecametoBloomingtontointerviewmeandthenwentoutwithahugestorywithphotos.ItwaspickedupbyalmosteverynewspaperinNorthAmericaandEurope.Fromthatdayon,myphonerangoffthehook.RequestsformetoappearonradioandTVtalkshows.NBC,CBS,andothernewscrewscametoIUandIneveroncetaughtaclass
thatwasn’tpackedwithTVcamerasandreportersfromeverythingfromFamilyWeeklytoPlayboy.IevenhadmypictureappearinRipley’sBelieveItOrNot.Mymotherwassoproud!Threeweekslater,myphonerings.“IsthisMichaelUslan?ThisisStanLee
fromMarvelComicsinNewYork.”Nowforyouuninitiated,StanLeeistheco-creatorofSpider-Man,X-Men,FantasticFour,TheHulk,andtheentirepantheonofMarvelsuperheroes.HearingStan’svoiceovermyphonewaswhatIcallmyveryown“BurningBush”moment.Hesaid,“Mike,everywhereIturn,IseeyouonTVorinmagazinesornewspapers.Thiscourseyou’reteachingisgreatfortheentirecomicbookindustry.HowcanIbehelpful?”Nottwohourslater,theheadofDCComics,publishersofSuperman,Batman,andWonderWoman,callsme.Hehadspecialplanstotargetcomicbookstocollegestudents,andaskedifhecouldflymetoNewYorktomeet.“Uh...okay.”I’mnowinNewYorkCityatDCComics,andtheyoffermeasummerjob.
So,oneJulydayasI’mwalkingbytheofficeoftheeditorofacharactercalledTheShadow,IhearhimcomplainingloudlythathehasnoideaforaShadowscriptthat’sduetheverynextday.Quickly,Ipokedmyheadintohisofficeandblurtedout,“Ihaveanideaforastory.”Ididn’t.ButIrealizedthiswasa“moment”...achancetogetmyfootinthedoor.Carpediem.Seizetheday.Ihemmedandhawedandliterallycreatedastoryonthespot.Theeditortoldmetohavethescriptonhisdeskintwenty-fourhoursand,suddenly,I’macomicbookwriterforDCComics.Twoweekslater,theeditorofBatmancomicspassesmebyinthehallway.
Hewasverygruff,butonceyougottoknowhim,hewasarealmarshmallowinside.“Hey,kid,”hesaidtome,“IreadyourShadowscript.”“Youdid?”Iasked.“Yeah.Itdidn’tstink.”“Oh,thankyou!”Iwasbeaming.Andthenhesaidtome,“How’dyouliketotakeashotwritingBatman?”SinceIwaseightyearsold,IdreamedofwritingBatman.Hewasmyfavorite
superherobecausehehadnosuperpowers.Hisgreatestsuperpowerwashishumanity.Plus,hehadthebestRogues’Galleryofvillainsever!Inmyheartofhearts,atageeight,IbelievedthatifIstudiedhard,workedout,andifmydadboughtmeacoolcar,Icouldbethisguy!NowthatmydreamofwritingBatmancomicscametrue,Ineededanew
dream.WhilestaringoutthewindowofmyBloomingtonapartment,IdecidedIwantedtogettoHollywoodandproducethedark,seriousBatmanmoviethewayhewasoriginallycreatedin1939—asacreatureofthenightstalkingcriminalsfromtheshadows.ThepresidentofDCComicslistenedtomygoalandtriedtogivemefatherly
advice.“Michael,”hesaid,“sincetheBatmanTVshowwentofftheair,noone’sbeeninterestedinBatmanformovies.He’sasdeadasadodo.Gogetcredentialsinthefilmbusinessandthencomebackandtalktome.”So,everyFridayofmysenioryear,IwenttotheIUlibraryandreadVariety
magazine;it’sthebibleofshowbusiness.IjotteddownthenameofeverymovieandTVexecutivementionedinthearticles.Bytheendoftheschoolyear,Ihadthenamesof372peopleIcouldsendresumesto,insteadofhavingtosendout“ToWhomItMayConcern”letterstopersonneldepartments.AndItypedeveryoneofthose372coverletterswithtwofingersonatypewriter.Nowforthoseofyouwhodon’tknowwhatatypewriteris,visityourlocalmuseum.You’lllookforitrightnexttotheVCR.From372resumes,Ireceivedtwojoboffers:amajorNewYorktalentagency
invitedmetojoinitsagenttrainingprogram,whichwouldsentencemetotwoyearsintheirmailroomat$95perweek,andabig-timeproducerinLAmademeanoffertobecomeaproductionassistantinchargeofXeroxingandgoingforcoffeeatasalaryof$95perweek.Well,itwastimeforPlan“B.”Andifthere’snootheradviceIcangiveyoutoday,it’salwayshaveaPlan“B”...andifyoucan,aPlan“C.”Okay,Plan“B”:UnabletogetmyfootinthedoorcreativelyinHollywoodat
apayscaleabove“starvation,”Iconsideredadifferentroutevialawschool.IfIcouldbecomeanentertainmentlawyerasmyentréeintothemotionpictureindustry,learnhowtofinanceandproducemotionpictures,andmeetthepowerbrokersinHollywood,Icouldonedaysneakinthebackdoorofthecreativeside.
IUSchoolofLawempoweredmebyallowingmetotakeanindependentstudycoursebecauseIwastheonlystudentintheschoolinterestedinentertainmentatthattime.ItwasthatindependentstudycoursethatimpressedUnitedArtistsstudiohonchosenoughtogiveme,over200otherapplicants,themotionpictureproductionattorneyjobtheyhadopen.Thankyou,IU,foryetagainaccommodatingtheneedsofoneindividualstudent.AspartofPlan“B,”IstayedatUnitedArtistsasifitwasgraduateschool,
learningallIcould.Then,determinedthatIwouldnotbetrappedintobeingalawyerfortherestofmylife,IfoundapartnerandmentorinBenMelniker,theformerexecutivevicepresidentofMGMinitsheyday.Together,weraisedmoney,wentbacktoDCwithmynewcredentials,andboughttherightstoBatman.BelievingIhada51percentchanceofsuccesswithBatmaninmypocket,Irolledthediceandquitmyjob,becominganindependentmovieproducerbysneakingintheproverbialbackdoor.IthoughteveryoneinHollywoodwouldlineuptofinancemydark,serious
visionofBatman.Instead,IwasturneddownbyeverysinglestudioinHollywood.Therejectionspiledupquickly:“Michael,you’recrazy!Noone’severmadeamoviebasedonanoldTVseries.It’sneverbeendone!”“Michael,you’reinsane!NobodywillwatchaseriousversionofBatman.Theyonlyrememberthepot-belliedfunnyguywiththePows!Zaps!AndWhams!”“Michael,you’renuts!(Doyouseeapatternherebytheway?)Yourmovie,Batman,willfailbecauseourmovie,Annie,didn’tdowell.”Iaskedthisexecifhemeantthelittlered-hairedgirlwhosings,“Tomorrow.”Heshookhisheadaffirmatively.“ButwhatdoesshehavetodowithBatman?”Helookedatmeandsaid,“Comeon,Michael,they’rebothoutofthe‘funnypages.’”Thatwasmyrejection.Finally,evengoodoldUnitedArtiststurnedmedowncoldwhenitsexecutivesaidtome,“Michael,you’reoutofyourmind!BatmanandRobinwillneverworkasamoviebecausethemovieRobinandMariandidn’tdowell.”Now,thatfilmstarredSeanConneryandAudreyHepburnasanagingRobinHoodandMaidMarian.ThemanapparentlyturneddownBatmansimplybecausebothmovieshadtheword“Robin”inthetitle.
FromthetimeweboughttherightstoBatman,ittooktenyearsforthefilmtocomeout.Tenyears!Thenitbrokeoneboxofficerecordafteranother,finallypromptingmymothertostopaskingme,“Sowhenareyougoingtogetarealjob?”anditspawnedanongoingworldwidefranchiseofmovies,animation,videogames,toys,andbestofall,lastyear’sgreatfilmmadebythegeniusdirectorChrisNolan,BatmanBegins.TherearefoursimplebutcriticallyimportantlessonsI’velearnedonthis
journeyfromBloomingtontoBatman,whichI’dliketopassalongtoyouatthismomentofyourgraduation:First,sometimesyouhavetotakecalculatedrisksandrollthedice,orrisk
growingoldandhavingtosay,“Icouldhavebeen...”Second,youmustbelieveinyourselfandinyourwork.Whenourfirst
Batmanmoviebrokeallthoseboxofficerecords,IreceivedaphonecallfromthatUnitedArtistsexecfromyearsbeforewhotoldmeIwasoutofmymind,thatRobinandMarianguy.Nowhesaid,“Michael,I’mjustcallingtocongratulateyouonBatman.Ialwayssaidyouwereavisionary.”Youseethepoint—don’tbelievethemwhentheytellyouhowbadyouareandhowterribleyourideasare,butalso,don’tbelievethemwhentheystarttellingyouhowwonderfulyouareandhowgreatyourideasare.Justbelieveinyourselfandbelieveinyourworkandyou’lldojustfine.And,don’tthenforgettomarketyourself.Usebothsidesofyourbrain.Third,youmusthaveahighthresholdforfrustration.Takeitfromtheguy
whowasturneddownbyeverystudioinHollywood.Youmustknockondoorsuntilyourknucklesbleed.Doorswillslaminyourface;Iguaranteeit.Youmustpickyourselfup,dustyourselfoff,andgobackandknockagain.It’stheonlywaytoachieveyourgoalsinlife.Finally,followwhateveryourpassionis.Dosomethingyoulove.Mydadwas
amason,startingatagesixteen,whenhedroppedoutofschooltohelphisfamilysurvivetheDepression.Untilhewaseightyheworkedsixdaysaweeknomatterhowhotorhowcoldoutitwasoutside.HewasanOldWorldartist...arealcraftsmanwhocreatedmagnificentfireplacesandhomesoutofbricksandstones.Everymorningofmychildhood,Isawmydadjumpoutofbedbeforedawn,eagertogettowork,asmileonhisface.Hewasdoingwhatheloved,andIknewthatwaswhatIwantedoutoflife...tobeabletowakeuponarainyMondaymorningandbeabletosay,“Boy,Ican’twaittogettowork!”ButIhadtofindmyownbricksandstones.Today,Ichallengeyoutofindyours.Ifthere’sonequotationthatsumsupmyjourneythroughlifeandthechoices
I’vemade,it’stheclosinglinesofapoembyRobertFrost,whichInowpass
I’vemade,it’stheclosinglinesofapoembyRobertFrost,whichInowpassalongtoyou:“IshallbetellingthiswithasighSomewhereagesandageshence:Tworoads
divergedinawood,andI—Itooktheonelesstraveledby,Andthathasmadeallthedifference.”Batsofluck,everyoneofyou,andcongratulations!
......MICHAELUSLAN......istheoriginatorandexecutiveproduceroftheBatman/DarkKnightmoviefranchiseand,mostrecently,executiveproducerofTheLegoMovie.Hismemoir,TheBoyWhoLovedBatman,ispublishedbyChronicleBooks.
TomWolfeBOSTONUNIVERSITY,2000
Note:WhenBostonUniversitypresentedTomWolfewithanhonoraryDoctorofHumaneLettersdegree,ChancellorJohnSilberandPresidentJonWestlingalsopresentedhimwithared-trimmedwhiteacademicgown,togoalongwithhiscustomarywhitesuit.Mr.Wolfewassuitablysurprised.
I’mtellingyou[lookingdownatthewhitegownthatnowsurmountshiswhitesilksuit]thisisatotalsurprise.Iknewsomethinghadirresistiblydrawnmetothismoment—andthereyouhaveit!Thisisabsolutely...well...thereisnouniversitytowhichIwouldratherhavebeeninvitedonthisdayinthisMay,whosehoodIwouldratherwearand,asitnowturnsout,whoseraimentIwouldratherwear,thanBostonUniversity.ThankstoacoupleofJohns,JohnSilberandJonWestling,andtoabrilliantfaculty,someofwhomwe’vemetatthispodiumthismorning,thisuniversityhasbeenashininglighthouseofindependentthoughtandofliberaldemocracyintheclassicalmeaningof“liberal”asJohnSilberhassowonderfullydefineditovertheyears.Ichoosetheimageofalighthouseverycarefully,JohnandJon,becauselighthousesarebuilttostandaloneandtobearthebruntofthestorm,nomatterwhatthatstormmaybe.
Havingsaidthat,Iwanttooffermycongratulationstotheclassof2000andtotheirfamilies.AssomeonewhogrewupintheGreatDepressionofthe1930s,Iknowthatacommencementisafamilytriumph.Forgetmoney.Asidefromlove,thecardinalvirtues,andtime,thereisnogreatergiftparentscangiveachildthananeducationataplacelikeBostonUniversity.IfeelalittlebitlikeSigourneyWeaver,whogavethecommencementaddress
atmydaughter’shighschoolacoupleofyearsago.It’sanall-girlschool,andSigourneyWeaversaid,“Myintentionthismorningwastotalktoyougirlsaboutboys.ButtheheadmistressinformsmeIonlyhavefifteenminutes.SoinsteadI’mgoingtotellyouthemeaningoflife.”UnfortunatelyIdon’trememberwhatthemeaningwas,becauseshekeptme
institchesforfifteenminutes,andIforgot.SointhefewminutesIhavewithyou,I’mjustgoingtotellyouonethingthatIwishthatsomebodyhadtoldmewhenIwasinyourshoesforty-nineyearsago,graduatingfromcollege.(Actually,tobeagraduateoftheyear2000hasamuchbetterringtoitthantobeagraduatefromtheclassof1951.Wedidthebestwecould,but,whatcanyoudowith“1951”?)Andthisonethingisevenmorevirulenttodaythanitwashalfacenturyago:it’sthefactthatweliveinanageinwhichideas,importantideas,arewornlikearticlesoffashion—andforpreciselythesamereasonarticlesoffashionareworn,whichistomakethewearerlookbetterandtofeelàlamode.Letmegiveyouanexample:There’saveryfashionableidearightnowthat
eachpeople,eachculture,hasitsownintegrity,hasitsownvalidity,whichmustberespectedandmusthaveitsdayinthesun.Idon’tthinkanybodywillbothertoarguewiththat.ButwhatIthinkyou’regoingtofindfairlysoon,asyouheadoutintotheworld,aretwothings:first,thatit’sirrelevant,andsecond,thatitleadstowhatIthinkofas“perniciousenlightenment.”Considerthisspecificcase,whichisreasonablylocal:Sevenyearsagothe
mayorofNewYorkCitycametoBoston.Hehiredawayyourpolicecommissioner,WilliamBratton,andbroughthimtoNewYorktoseeifhecouldn’tdosomethingaboutcrimeinNewYork,whichhadreachedhorrendousproportions.WilliamBrattondidaverydaringthing.Hereversedtheusualprocedure.Hesaid,“Wewillreducetheincidenceofmajorcrimesbygoingaftertheso-called‘qualityoflife’crimes,misdemeanorsthathavebeenconsideredsominorinthefaceofshootings,muggings,beatings,stabbings,thatpolicedepartmentsarebarelypayingattentiontothemanymore.WearegoingtocreateandestablishasenseoforderinNewYorkCity.Wearegoingtotakebackthestreets.Andthat’sgoingtohaveconsequencesyoucan’tevenimagine.”Andthatwaswhathappened.Overnight,WilliamBrattonengineered
imagine.”Andthatwaswhathappened.Overnight,WilliamBrattonengineeredthemostdramaticreductionincrimeinanylargecityinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates.How?Foronething,hestartedenforcinglawsagainsttruancythathadn’t
beenenforcedforseventy-fiveyears.Policestartedpickingupthirteen-,fourteen-,fifteen-year-oldchildrenwhowereoutonthestreetsinthemiddleoftheday,andtheytoldthem,“You’resupposedtobeinschool.”IntwomonthstherateofjuveniledelinquencyinNewYorkCitydropped75percent.Becausewhatdoyoudoifyouarethirteen,fourteen,fifteen,you’renotinschool,you’reoutallday?Youdreamupmischiefandgetintotrouble,that’swhatyoudo.Brattondecidedtoenforcethelawagainstridingthesubwaysforfreebyjumpingtheturnstiles.Ifyou’veeverbeenonaNewYorkCitysubway,youknowtheturnstilesareaboutthesameheightasoneofthoseleatherhorsesyouuseingymnastics.By1993awholegenerationofyoungpeopleinNewYorkwasvaultingturnstiles.TheyhadbecomeabsolutelyOlympicaboutit.Imean,many,manywouldvaultanddoaflipintheair.Thatwascool.Isawakidonedaydoaone-and-a-halfgainer.Iamnotexaggerating!Aone-and-a-halfgainer!That’sfunandgames,butwhatistheimpressionthismakesoneverybodyelse?“I’manidiot.Iobeyedthelaw.I’manidiot.Thesubwaysbelongtothelawless.Thecityisunraveling.”Thepolicebeganarrestingthem—andthishadanunanticipateddividend:30percentofthejumpershadoutstandingwarrantsformoreseriouscrimes.Well,nowwegettotheboomboxes.UnderWilliamBratton,theNewYork
CityPoliceDepartmentidentified227boom-boxhotspots.Now,whenItalkaboutboomboxes,I’mnottalkingabouttheseradioandCDplayersthatyouseeboyscarryingontheirshoulders—nothingthatsimple.Thesehotspotshadtodowithcars.Boyswouldtakethebackseatoutoftheircars,putinapieceofplywoodfromthebaseofthefrontseatrightuptotherearwindow,andputintwotwenty-inchspeakers.Twenty-inchspeakerscreatesomuchheattheywouldhavetotakeeverythingoutofthetrunkandputinfanstocoolofftheequipment.IgotcuriousandIwentout,andI’vebeeninthesecarswhentheyaregoingfullblast.Thetympanumwillmakeyourearsflap!I’mnotkiddingyou.Allright,sohereyou’vegottheset-up.Now,here’sthekindofsongthat
wouldcomeboomingoutatmidnightin227residentialneighborhoodsinNewYork.Thewordsareabitcrudeabouttheedges,buttogiveyoutheflavorIhavetousethem.Thisisasongcalled“DeathontheInstallmentPlan”byagroupcalledtheChildAbusers:
Ninetofiveyouparkyo’butt
Ninetofiveyouparkyo’buttBeneaththebitchboxonthewallAndlapupallthatcrapinsideTheruttheymakeyoucrawl.Soyo’,gobuyyo’owndeath,bro,Anddieontheinstallmentplan,’Fotheycutyo’nutsandhangyouFromthenecktieonthebaldman.
Now,youhavetoimaginethatbeingsungnotbymebutbyfourbawlingtwenty-year-oldswithelectricguitars,electricbass,andreverbo-ampeddrumsovertwenty-inchspeakersinsomebody’sneighborhoodatmidnight,one,two,orthreeinthemorning.Sothepolicestartedcrackingdownonthat,andoneyoungmanfoughtthecaseincourtandlost.Hethenappealed,andtheappealscourtreversedthedecisionwiththefollowinglogic:“Whatistooloudinonecultureisnottooloudinanother.”Now,thinkwhatthatmeans.Idonotknowthatboy’sbackground,butallIcansayis,howcondescendingcanyouget?Whatsortofperniciousenlightenmentleadsapanelofjudgestoassumethatsomebody’sculturefindsitacceptabletolistentotheChildAbuserssinging“DeathontheInstallmentPlan”at180decibelsintheirneighborhoodsinthemiddleofthenight?Thetruthisthatthereisacommonbondamongallcultures,amongall
peoplesinthisworld...atleastamongthosewhohavereachedthelevelofthewheel,theshoe,andthetoothbrush.Andthatcommonbondisthatmuch-malignedclassknownasthebourgeoisie—themiddleclass.ThesepeoplearetobefoundnotonlyinBoston,theyaretobefoundinBombay;inBeninCityinBenin,WestAfrica;inBonninwhatusedtobecalledWestGermany;inBeirut;inBermuda;inBarcelona.Theyareallovertheworld,ineverycontinent,everynation,everysociety,everyculture,everywhereyoufindthewheel,theshoe,andthetoothbrush,andwherevertheyare,allofthembelieveinthesamethings.Andwhatarethosethings?Peace,order,education,hardwork,initiative,enterprise,creativity,cooperation,lookingoutforoneanother,lookingoutforthefutureofchildren,patriotism,fairplay,andhonesty.Howmuchmoredoyouwantfromthehumanbeast?Howmuchmorecanyoupossiblyexpect?
HOWMUCHMOREDOYOUWANTFROMTHEHUMANBEAST?HOWMUCHMORECANYOU
POSSIBLYEXPECT?
Isaythatthemiddleclassaroundtheworld—anditcertainlyflowersinthiscountry—isthehighestformofevolution.Thebourgeoisie!—thehumanbeastdoesn’tgetanybetter!Theworldwidebourgeoisiemakeswhatpassestodayforaristocrats—peopleconsumedbyjuvenilitywhohanglooseuponsociety—looklikeshiftlesschildren.Andwewritersspenttheentiretwentiethcenturytearingdownthe
bourgeoisie!ThegreatH.L.Mencken,probablythemostbrilliantAmericanessayistofthetwentiethcentury,starteditwithhisterm“thebooboisie.”ThenSherwoodAndersoninWinesburg,Ohiopresenteduswiththeoh-soproper,oh-sotwistedMidwesternpreacherwhoinfactisaPeepingTom.ThatformulahasnowbeengroundoutandgroundoutandgroundoutuntilittakestheformofmovieslikeAmericanBeauty.Weintheartshavebeencomplicitinthedenigrationofthebestpeopleonearth.Why?Becausesomanyofthemostinfluentialideasofourtimearetheproductofanewcreatureofthetwentiethcentury,acreaturethatdidnotexistuntil1898—andthatcreatureisknownas“theintellectual.”Now,wemustbecarefultomakeadistinctionbetweentheintellectualand
thepersonofintellectualachievement.Thetwoarevery,verydifferentanimals.Therearepeopleofintellectualachievementwhoincreasethesumofhumanknowledge,thepowersofhumaninsight,andanalysis.Andthentherearetheintellectuals.Anintellectualisapersonknowledgeableinonefieldwhospeaksoutonlyinothers.Startingintheearlytwentiethcentury,forthefirsttimeanordinarystoryteller,anovelist,ashortstorywriter,apoet,aplaywright,incertaincasesacomposer,anartist,orevenanoperasingercouldachieveatremendouseminencebybecomingmorallyindignantaboutsomepublicissue.Itrequirednointellectualeffortwhatsoever.Suddenlyhewaselevatedtoaplanefromwhichhecouldlookdownuponordinarypeople.Conversely—thisfascinatesme—conversely,ifyouaremerelyabrilliantscholar,merelysomeonewhohasaddedimmeasurablytothesumofhumanknowledgeandthepowersofhumaninsight,thatdoesnotqualifyyoufortheeminenceofbeinganintellectual.I’llgiveyouanexamplerightacrosstheriver(IthinkI’mpointingintheright
direction)[pointsovershouldertothenortheast].I’mstandingrightnearwhere
direction)[pointsovershouldertothenortheast].I’mstandingrightnearwherePeteSuderusedtoplaysecondbasefortheBostonBraves.Anyway,rightacrosstheriverthereistheamazingfigureofNoamChomsky.NoamChomskyonhisowndidanextremelybrilliantthing.He’salinguist;he’sascientistandascholar.Hefiguredoutonhisownthatspeech,grammar,andthehumancapacitytorecordinmemoryareliterally,physically,builtintothehumannervoussystem.Itisnotsomethinglearned;itisbuiltin.Thatiswhyachildcantakeanewwordlike“chair”andimmediatelydropitintoasentenceattheageoftwoandsay,“Mydollfelloffthechair,”awholesentencewithasubject,apredicate,anobject.It’sonlyinourtime,theendofthetwentiethcentury,thebeginningofthetwenty-first,thatneuroscientistshavetheinstrumentsbywhichtheyarebeginningtoprovethatNoamChomskywasright.Abrilliant,brillianthumanbeing.DidanyonecallhimanintellectualmerelybecausehewasoneofthemostbrilliantpeopleintheUnitedStates?No.Whendidhebecomeanintellectual?Whenhefinallyspokeoutconcerningsomethingheknewabsolutelynothingabout:thewarinVietnam.WhenhedenouncedthewarinVietnam,Chomskyputontherequisitedisplayofutterignorance—andtherebybecamealeadingAmericanintellectual.OneofthethingsthatIfindreallymakesitworthwatchingalltheAcademy
Awards,alltheEmmys,allthoseawardsceremonies,istoseehowtoday’sactorsandtelevisionperformershavediscoveredtheformula.Ifyoubecomeindignant,thiselevatesyoutotheplaneof“intellectual.”Nomentalactivityisrequired.Itisarule,towhichtherehasneverbeenanexception,thatwhenanactororatelevisionperformerrisesuptothemicrophoneatoneoftheseawardsceremoniesandexpressesmoralindignationoversomething,heillustratesMarshallMcLuhan’sdictumthat“moralindignationisastandardstrategyforendowingtheidiotwithdignity.”Anotherrulewithoutasingleexceptionisthattheintellectualalwaysaverts
hiseyesfromtheobviouswhenthesubjectistheUnitedStates.Thiscountry,inourtime,hasfulfilledthedreamoftheutopiansocialistsofthenineteenthcentury,theSaint-Simons,theFouriers.Thisisthefirstcountryonearthinwhichtheordinaryworkingmanhasthepoliticalfreedom,thepersonalfreedom,thefreetime,themoney,thewherewithaltoexpresshimselfinanywaythathemaywant,sothatyoumaybesurethattoday,asweconvenehereintheformerBravesField—PeteSuderLand—nowNickersonFieldatBostonUniversity—youmaybesurethatyourCablevisionlinemanoryourairconditioningmechanicoryourburglaralarmrepairmanisrightnowinPuertoVallartaorBarbadosorSaintKitts,andhe’stherewithhisthirdwife(they’reexpensive,divorcesare),andrightnowthetwoofthemareoutontheterraceofsomeresort
hotel.He’swearinghisRickyMartincane-cuttershirt,opendowntothesternum,thebettertoallowthegoldchainstotwinkleinhischesthairs,andheandhiswifehavejustorderedalittleroundofQuibellsparklingwater...becausePerrierandSanPelegrinoaresotackybynow,youknow....Onecan’tevenusetheoldterm“workingclass”anymore,muchless“proletariat.”Yourplumber,yourelectrician,isnowpartofthehighestformoftheevolutionofthespecies,thebourgeoisieAmerican-style.HereweareonthevergeofasecondAmericanCentury.We’vejust
completedthefirstAmericanCentury,inwhichweachievedapowerthatwouldhavemadeJuliusCaesartwitchwithenvy.Andourshasbeenalargelybenignpower.Wesavedtheworldfromtwobandsofslave-huntingpredators,theGermanNazisandtheRussianCommunists,twobarbarichordeswhomadetheHunsandMagyarsofyoreseemwhimsicalbycomparison.Atthesametimeweopenedourarmstopeoplefromallovertheearth,fromeverycountry,everyculture,everyreligion,everyconceivablebackground.Whydon’twebuildasecondStatueofLiberty?Whatwedidinthetwentiethcenturywasfantastic.PeoplefromEritrea,fromEthiopia,fromGuyana,fromCambodia,fromVietnam,refugeesfromallovertheworld—wewelcomedthem!Thisistheonlycountryintheworldwheresuchatriumphoffirst-generationimmigrantscouldtakeplace,andGodblessusforthefactthatwearethisopentothepeopleoftheentireworld.
WeareinthebeginningofwhatmaybeaPaxAmericana,theequivalentofthePaxRomanathatbegantwomillenniaago.Thismaybethesecondcenturyofathousandyearsofruleintheworldbyabenignliberaldemocracy.Ithinkweshouldrejoiceinthis.AndIfeelsomuchbetterknowingthattherearepeoplelikeyourselves,membersoftheclassof2000atBostonUniversity,whohavedevelopedtheindependenceofthoughttojudgetheworldstrictlybytheevidenceofyourowneyes.You’renotgoingtofindmanytraditionaljudgeswhocanleadyouanylonger,sincetheynowwanderhelplessly,bemusedbythewillfulignoranceofthatbizarretwentieth-centuryorganism,theintellectual.You’regoingtohavetomakethecrucialjudgmentsyourselves.Butyouareamongtheveryhandfulofthosewhocandoit.YouaregraduatesofoneofthetwoorthreegreatestuniversitiesinAmerica.Youhavebeenraisedin,youhavebeendevelopedin,atraditionofstraightthinkingandstraighttalking.Youhavebeentaughttoleadyourlivesinthetraditionofthosewho,inthegreatphraseofagreatwriterandagreatleader,JohnSilber,arestraightshooters.Godblessyouall,andbestofluck,andthankyousomuchforlettingmebea
partofthecommencementofBostonUniversity’sClassof2000.
......TOMWOLFE......istheacclaimedauthorofmanybooks,includingTheKandy-Kolored
Tangerine-FlakeStreamlineBaby,TheElectricKool-AidAcidTest,ThePumpHouseGang,TheRightStuff,AManinFull,andTheBonfireoftheVanities.HehasreportedfortheWashingtonPost,theNewYorkHeraldTribune,andNewYorkmagazineandisconsideredoneofthefoundersofNewJournalism.
AmonghismanyaccoladesareaNationalBookAwardandthe2010NationalBookFoundationMedalforDistinguishedContributiontoAmericanLetters.He
livesinNewYorkCity.
MadeleineL’EngleWELLESLEYCOLLEGE,1991
ItisaveryspecialpleasureformetobehereatWellesleyCollegetoday,apleasurethatgoesbacktomychildhood.IwasbornontheislandofManhattanandgrewupinNewYork,asolitary,
onlychild,withparentsalmostoldenoughtobemygrandparents,withfulllivesoftheirown,sowhenIwasn’tinschoolIhadalotoftimetomyself.WhenIwasinfourthgradeIwasputintoaschoolwhichisstillinexistence,soitwillbenameless,whichwassupposedtobeoneofthebestschoolsinthecity.Inthatschoolitwasveryimportantthatonebegoodatsports.Oneofmylegswaslongerthantheother—stillis—soIwasclumsyandnotagoodrunner.Anyteamwhichhadthemisfortunetohavemeonitssideautomaticallylost.Thekidswouldchoosesides,andtheunluckyteamtogetmewouldletoutanguishedgroans,andIcan’tblamethem.Iwashardlyanassettoteamsports.However,forsomereasonwhichisstillnotcleartome,myhomeroomteacherdecidedthatsinceIcouldn’trunrelayraces,Iwasn’tverybright.Shesimplyacceptedtheotherstudents’assessmentofme,andIcouldn’tdoanythingright.Iquicklylearnedthattherewasnopointindoinghomeworkforher,becauseshewasgoingtoholditupinridiculetotheclass,orputitdown.SoIwouldgohomeanddumpdownmyschoolbooksandnotlookatthemagain,saywrylytomyselfthatIwasthedumbone,theunpopularone,andthenIwouldmoveintotherealworld,whereIreadstories,wrotestories,andtriedinmyownwaytofindoutwhathumanrelationshipswereallabout.
NOMATTERWHATITCOSTIWASGOINGTOSTAYONTHESIDEOFTRUTH.
ItwasalsoinfourthgradethatIlearnedabouttheperfidyoftheadultworld,andtheearlierthisislearnedthebetter;itcancomeasaterribleshockifitdoesn’thityoutillater.IlearneditinFrenchclass,whichwasbeingtaughtbya
verylargeFrenchwoman.Ineededtobeexcused,andIraisedmyhand,andmyFrenchteacherwouldn’tletmeleavetheroom.ThreetimesIraisedmyhand,eachtimealittlemoredesperatelythanthetimebefore,andthreetimessherefusedtoletmego.WhenthebellrangIran,andIdidn’tmakeit.Now,towetyourpantsinfourthgradeisreallyprettyhorrendous.Mymothercameforme,andherewasthislittlewetmess.Itoldherwhathadhappened,andshewenttotheprincipal.TheprincipalcalledintheFrenchteacher,andtheFrenchteachersaid,“Well,Madeleineneveraskedtobeexcused.Ofcourseifshe’draisedherhandI’dhavelethergo.She’sjustashamedofwettingherpants,abiggirllikethat.Tellhernottolieaboutitnexttime.”Sotherewasagrown-uplying,andbeingbelieved,andI,onlyachild,wasnot.AndthatmademedeterminednevertobelikethatFrenchteacher.NomatterwhatitcostIwasgoingtostayonthesideoftruth.Thenextyeartherewasapoetrycontestwhichwasopentotheentireschool,
andjudgedbytheheadoftheEnglishdepartment.Theentriesweren’tscreened,orI’dneverhavegotonein.Mypoemwonthecontest,andmyhomeroomteacherpredictablysaid,“Madeleinecouldn’tpossiblyhavewrittenthatpoem.She’snotverybright,youknow.Shemusthavecopieditfromsomeplace.”Somymotherwentuptoschool,bearingthelargebodyofworkIhad
producedwhenIshouldhavebeendoinghomework,andithadtobeconcededthatMadeleinecouldhavewrittenthatpoemafterall.Iwastakenoutofthatschoolandsenttoanother,whereIhadahomeroom
teacheronherveryfirstteachingjob.Shewasthefirstpersontoseeanypotentialinthisshy,awkwardchild.Sheaffirmedme,gavemeextraworktodo.IremembershehadmewriteasequeltotheOdyssey,withTelemachusasthehero.Herhonoringofmehelpedtheotherstudentstoseemeassomethingmorethanthegirlwhowasbadatrelayraces.Ididn’thaveinstantpopularity,butIbegantomakefriends.Ididmyhomeworkwithenthusiasm,becausemyteacherchallengedme.HernamewasMargaretClapp,andshewastobecometheeighthpresidentof
Wellesley.SoIhadthebenefitofbeingtaughtbyawomanwhowasnotonlyagreateducator,butagreatperson,andperhapsitisonlyagreateducatorwhounderstandsthatpartofeducationisaffirmingeachpersonsheencountersasbeingintrinsicallyvaluable.Mypreviousteachershadestimatedmeasworthless;MissClappgavemeasenseofvalue,thatitwasallrighttobeme,thatmylackofathleticskillswasmorethancompensatedforbyotherskills,thatimaginationwasimportant.
MissClappalsohelpedmeintoacreativerealism.Igaveupsomeimpossibledreamsofmakingthelongestorthehighestjumpsingym;IacceptedthatIhadabadkneeandthatthiswouldpreventmefrombeingagreatathlete,butIalsoacceptedthatnoteverybodyhastobeagreatathlete.IlearnedtobewillingtobewhoIwas,nottheplasticmodelofwhoIhadthoughtIwantedtobe.ItwasnotthatIdidn’tattempttheimpossible.Idid.ButitwastheimpossibleinareaswhereIalreadyshowedpromise.MysequeltotheOdysseywasprobablyprettyterrible,butitwasagoodexampleoftherightkindofimpossible,theimpossiblethatcalledintoplaythegiftsIalreadyhad,thegiftofgab,thegiftofputtingwordstogetherarticulately,thegiftofimagination.Ihopethatyouhaveencounteredteacherswhounderstandtheimportanceof
imagination,thatpartofthebrainwhichgoesbeyondcognitiontointuition.AnarticleintheNewYorkTimesdealtwiththediscoverythatthereisfarmoretothebrainthantheconsciouspartwhichisconcernedwithfactsandproof,andthatmany,ifnotmost,majordiscoverieshavebeenmadewiththeintuitivepartofthebrainwhenthescientististhinkingbuthasrelaxed,sothatthewholebraincanworkandnotjusttheconscious,controllablearea.Ofcoursethisisamasculinediscovery,newtothemaleofthespeciesbutnot
tothefemale.Womenhavebeenallowedbysocietytobefarmorewholethanmen;wehavenotbeenforcedtorepressourinnerselves,ourintuitive,imaginative,numinousside.Wehavebeenallowedtogodownintothedarknessofunexpectedness,whereasmenhavebeenforcedbysocietytolimitthemselvestothereasonable,therational,theprovable.
I,too,wenttoawomen’scollege,SmithCollege.Onegreatadvantageofawomen’scollegeisthatwhateverthereistobedone,wewomendo.Ifthereisamagazinetobestarted,westartit.Ifthereisanofficertobeelected,oneofuswillbeelected.IleftcollegeandwenttoNewYorktoearnmylivingwiththeassurancethatalldoorswereofcourseopentome,andthat’sagoodattitudetohave.Ifyouexpectdoorstobeopen,they’relikelytobeopen.Ifyouexpectthemtobeclosed,they’relikelytoslaminyourface.AndIleftcollegehavingmajoredinEnglishliterature,havingspentfouryearswithgreatwriters,withanunderstandingthatintellectandintuitionwereequallyimportant.InGreekmythologytheintellectismasculine,Apollodrivingthechariotof
thesunacrossthesky,whereaswisdomisfeminine,Sophia,orbetter,HagiaSophia,holywisdom.Itisquitepossibletobeintellectualwithoutanywisdomwhatsoever,andthisisalwaysdisastrous.Andwisdomwithoutintellectcanbetoootherworldlytobeeffective.Itiswhenthetwoworktogetherthattruematuritycanberealized.Itiswhenthetwoworktogetherthatourwonderfulmindscanturnustowardstruth.Intellectalonewantsfacts,provablefacts;intellectworkingwithwisdomcanunderstandthattruthgoesfarbeyondandtranscendsfacts.Oneofmyearlyhomeroomteachersaccusedmeof“tellingastory.”Shewasnotcomplimentingmeonmyfertileimagination;shewasmakingthedeadlyaccusationthatIwastellingalie.Itisonlywhenthebrainislimitedtothecognitivealonethatstorycanbeconfusedwithuntruth,whereasstoryisoneofthemostpotentvehiclesoftruthavailabletothehumanbeing.Now,whenIamtalkingaboutmaleandfemaleIamnottalkingaboutmen
versuswomen,becauseweallhaveamarvelouscombinationofmaleandfemalewithinus,andpartofmaturingislearningtobalancethesetwocomponentssothattheyarethemostfertile.Itisonlythenthatweareabletomakecreativechoicesandtounderstandthatwedoindeedhavechoices.Ihavehadthepleasureoflivingwithmytwogranddaughtersduringtheir
collegeyears,andnotlongagowewerehavingdinnerwithseveraloftheirclassmates,andoneyoungwomansaidthattheirwomen’sstudiesprofessorhadtoldthemthatanywomanwhomarriedandhadchildrenandwhowrotewasamartyr.Mygranddaughter,Charlotte,lookedatme,asking,“Gran,wereyouamartyr?”Ireplied,“No,Charlotte,Iwasnotamartyr.Ichosemyownconflicts.Theywereindeedconflicts,butIchosethem.Nooneforcedmetomarry,tohavechildren,tocontinuetogoonwriting.Itwasmyfreechoice.Sothere’snowayIcouldbeamartyr.”Don’tfallintomartyrdom!That’sachoicetoo.Soisbeingavictim.Idon’t
likethatword.Whenbadthingshappenitisuptometochoosetobeavictimortogetonwithit.Terriblethingscanhappentous:rape,accident,bereavement;
togetonwithit.Terriblethingscanhappentous:rape,accident,bereavement;lifeisprecariousandfulloftheunexpected,butwedonothavetobecomevictims,nomatterwhathappens.Thatisachoice,andonewedonothavetomake.Ifwechosetoremainourselves,fullofpotential,thenwecantakewhateverhappensandredeemitbyopenness,courage,andwillingnesstomoveon.Aswomenitisourresponsibilitytouseallpartsofourselves,maleandfemale,intellectandintuition,consciousandsubconsciousminds.FrommycollegereadingofAristotle’sPoeticsIrememberparticularlythis
phrase—“Thatwhichisplausibleandimpossibleisbetterthanthatwhichispossibleandimplausible”—andthathashadaprofoundeffectonmyadultlife.Whenwebelieveintheimpossible,itbecomespossible,andwecandoallkindsofextraordinarythings.Wecanbalancethemaleandfemalewithinuslikeanacrobatinthecircus,andthatbalancingactisoneofthemostimportantchoicesopentous.Wecandaretoenterthevulnerableintimacyoffriendshipandlove.Someofyouwillchoosetheunderratedjobofhomemaker,ofwifeandmother.Someofyouwillgosingle-mindedlyafteracareer.Someofyou,likeme,willmakethedifficultchoiceofchoosingbothbutthen,asIusedtotellmychildren,nothingthat’seasyisreallyworthverymuch,andjustbecauseit’sdifficultisnoreasonnottotry.
Rememberthatoneofthegloriesofbeinghumanisthatwearefallible.Wearethecreatureswholearnbymakingmistakes.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butIlearnbywhatIdowrong,notbywhatIdoright.Anantdoesnothavethisprivilege.Inantsocietiesifanantdeviatesfromthepatternthatantisagoner.Antsdonothavethefreedomofchoicethatwehave.Somyhopeforallofyouisthatyouhavebeenaffirmedasvaluableduring
thesecollegeyears,andthatyouleavehereknowingwhoyouare,whatyourstrengthsare,andwhatyourweaknessesare,andthatthegreatesthumanbeingsareamarvelousmixtureofboth.Ihopethatyouknowthatyouhavechoices,andthatyouhavethefreedomtodiscoverwhatistrueforyou,andtofollowthatchoice.MissClappgavemethegiftofbeingwillingtoknowmyself,withrealismandwithhope.ShewasthefirstpersontohelpmetoknowwhereandhowIcouldbreakthroughthepossibletotheimpossible,andtounderstandthatitiswhenweplungeintosomethingdifficultthatwearegivenwhatevertoolsweneed.Shehelpedtostartmeonwhathasbeenandisstillafascinatingjourney,fullofunexpectedjoysandsorrowsandchallenges.SoIhopethesameforyou,thatyouwillusefullytheApollo,theintellect,whichisagreatglory,andrejoiceequallyinSophia,thewisdomwhichmakestheintellectcreativeinsteadofdestructive.Womenareneededinaworldwhichishungupontheliteral,theprovable.Sogoouttherewithcourageandimaginationandbefullywhoeveryouare,becausethatiswhoyouaremeanttobe.Thentheimpossiblebecomespossible,andyouwillgivehopewhereveryouare.Go,andGodblessyou.
......MADELEINEL’ENGLE......(1918–2007)wrotetheNewberyMedal–winningnovelAWrinkleinTimeanditssequels,theTimeseries,whichincludeNationalBookAwardwinnerASwiftlyTiltingPlanet.ShereceivedtheMargaretEdwardsAwardforlifetime
achievementfromtheAmericanLibraryAssociation.
MichaelLewisPRINCETONUNIVERSITY,2012
ThirtyyearsagoIsatwhereyousat.Imusthavelistenedtosomeolderpersonsharehislifeexperience.ButIdon’trememberawordofit.Ican’teventellyouwhospoke.WhatIdoremember,vividly,isgraduation.I’mtoldyou’remeanttobeexcited,perhapsevenrelieved,andmaybeallofyouare.Iwasn’t.Iwastotallyoutraged.HereI’dgoneandgiventhemfourofthebestyearsofmylifeandthisishowtheythankedmeforit.Bykickingmeout.AtthatmomentIwassureofonlyonething:Iwasofnopossibleeconomic
valuetotheoutsideworld.I’dmajoredinarthistory,forastart.Eventhenthiswasregardedasanactofinsanity.Iwasalmostcertainlylesspreparedforthemarketplacethanmostofyou.YetsomehowIhavewounduprichandfamous.Well,sortof.I’mgoingtoexplain,briefly,howthathappened.Iwantyoutounderstandjusthowmysteriouscareerscanbe,beforeyougooutandhaveoneyourself.IgraduatedfromPrincetonwithouteverhavingpublishedawordofanything,
anywhere.Ididn’twriteforthePrince,orforanyoneelse.ButatPrinceton,studyingarthistory,Ifeltthefirsttwingeofliteraryambition.Ithappenedwhileworkingonmyseniorthesis.Myadviserwasatrulygiftedprofessor,anarchaeologistnamedWilliamChilds.ThethesistriedtoexplainhowtheItaliansculptorDonatellousedGreekandRomansculpture—whichisactuallytotallybesidethepoint,butI’vealwayswantedtotellsomeone.GodknowswhatProfessorChildsactuallythoughtofit,buthehelpedmetobecomeengrossed.Morethanengrossed:obsessed.WhenIhandeditinIknewwhatIwantedtodofortherestofmylife:towriteseniortheses.Or,toputitdifferently:towritebooks.
Ididwhateveryonedoeswhohasnoideawhattodowiththemselves:Iwenttograduateschool.Iwroteatnight,withoutmucheffect,mainlybecauseIhadn’t
thefirstcluewhatIshouldwriteabout.
ThenIwenttomythesisdefense.IlistenedandwaitedforProfessorChildstosayhowwellwrittenmythesiswas.Hedidn’t.Andsoafteraboutforty-fiveminutesIfinallysaid,“So.Whatdidyouthinkofthewriting?”“Putitthisway,”hesaid.“Nevertrytomakealivingatit.”AndIdidn’t—notreally.Ididwhateveryonedoeswhohasnoideawhattodo
withthemselves:Iwenttograduateschool.Iwroteatnight,withoutmucheffect,mainlybecauseIhadn’tthefirstcluewhatIshouldwriteabout.OnenightIwasinvitedtoadinner,whereIsatnexttothewifeofabigshotatagiantWallStreetinvestmentbankcalledSalomonBrothers.Shemoreorlessforcedherhusbandtogivemeajob.IknewnexttonothingaboutSalomonBrothers.ButSalomonBrothershappenedtobewhereWallStreetwasbeingreinvented—intotheplacewehaveallcometoknowandlove.WhenIgotthereIwasassigned,almostarbitrarily,totheverybestjobinwhichtoobservethegrowingmadness:Theyturnedmeintothehouseexpertonderivatives.AyearandahalflaterSalomonBrotherswashandingmeacheckforhundredsofthousandsofdollarstogiveadviceaboutderivativestoprofessionalinvestors.NowIhadsomethingtowriteabout:SalomonBrothers.WallStreethad
becomesounhingedthatitwaspayingrecentPrincetongraduateswhoknewnothingaboutmoneysmallfortunestopretendtobeexpertsaboutmoney.I’dstumbledintomynextseniorthesis.Icalledupmyfather.ItoldhimIwasgoingtoquitthisjobthatnowpromised
memillionsofdollarstowriteabookforanadvanceoffortygrand.Therewasalongpauseontheotherendoftheline.“Youmightjustwanttothinkaboutthat,”hesaid.“Why?”“StayatSalomonBrotherstenyears,makeyourfortune,andthenwriteyour
books,”hesaid.Ididn’tneedtothinkaboutit.Iknewwhatintellectualpassionfeltlike—
becauseI’dfeltithere,atPrinceton—andIwantedtofeelitagain.Iwastwenty-sixyearsold.HadIwaiteduntilIwasthirty-six,Iwouldneverhavedoneit.Iwouldhaveforgottenthefeeling.
ThebookIwrotewascalledLiar’sPoker.Itsoldamillioncopies.Iwastwenty-eightyearsold.Ihadacareer,alittlefame,asmallfortune,andanewlifenarrative.AllofasuddenpeopleweretellingmeIwasborntobeawriter.Thiswasabsurd.EvenIcouldseetherewasanother,truernarrative,withluckasitstheme.WhatweretheoddsofbeingseatedatthatdinnernexttothatSalomonBrotherslady?OflandinginsidethebestWallStreetfirmfromwhichtowritethestoryofanage?Oflandingintheseatwiththebestviewofthebusiness?Ofhavingparentswhodidn’tdisinheritmebutinsteadsighedandsaid,“Doitifyoumust?”OfhavinghadthatsenseofmustkindledinsidemebyaprofessorofarthistoryatPrinceton?OfhavingbeenletintoPrincetoninthefirstplace?Thisisn’tjustfalsehumility.It’sfalsehumilitywithapoint.Mycase
illustrateshowsuccessisalwaysrationalized.Peoplereallydon’tliketohearsuccessexplainedawayasluck—especiallysuccessfulpeople.Astheyage,andsucceed,peoplefeeltheirsuccesswassomehowinevitable.Theydon’twanttoacknowledgetheroleplayedbyaccidentintheirlives.Thereisareasonforthis:Theworlddoesnotwanttoacknowledgeiteither.Iwroteabookaboutthis,calledMoneyball.Itwasostensiblyaboutbaseball,
butwasinfactaboutsomethingelse.Therearepoorteamsandrichteamsinprofessionalbaseball,andtheyspendradicallydifferentsumsofmoneyontheirplayers.WhenIwrotemybooktherichestteaminprofessionalbaseball,theNewYorkYankees,wasthenspendingabout$120milliononitstwenty-fiveplayers.Thepoorestteam,theOaklandA’s,wasspendingabout$30million.AndyettheOaklandteamwaswinningasmanygamesastheYankees—andmorethanalltheother,richerteams.Thisisn’tsupposedtohappen.Intheory,therichteamsshouldbuythebest
playersandwinallthetime.ButtheOaklandteamhadfiguredsomethingout:Therichteamsdidn’treallyunderstandwhothebestbaseballplayerswere.Theplayersweremisvalued.Andthebiggestsinglereasontheyweremisvaluedwasthattheexpertsdidnotpaysufficientattentiontotheroleofluckinbaseballsuccess.Playersgotgivencreditforthingstheydidthatdependedontheperformanceofothers:Pitchersgotpaidforwinninggames,hittersgotpaidforknockinginrunnersonbase.Playersgotblamedandcreditedforeventsbeyondtheircontrol.Whereballsthatgothithappenedtolandonthefield,forexample.Forgetbaseball,forgetsports.Hereyouhadthesecorporateemployees,paid
millionsofdollarsayear.Theyweredoingexactlythesamejobthatpeopleintheirbusinesshadbeendoingforever.Infrontofmillionsofpeoplewhoevaluatetheireverymove.Theyhadstatisticsattachedtoeverythingtheydid.Andyettheyweremisvalued—becausethewiderworldwasblindtotheirluck.Thishadbeengoingonforacentury.Rightunderallofournoses.Andno
Thishadbeengoingonforacentury.Rightunderallofournoses.Andnoonenoticed—untilitpaidapoorteamsowelltonoticethattheycouldnotaffordnottonotice.Andyouhavetoask:Ifaprofessionalathletepaidmillionsofdollarscanbemisvalued,whocan’tbe?Ifthesupposedlypuremeritocracyofprofessionalsportscan’tdistinguishbetweenluckyandgood,whocan?TheMoneyballstoryhaspracticalimplications.Ifyouusebetterdata,youcan
findbettervalues;therearealwaysmarketinefficienciestoexploit,andsoon.Butithasabroaderandlesspracticalmessage:Don’tbedeceivedbylife’soutcomes.Life’soutcomes,whilenotentirelyrandom,haveahugeamountofluckbakedintothem.Aboveall,recognizethatifyouhavehadsuccess,youhavealsohadluck—andwithluckcomesobligation.Youoweadebt,andnotjusttoyourgods.Youoweadebttotheunlucky.
Imakethispointbecause—alongwiththisspeech—itissomethingthatwillbeeasyforyoutoforget.InowliveinBerkeley,California.Afewyearsago,justafewblocksfrommy
home,apairofresearchersintheCalpsychologydepartmentstagedanexperiment.Theybeganbygrabbingstudents,aslabrats.Thentheybrokethestudentsintoteams,segregatedbysex.Threemen,orthreewomen,perteam.Thentheyputtheseteamsofthreeintoaroom,andarbitrarilyassignedoneofthethreetoactasleader.Thentheygavethemsomecomplicatedmoralproblemtosolve:say,whatshouldbedoneaboutacademiccheating,orhowtoregulatedrinkingoncampus.Exactlythirtyminutesintotheproblemsolving,theresearchersinterrupted
eachgroup.Theyenteredtheroombearingaplateofcookies.Fourcookies.Theteamconsistedofthreepeople,buttherewerethesefourcookies.Everyteammemberobviouslygotonecookie,butthatleftafourthcookie,justsittingthere.Itshouldhavebeenawkward.Butitwasn’t.Withincredibleconsistencythepersonarbitrarilyappointedleaderofthegroupgrabbedthefourthcookieandateit.Notonlyateit,butateitwithgusto:lipssmacking,mouthopen,droolatthecornersoftheirmouths.Intheendallthatwasleftoftheextracookiewerecrumbsontheleader’sshirt.Thisleaderhadperformednospecialtask.Hehadnospecialvirtue.He’d
beenchosenatrandom,thirtyminutesearlier.Hisstatuswasnothingbutluck.Butitstilllefthimwiththesensethatthecookieshouldbehis.ThisexperimenthelpstoexplainWallStreetbonusesandCEOpay,andI’m
surelotsofotherhumanbehavior.ButitalsoisrelevanttonewgraduatesofPrincetonUniversity.Inageneralsortofwayyouhavebeenappointedtheleaderofthegroup.Yourappointmentmaynotbeentirelyarbitrary.Butyoumustsenseitsarbitraryaspect:Youaretheluckyfew.Luckyinyourparents,luckyinyourcountry,luckythataplacelikePrincetonexiststhatcantakeinluckypeople,introducethemtootherluckypeople,andincreasetheirchancesofbecomingevenluckier.Luckythatyouliveintherichestsocietytheworldhaseverseen,inatimewhennooneactuallyexpectsyoutosacrificeyourintereststoanything.Allofyouhavebeenfacedwiththeextracookie.Allofyouwillbefaced
withmanymoreofthem.Intimeyouwillfinditeasytoassumethatyoudeservetheextracookie.ForallIknow,youmay.Butyou’llbehappier,andtheworldwillbebetteroff,ifyouatleastpretendthatyoudon’t.Neverforget:inthenation’sservice.Intheserviceofallnations.Thankyou.Andgoodluck.
Andgoodluck.
......MICHAELLEWIS......isthebestsellingauthorofTheBlindSide,FlashBoys,TheBigShort,
Boomerang,Moneyball,TheNewNewThing,Coach,Losers,andLiar’sPoker,amongothers.TheBlindSideandMoneyballwerebothadaptedintoAcademyAward–nominatedfilms.LewisisacolumnistforBloombergNews,andhehas
contributedtoVanityFair,theNewYorkTimesMagazine,Slate,SportsIllustrated,andTheSpectator.HelivesinBerkeley,California.
NoraEphronWELLESLEYCOLLEGE,1996
PresidentWalsh,trustees,faculty,friends,nobleparents...anddearclassof1996,Iamsoproudofyou.Thankyouforaskingmetospeaktoyoutoday.Ihadawonderfultimetryingtoimaginewhohadbeenaheadofmeonthelistandhadsaidno;Iwaspositiveyou’dhavetohavegonetoMarthaStewartfirst.AndImeanttocallhertoseewhatshewouldhavesaid,butIforgot.Shewouldprobablybeupheretellingyouhowtoturnyourlovelyblackrobesintotents.Iwilltrytobeatleastashelpful,ifnotquiteasspecificasthat.I’mveryconsciousofhoweasyitistoletpeopledownonadaylikethis,
becauseIremembermyowngraduationfromWellesleyvery,verywell,Iamsorrytosay.ThespeakerwasSanthaRamaRau,whowasawomanwriter,andIwasgoingtobeawomanwriter.Andinfact,IhadspentfouryearsatWellesleygoingtolecturesbywomenwritershopingthatIwouldbethebeneficiaryofsometerrificsecret—whichIneverwas.AndnowhereIwasatgraduation,undertheseverytrees,absolutelyterrified.Somethingwasover.Somethingsafeandprotected.Andsomethingelsewasabouttobegin.IwasheadingofftoNewYork,andIwassurethatIwouldlivethereforeverandnevermeetanyoneandendupdyingoneofthoseNewYorkdeathswherenooneevennoticesyou’remissinguntilthesmelldriftsintothehallwayweekslater.AndIsatherethinking,“OK,Santha,thisismylastchanceforareallyterrificsecret,layitonme,”andshespokeabouttheneedtoplacefriendshipoverloveofcountry,whichImusttellyouhadnevercrossedmymindonewayortheother.Iwanttotellyoualittlebitaboutmyclass,theclassof1962.Whenwecame
toWellesleyinthefallof1958,therewasanarticleintheHarvardCrimsonaboutthewomen’scolleges,oneofthosestupidmeanlittlearticlesfullofstereotypes,likegirlsatBrynMawrwearblack.Weweregirlsthen,bytheway,Wellesleygirls.Howlongagowasit?ItwassolongagothatwhileIwashere,Wellesleyactuallythrewsixyoungwomenoutforlesbianism.Itwassolongagothatwehadcurfews.Itwassolongagothatifyouhadaboyinyourroom,youhadtoleavethedooropensixinches,andifyouclosedthedooryouhadtoputasockonthedoorknob.Inmyclassof,Idon’tknow,maybe375youngwomen,thereweresixAsiansandfiveblacks.Therewasastrictquotaonthe
numberofJews.Tuitionwas$2,000ayear,andinmyjunioryearitwasraisedto$2,250,andmyparentspracticallyhadaheartattack.Howlongago?Ifyouneededanabortion,youdrovetoagasstationinUnion,
NewJersey,with$500incashinanenvelope,andyouweretaken,blindfolded,toamotelroomandoperatedonwithoutananesthetic.Onthelighterside,andasyounodoubtreadintheNewYorkTimesMagazine,andwereflabbergastedtolearn,thereweretheposturepictures.Wenotonlytookoffmostofourclothestohaveourposturepicturestaken,wetookthemoffwithoutevereventhinking,“Thisisweird,whyarewedoingthis?”—notonlythat,wehadalsohadspeechtherapy.IwastoldIhadaNewJerseyaccentIreallyoughttodosomethingabout,whichwasashocktomesinceIwasfromBeverlyHills,California,andhadneversetfootinthestateofNewJersey...notonlythat,wewererequiredtotakeacoursecalledFundamentals,Fundies,whereweactuallyweretaughthowtogetinandoutofthebackseatofthecar.SomeofuswerenamedthingslikeWinkie.Weallpartedourhairinthemiddle.Howlongagowasit?ItwassolongagothatamongthethingsthatIhonestlycannotconceiveoflifewithout,thathadnotyetbeeninvented:pantyhose,lattes,Advil,pasta(therewasnopastathen,therewasonlyspaghettiandmacaroni)—Isitherewritingthisspeechonacomputernexttoatouch-tonephonewithanansweringmachineandaRolodex,thereareseveralCDsonmydesk,abottleofSnapple,therearefelt-tippensandanelectricpencilsharpener...well,yougetthepoint,itwasalongtimeago.Anyway,asIwassaying,theCrimsonhadthissnippyarticlewhichsaidthat
WellesleywasaschoolforTunicata—Tunicataapparentlybeingsmallfishwhospendthefirstpartoftheirlivesfranticallyswimmingaroundtheoceanfloorexploringtheirenvironment,andthesecondpartoftheirlivesjustlyingtherebreeding.Itwasmeanandsnippy,butithadthehorribleringoftruth,itwasoneofthosedo-not-ask-for-whom-the-bell-tollsthings,anditburneditselfintoourbrains.Yearslater,atmytwenty-fifthreunion,oneofmyclassmatesmentionedit,andeveryonerememberedwhatTunicatawere,wordforword.Myclasswenttocollegeintheerawhenyougotamaster’sdegreein
teachingbecauseitwas“somethingtofallbackon”intheworstcasescenario,theworstcasescenariobeingthatnoonemarriedyouandyouactuallyhadtogotowork.Asthissameclassmatesaidatourreunion,“Oureducationwasadressrehearsalforalifeweneverled.”Isn’tthatthesaddestline?Weweren’tmeanttohavefutures;weweremeanttomarrythem.Weweren’tmeanttohavepolitics,orcareersthatmattered,oropinions,orlives;weweremeanttomarrythem.Ifyouwantedtobeanarchitect,youmarriedanarchitect.Nonministrarisedministrare—youknowtheoldjoke,nottobeministersbuttobeministers’
wives.
I’vewrittenaboutmyyearsatWellesley,andIdon’twanttorepeatmyselfanymorethanisnecessary.ButIdowanttoretelloneanecdotefromthepieceIdidaboutmytenthWellesleyreunion.I’lltellitalittledifferentlyforthoseofyouwhoreadit.Whichwasthat,duringmyjunioryear,whenIwasengagedforaveryshortperiodoftime,IthoughtImighttransfertoBarnardmysenioryear.Iwenttoseemyclassdeanandshesaidtome,“Letmegiveyousomeadvice.You’veworkedsohardatWellesley,whenyoumarry,takeayearoff.Devoteyourselftoyourhusbandandyourmarriage.”OfcourseitwasastunningpieceofadvicetogivemebecauseI’dalwaysintendedtoworkaftercollege.Mymotherwasacareerwoman,andallofus,herfourdaughters,grewupunderstandingthatthequestion,“Whatdoyouwanttobewhenyougrowup?”wasasvalidforgirlsasforboys.Takeayearoffbeingawife.IalwayswonderedwhatIwassupposedtodointhatyear.Iron?Irepeatedthestoryforyears,asproofthatWellesleywanteditsgraduatestobemerelyhousewives.ButIturnedouttobewrong,becauseyearslaterImetanotherWellesleygraduatewhohadbeenashell-bentondomesticityasIhadbeenonacareer.Andshehadgonetothesamedeanwiththesameproblem,andthedeanhadsaidtoher,“Don’thavechildrenrightaway.Takeayeartowork.”AndsoIsawthatwhatWellesleywantedwasforustoavoidtheextremes.Tobeinstead,thatthinginthemiddle.Alady.Weweretotakethefabulouseducationwehadreceivedhereanduseittopresideatdinnertableoratacommitteemeeting,andwhentwopeopledisagreedwewouldbeintelligentenoughtostepinandpointouttheremarkablesimilaritiesbetweentheirtwoopposingpositions.Weweretospendourlivesmakingnice.Manyofmyclassmatesdidexactlywhattheyweresupposedtowhenthey
graduatedfromWellesley,andsomeofthem,bytheway,livedhappilyeverafter.Butmanyofthemdidn’t.Allsortsofthingshappenedthatnooneexpected.Theyneededmoneysotheyhadtowork.Theygotdivorcedsotheyhadtowork.Theywereboredwitlesssotheyhadtowork.Thewomen’smovementcamealongandmadeharshvaluejudgmentsabouttheirlives—judgmentsthatcaughtthembysurprise,becausetheyweredoingwhattheyweresupposedtobedoing,weren’tthey?Theruleshadchanged;theywerecaughtinsomekindofstrangetimewarp.Theyhadneverintendedtobetheheroinesoftheirownlives;they’dintendedtobe—what?—FirstLadies,Iguess,firstladiesinthelivesofbigmen.Theyendedupfeelinglikevictims.Theyendedup,andthisisreallysad,thinkingthattheiryearsincollegewerethebestyearsoftheirlives.WhyamItellingyouthis?Itwasalongtimeago,right?Thingshave
changed,haven’tthey?Yes,theyhave.ButImentionitbecauseIwantto
changed,haven’tthey?Yes,theyhave.ButImentionitbecauseIwanttoremindyouoftheundertow,ofthespecificgravity.Americansocietyhasaremarkableabilitytoresistchange,ortotakewhateverchangehastakenplaceandattempttomakeitgoaway.Thingsaredifferentforyouthantheywereforus.Justthefactthatyouchosetocometoasingle-sexcollegemakesyousmarterthanwewere—wecamebecauseit’swhatyoudidinthosedays—andthecollegeyouaregraduatingfromisaverydifferentplace.AllsortsofthingscausedWellesleytochange,butitdidchange,andtodayit’saplacethatunderstandsitsobligationstowomenintoday’sworld.Thewomen’smovementhasmadeahugedifference,too,particularlyforyoungwomenlikeyou.Therearewomendoctorsandwomenlawyers.Thereareanchorwomen,althoughmostofthemareblonde.
Butatthesametime,thepaydifferentialbetweenmenandwomenhasbarelychanged.Inmybusiness,themoviebusiness,therearemanymorewomendirectors,butit’sjustashardtomakeamovieaboutwomenasiteverwas,andlookatthepartstheOscar-nominatedactressesplayedthisyear:hooker,hooker,hooker,hooker,andnun.It’s1996,andyouaregraduatingfromWellesleyintheYearoftheWonderbra.TheWonderbraisnotastepforwardforwomen.Nothingthathurtsthatmuchisastepforwardforwomen.WhatI’msayingis,don’tdeludeyourselfthatthepowerfulculturalvalues
thatwreckedthelivesofsomanyofmyclassmateshavevanishedfromtheearth.Don’tlettheNewYorkTimesarticleaboutthebrilliantsuccessofWellesleygraduatesinthebusinessworldfoolyou—there’sstillaglassceiling.Don’tletthenumberofwomenintheworkforcetrickyou—therearestilllotsofmagazinesdevotedalmostexclusivelytomakingperfectcasserolesandturningvariousthingsintotents.Don’tunderestimatehowmuchantagonismthereistowardwomenandhow
manypeoplewishwecouldturntheclockback.Oneofthethingspeoplealwayssaytoyouifyougetupsetis,“Don’ttakeitpersonally,”butlistenhardtowhat’sgoingonand,please,Ibegyou,takeitpersonally.Understand:EveryattackonHillaryClintonfornotknowingherplaceisanattackonyou.Underneathalmostallthoseattacksarethewords:getback,getbacktowhereyouoncebelonged.WhenElizabethDolepretendsthatsheisn’tseriousabouthercareer,thatisanattackonyou.TheacquittalofO.J.Simpsonisanattackonyou.Anymovetolimitabortionrightsisanattackonyou—whetherornotyoubelieveinabortion.ThefactthatClarenceThomasissittingontheSupremeCourttodayisanattackonyou.Aboveall,betheheroineofyourlife,notthevictim.Becauseyoudon’thave
thealibimyclasshad—thisisoneofthegreatachievementsandmixedblessingsyouinherit:Unlikeus,youcan’tsaynobodytoldyoutherewereotheroptions.Youreducationisadressrehearsalforalifethatisyourstolead.Twenty-fiveyearsfromnow,youwon’thaveaseasyatimemakingexcusesasmyclassdid.Youwon’tbeabletoblamethedeans,ortheculture,oranyoneelse:Youwillhavenoonetoblamebutyourselves.Whoa.Sowhatareyougoingtodo?Thisistheseasonwhenaclutchofsuccessful
women—whohaveitall—givespeechestowomenlikeyouandsay:“Tobeperfectlyhonest,youcan’thaveitall.”Maybeyoungwomendon’twonderwhethertheycanhaveitallanylonger,butincaseanyofyouarewondering,ofcourseyoucanhaveitall.Whatareyougoingtodo?Everything,ismyguess.Itwillbealittlemessy,butembracethemess.Itwillbecomplicated,butrejoiceinthecomplications.Itwillnotbeanythinglikewhatyouthinkitwillbelike,but
thecomplications.Itwillnotbeanythinglikewhatyouthinkitwillbelike,butsurprisesaregoodforyou.Anddon’tbefrightened:Youcanalwayschangeyourmind.Iknow:I’vehadfourcareersandthreehusbands.AndthisissomethingelseIwanttotellyou,oneofthehundredsofthingsI
didn’tknowwhenIwassittingheresomanyyearsago:Youarenotgoingtobeyou,fixedandimmutableyou,forever.Wehaveagameweplaywhenwe’rewaitingfortablesinrestaurants,whereyouhavetowritethefivethingsthatdescribeyourselfonapieceofpaper.WhenIwasyourage,Iwouldhaveput:ambitious,Wellesleygraduate,daughter,Democrat,single.Tenyearslaternotoneofthosefivethingsturneduponmylist.Iwas:journalist,feminist,NewYorker,divorced,funny.Todaynotoneofthosefivethingsturnsupinmylist:writer,director,mother,sister,happy.Whateverthosefivethingsareforyoutoday,theywon’tmakethelistintenyears—notthatyoustillwon’tbesomeofthosethings,buttheywon’tbethefivemostimportantthingsaboutyou.Whichisoneofthemostdeliciousthingsavailabletowomen,andmoreparticularlytowomenthantomen.Ithink.It’sslightlyeasierforustoshift,tochangeourminds,totakeanotherpath.
YogiBerra,theformerNewYorkYankeewhomadeaspecialtyofsayingthingsthatwerefamouslymaladroit,quotedhimselfatarecentcommencementspeechhegave.“Whenyouseeaforkintheroad,”hesaid,“takeit.”Yes,it’ssupposedtobeajoke,butassomeonesaidinamovieImade,“Don’tlaugh,thisismylife.”Thisisthelifemanywomenlead:Twopathsdivergeinawood,andwegettotakethemboth.It’sanotherofthenicestthingsaboutbeingwomen:Wecandothat.DidIsayitwashard?Yes,butletmesayitagainsothatnoneofyoucaneversaythewords,“Nobodysaiditwassohard.”Butit’salsoincrediblyinteresting.Youaresoluckytohavethatlifeasanoption.Whateveryouchoose,howevermanyroadsyoutravel,Ihopethatyouchoose
nottobealady.Ihopeyouwillfindsomewaytobreaktherulesandmakealittletroubleoutthere.AndIalsohopethatyouwillchoosetomakesomeofthattroubleonbehalfofwomen.Thankyou.Goodluck.Thefirstactofyourlifeisover.Welcometothebestyearsofyourlives.
......NORAEPHRON......(1941–2012)wasawriter,director,andscreenwriterknownforcreatingstrongfemalecharacters.HeressaycollectionsIFeelBadAboutMyNeck:AndOtherThoughtsonBeingaWomanandIRememberNothingbothhitthebestsellerlist,asdidherfirstnovel,Heartburn.SheearnedOscarnominationsforherwritingonWhenHarryMetSally,Silkwood,andSleeplessinSeattle,andherdirectorial
creditsincludetheblockbusterfilmsYou’veGotMailandJulie&Julia.
IraGlassGOUCHERCOLLEGE,2012
IamhonoredtobeaskedtobeyourCommencementspeaker.IamstillopposedonprincipletotheideaofaCommencementspeech.Ibelieveitisadoomedform,cloyingandimpossible.Commencementspeakersgivestockadvice,whichisthenpromptlyignored.Thecentralmissionofthecommencementspeechisinitselfridiculous:toinspireatamomentthatneedsnoinspiration.Lookatyourselvesatthismoment.Somethingincredibleishappeningtoyou,
rightnow.Thewholeworldisopeningtoyou.Youguyshavebeeninschoolyourentirelives.Youhavecompletedsomethingdifficultthattookpersistenceandwillfulness.Probablyyouquestionedyourselves,againandagain,andnowyou’reofftofacetheworldanddoeverythingthatyou’vebeendreaming.Whatcanwordsaddtothat,excepttodelaythemomentyougetyourdiploma?Seriously.IopposetheformoftheCommencementspeech,andIcontinuetoopposeit,
evenasIdoonenow.AndIsaidyesonlybecauseofmypersonalconnectionstothisschool.Oneisyourpresident,SandyUngar,whomIworkedcloselywithatNPR
yearsago.Who,asmanyofyouknow,hasaspecialgiftforconvincingpeopletodothingstheydonotnecessarilywanttodo.WhichworkedoutgreatinthiscasebecauseIhaveaspecialgiftofsaying“yes”topeoplelikethat.AnotherpersonalconnectionIhavetoGoucherismyGrandmaFrieda,my
dad’smom,FriedaFriedlander,GoucherClassof’31,adefiantlyproudGouchergrad.AretheremembersofPhiBetaKappahere?CanIhear?PhiBetaKappa?Youaremygrandma’ssistersinthatorganization.I’mwearingherPhiBetaKappakeyrightnow.GrandmaFriedaworeherkeytoanyspecialdinneroroccasionuntilshedied,
andshewasnotshyabouttalkingaboutbeingamemberofPhiBetaKappawithanyonewhowouldlisten,whichmakesherseemlikesomewackyold-ladycrank.Shewasactuallyanythingbut.Shewassmartandfunnyandawaketotheworld.AndIlovedherenoughthat,althoughIopposetheentiretraditionofthegraduationspeech,IamstandinghereinfrontofyoutodaybecauseIknowitwouldpleaseheragreatdeal.
wouldpleaseheragreatdeal.MythirdconnectiontoGoucher,well,Ireallywasnotgoingtotalkaboutat
all.Butthisweekmywifeandsomefriendsinsistedthatyougradswouldfinditrelevant.AndthatisthatIlostmyvirginityinoneofthedormshere.Notrecently!Iwastwenty.Itwasstillanall-girlsschool.I’mnottheonlyoneinthistentthathashadthatexperienceinoneofthesedorms,right?ShewasaGouchersenior.Shemadethishappen;Iwasnottheinstigator.Ihadsomegoodqualitiesatthatage,butIwaskindofalittleimmatureandscared.She,however,wasusedtotranscendingboundaries,andIthinkthat’sallIwanttosayaboutthat.1AlthoughIopposetheideaofthecommencementaddress,I’vebeenthinking
aboutwhatwouldhavebeenusefulformetohearonthedayIleftcollege.Iwishthatsomeonehadsaidtomethatit’snormaltofeellostforalittlewhile.Youknow,yougetoutofschool,youhavethisgreatandveryexpensiveeducation,andyouarearocketreadytolaunch.Itisnotclearwhereyoushouldbepointed,orevenhowtogetofftheground.Andhowexactlyareyousupposedtomakethisbigincrediblelifethatnow
you’resupposedlytrainedtocreate?You’resupposedtobelike,“Allright,let’sgo!”Butwhatdoyoudo?IthinkIwasasambitiousasanyofyouinthisclass.Iwasworkingata
networknewsshow,AllThingsConsidered,attheageoftwenty.AndevenIfloundered.Iflounderedbadly.Ihadoneskillasapersoninmytwenties,andthatisthat,forwhateverreason,Iwasagoodeditor.Iwasadecenteditorfromthestart.ButIknewnoneoftheotherthingsthatmakemedecentatmyjobnow:howtomakeastory,howtostructureastory,howtofindastory,howtoreport.Iwasaterriblewriter.Iwasthekindofwriterwhowritesaparagraphandthenlooksatitandthinks,“Ohno!NowI’mgoingtomoveallthewordsaround.”Andthenrewritesitoverandoveragain.Ispentyearsinmytwentiesdoingmediocrestoriesthatshouldhavetaken
daysbut,infact,tookmemonths.IspentyearswonderingifIshouldjustlearntobecomeajournalistbygoingtojournalismschool,bygoingtogradschool.Instead—andthisisjustalittlepracticaltip—IsimplydecidedtotakeNPRreportersandpaythem$50tolookatscriptsIwasworkingon,whichwasmuchcheaperthangradschool.Myparents,throughoutmytwentieswhenIwasworkinginpublicradio,
completelyopposedeverythingthatIwasdoingworkinginpublicbroadcasting.SomehowmyparentsaretheonlyJewsinAmericawhodonotlistentopublicradio.TheythoughtIshouldbeadoctor.Iwasonceapre-medstudent,amongotherthings.TheirideaformylifewasthatI’dhavesomekidsandlivehereintheBaltimoresuburbswhereIgrewup,liketheirparents’kids.Ihopethisisnot
embarrassingtothemifIsaythis:Ihadmyownnationalradioshow,IhadbeenonDavidLetterman,andtherehadbeenaNewYorkTimesMagazinearticleaboutmebeforetheystoppedsuggestingmedicalschoolwasstillanoption.Andtotheirgreatcredit,theychanged.Ithinkoneofthemostdifficultthings
foranyparentistore-alignhisorherexpectationsfortheirkidswithwhattheirkidsactuallywanttobe.AndIthinkwhenyou’rethekidinthatsituation,it’sreallyeasytobegliband
justexpectyourparentstodroptheirpreconceptionsandcatchupinstantlytoyourideaofwhoyouwanttobe.Inmycase,myparentswereworriedaboutmoney.Theybothgrewup
withoutmuchmoney,financiallyinsecure.TheysawthatIwasmakingnomoneydoingpublicbroadcasting,anditjustpushedalloftheirbuttons.Theywerereallyworried.WhenIwasinmytwenties,thingsweresaidbetweenusthat,well,mymompassedawayafewyearsagoofcancer,andtherearethingsIsaidtoherinmytwentiesthatIstillregret.Ithinkmyparentsadjustedtheirideasforwhatmylifeshouldbewithas
muchgraceasanybodycould.AndIwouldjustsaytoyouguys,asyourparentsstrugglewiththatsupremelydifficulttask:Don’tbeadick.There’sashowonHBOthatIadmirealot,calledGirls.It’saboutwhatit’s
likeintheyearsaftercollegewhenyou’retryingtomakealifeforyourself.It’saboutwhatyouguysareabouttolaunchyourselvesinto.EverysinglefactaboutthatshowiscompletelydifferentfrommylifewhenIwasinmytwenties,buttheessenceofthatshowfeelsexactlythesame.What’sgreatabouttheshowisthatit’sacompletelyunromanticviewofwhatyourlifeisabouttobecome.Theyoungwomenonthatshow,theyflounder,theypretendtoknowwhatthey’redoingwhentheyabsolutelydon’t.Theystronglybelievethingsthataretransparentlyuntrue.Imyselfspentyears—years!—inaterriblekindofpoliticallycorrectphasewhereItraveledtoNicaragua—andcalledit“Neekah-rahg-you-ah”—toobservetheSandinistarevolutionfirsthand.
Youwillbestupid.YouwillworryyourparentsasIworriedmine.Youwillquestionyourownchoices.Youwillquestionyourrelationships,yourjobs,yourfriends,whereyoulive,whatyoustudiedincollege,thatyouwenttocollegeatall,andthethingIwanttosayis:Thatistotallyokay.Thatistotallynormal.Ifthathappens,you’redoingitright.Whenyou’reinschoolyou’reonapath,andtherearesignposts,andthereare
goals.Theygiveyougrades,which,inretrospect,isaninsanelywonderfulthingthatpeopleareconstantlygradingyouandtellingyou,“Youdidwell!”“Youdidbadly!”“Youdidwell!”Nowyouaregoingtojointheconfusingmessoflifewithmeandyour
parentsandtherestofus,themessthatwe’vebeenlivinginsideforyearsaheadofyou,whereitisnotclearatallhowtoevaluateanythingthatyouaredoingorhowyou’regoingtospendtherestofthistimeonthisearth.Welcometoyourfuture.Thegoodnewsisthatyoucanwillthingsintoexistence.Like,Iwasnota
verygoodwriter,andIjustwilledittohappenbytryingandtryingandtrying.Youleavethisschoolaswell-armedforbattleasanyoneis.You’redoingas
wellasanybody.Andnowyou’lljusthavetoinventwhatyou’regoingtobe.That’swhatIdid.IwouldworkandworkandworkandmakeuplittleseriesthatI’dproduceonMorningEdition,andIjustassumedthatideaswouldbesprinkledonmelikefairydust:Youwakeup,andyouhaveagoodidea.Ihadtolearnthatfindinganideaisajob.Ifyou’regoingtodocreativework,youhavetoinventasystemtofindideastomaketheworkabout.Thatisajobinitself.
Findinganideaisajob.
Andwheredoideascomefrom?Theycomefromotherideas.Andyouhavetosurroundyourselfwiththingsthatareinterestingtoyouandnoticewhat’sexcitingtoyouandwhatyouwanttodiveinto.Findingwhatyou’regoingtomakeyourshortstoryorfilmorsongorartprojectaboutisajob.Findingwhatyouwanttodonextisajob.It’satask.Youhavetosetasidehoursintheday,andyouhavetobeasoldier,andyouhavetofightforwhatyou’regoingtomakeyourselfinto.Youcannottellwherethingswilllead.MyGrandmaFrieda,aftershegotout
ofGoucher,herlifetooksomereally,reallyroughturns.Shegraduatedin1931duringaslighteconomicturndownyoumighthaveheardof.Shedivorcedsoonafterhavingtwochildren.ShewasasinglemomduringtheDepressionandafterward.BackwhenshewasateenagerhereinBaltimore,totreatheracne(shehad
badacne),theyhadthisbrand-new,amazingtechnologycalledX-rays.Theywouldexposeyourskintoitinhighdosestoclearupyourzits.Onlylaterdidtheyrealizethathighdosesofradiationlikethatgiveyouskincancer,whichkickedinforGrandmaFriedawhenshewasthirty-two.Theyhadtoremovemostoftheskinfromherfaceandgraftonskinfromelsewhereonherbody,whichtookoverfortyseparateoperations.Shewasthefirstoneoneithersideofmyfamilytohavegonetocollegebut
endeduptakingoverthefamilybusiness,whichwasalittlecornergrocerydownonBayardStreetdowntown—basicallyaJewishbodega—thatthefamilylivedupstairsfrom,wheremydadandmyunclealsoworked.ShetalkedaboutGouchersofondlyasshegotolderbecause,Ithink,shewas
happyhere.Itwasareallyhappytimeinherlife.MydadandmyunclebothtoldmethisweekthatafterGoucher,thingsgotalotharderforher.Eventually,shedidthejobshetrainedforatGoucher,whichwastobea
teacher.InherfileshereatGoucherthereareevaluationsfromteachingclassesthat
shetook.There’sonedatedApril1931:“MissFriedlandergivespromiseofbeingaverysuccessfulteacher.Shehasasenseofsocialresponsibility,apleasingpersonality,anexcellentandwell-trainedmind.”Herteachingpracticemet“greatsuccess,makingunusual,varied,interesting,well-organizedlesson
plans,presentinghermaterialwithforceandvigor...clinchingherpointsinamostexperiencedmanner.”Eventually,shetaughtFrenchinthepublichighschoolshereinBaltimore,in
thecity,atahighschoolthatconfusinglyiscalledCityCollege.Apparentlyshewasverygoodatit.AwriternamedDwayneWickhamwroteamemoiraboutgrowingupinBaltimoreandstrugglinginschoolandnearlydroppingout,andhenamesherasoneofthefewteacherswhotriedtorescuehimashestruggledthroughhighschool.JustasherteachersatGoucherpredicted.I’mgoingtoclosewithastorythatseemscrazy,butIrememberhertelling
thisstory,andmydadinsistsit’strue.It’saboutthedaythatGrandmaFrieda,Gouchergrad,Bawlmergirl,metAdolfHitler.ShewasmarriedinJune1932,andtherewasenoughmoneyfromthecornerstoreatthatpointtohoneymooninEurope,inGermany.Sheandmygrandfather,Louie,weregettingatourofsomegovernmentbuilding.IwasalwaystoldthatitwastheReichstagbuilding,whichburneddownayearlater.Theywereledthrougharoom—youknowyougetinwithagroupoftouristsandareledthroughvariousrooms?—theywalkintoaroom,andthetourguidesays,“Oh,thisisHerrHitler,youknow,who’stryingtobecomeournewchancellor.”MyGrandmaFriedawouldlaterdescribehimasthisshort,unimpressivelittle
man.Andhenodsattheforeigntourists,andtheykindanodathimandmoveonto
thenextroom.Yearslater,inherhighschoolclassroomatCityCollege,myGrandmaFrieda
wouldtellthisstory,andshesaidtheresponsewasalwaysthesamefromthestudents.Theywouldalwayssaythesamething.Theywouldraisetheirhandsandgo,“Whydidn’tyoukillhim?”Andshe’dsaid,“Well,ifI’dhaveKNOWNwhathewasgoingtoDO!Itwas
1932!”Andrightthereistheproblem.Wedon’tknow.Welurchforwardinourlives.
Wetrythis.Wetrythat.Wemakethebestguessesthatwecan,basedonwhatwebelieveatthetime.AnditisentirelypossiblethataGouchergrad—thatyou,oryou,oryou—willgetthechancetochangetheworldandkillAdolfHitler.Andyouwillmissit.Thatisentirelypossible.ButIhavetosay,Italkedtoalotofyoulastnight,andIbelieveinyou.Ithinkthatitisjustaslikelythatyouwillcontinuetogrowandbuildmuscle,
whichisyournexttask,andcontinuetomakeyourselvesintowhoitisyouaretryingtobe.Andwhenyougetyourchancetoremaketheworld,whenyougetthechancetochangeeverythingforyourself,andhopefullyforothers,too,whenyougetyourchancetoshootAdolfHitler,youwillknowwhattodo.
yougetyourchancetoshootAdolfHitler,youwillknowwhattodo.That’smywishforyouonthisday.
1.“Transcendingboundaries”wasaGouchersloganandcatchphrasethatyear.
......IRAGLASS......isthehostofWBEZChicago’sThisAmericanLife.
BarbaraKingsolverDUKEUNIVERSITY,2008
Letmebeginthisway:withaninvocationofyourownbesthopes,thrownlikeahandfulofriceoverthiscelebration.Congratulations,graduates.Congratulations,parents,onthebestMother’sDaygiftever.Betterthanallthoseburnt-toastbreakfasts:these,yourchildrengrowntallandcompetent,educatedtowithinaninchoftheirlives.WhatcanIsaytopeoplewhoknowalmosteverything?Therewasatime
whenIsurelyknew,becauseI’djustgraduatedfromcollegemyself,afterwritingdownthesumofallhumanknowledgeonexamsandresearchpapers.Butthatgreatpedagogicalswilling-outmusthavedepletedmyreserves,becausedecadeshavepassedandnowIcan’tbelievehowmuchIdon’tknow.Lookingback,IcandiscernakindofgaseousexchangeinwhichIexudedclevernessandgraduallyabsorbedbetterjudgment.Wisdomislikefrequent-flyermilesandscartissue:Ifitdoesaccumulate,thathappensbyaccidentwhileyou’retryingtodosomethingelse.Andwisdomiswhatpeoplewillstartwantingfromyou,afteryourlastexam.Iknowit’strueforwriters—whenpeopleloveabook,whatevertheysayaboutit,whattheyreallymeanis:Itwaswise.Ithelpedexplaintheirpickle.Myfavoritesarethecannyoldcodgers:Neruda,GarcíaMárquez,DorisLessing.Honestly,itisharrowingformetotrytoteachtwenty-year-oldstudentswhoearnestlywanttoimprovetheirwriting.ThebestIcanthinktotellthemis:quitsmoking,andobservepostedspeedlimits.Thiswillimproveyouroddsofgettingoldenoughtobewise.
Theworldshiftsunderourfeet.Theruleschange.
IfIstoppedthere,youmighthaveheardmybestoffer.ButIamchargedwithpostponingyourdiplomaforaboutfifteenmoreminutes,soI’llproceed,withacaveat.Thewisdomofeachgenerationisnecessarilynew.Thistendstodawnonusinrevelatorymoments,broughttousbyourchildren.Forexample:Myyoungerdaughteriseleven.Everymorning,sheandIwalkdownthelanefrom
ourfarmtotheplacewhereshemeetstheschoolbus.It’sthebestpartofmyday.Wehavegreatconversations.Butafewweeksagoaswestoodwaitinginthedawn’searlylight,Lilywasquietlylookingmeover,andfinallysaid:“Mom,justsoyouknow,theonlyreasonI’mlettingyouwearthatoutfitisbecauseofyourage.”Theallegedoutfitwillnotbedescribedhere;whateveryou’reimaginingwillperfectlysuffice.(Especiallyifyou’repicturingProjectRunwaymeets“workingwithlivestock.”)Now,Ibelieveparentsshouldupholdrespectforadultauthority,soIdidwhatIhadtodo.Ihidbehindthebarnwhenthebuscame.AndthenIwalkedbackupthelaneinmyflyregalia,contemplatingthisnew
equation:“becauseofyourage.”It’sokaynowtodeckoutandturnupasthevillageidiot.Hooray!Iamoldenough.Howdoesthishappen?Overacertainage,doyoubecomeinvisible?Thereisconsiderableevidenceforthisinmoviesandtelevision.Butmainly,Ithink,you’renotexpectedtoknowtherules.Everyoneknowsyou’reoperatingonsoftwarethathasn’tbeenupdatedforagoodwhile.Theworldshiftsunderourfeet.Theruleschange.NottheBillofRights,or
therulesoftenting,butthebigunspokentruthsofageneration.Exhaledbyculture,takeninlikeoxygen,weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident:Yougetwhatyoupayfor.Successiseverything.Workiswhatyoudoformoney,andthat’swhatcounts.Howcoulditbeotherwise?Andtheconverseofthatlastrule,ofcourse,isthatifyou’renotpaidtodoathing,itcan’tbeimportant.Ifachildwritesapoemandproudlyreadsit,adultsmaywinkandask,“Thinkthere’salotofmoneyinthat?”YoumayalsohearthiswhenyoudeclareamajorinEnglish.Beingagoodneighbor,raisingchildren:Theroadtosuccessisnotpavedwiththelikesofthese.Someworkplacesactuallyquantifyyourlikelihoodofbeingdistractedbyfamilyorvolunteerism.It’scalledyourCoefficientofDrag.Theidealnumberiszero.ThisistheRuleofPerfectEfficiency.Now,theruleof“Success”hastraditionallymeanthavingboatloadsof
money.Butwearenotreallysupposedtoputitinaboat.Ahousewouldbethecustomarything.Ideallyitshouldbelarge,withalotofbathroomsandsoforth,butnomorethanfourpeople.Iftwofriendscomeoverduringapprovedvisitinghours,thetwochildrenhavetoleave.Thebathroom-to-residentratioshouldatalltimesremaingreaterthanone.I’mnotmakingthisup,I’mjustobserving;it’smoreorlessmyprofession.AsYogiBerratoldus,youcanobservealotjustbywatching.Iseeourdreamhousesstandingalone,theidealizedlifetakingplaceinakindofbubble.Soyouneedanotherbubble,withrubbertires,toconveyyourselftoplacesyoumustvisit,suchasanoffice.Ifyou’resuccessful,itwillbealarge,empty-ishofficeyoudon’thavetoshare.Ifyouneedanything,you
cangetitdelivered.Playyourcardsrightandyoumayneverhavetocomefacetofacewithanotherperson.ThisistheRuleofEscalatingIsolation.AndsowefindourselvesinthechapterofhistoryIwouldentitle“Isolation
andEfficiency,AndHowTheyCameAroundtoBiteUsintheBackside.”Becauseit’slookingthatway.We’reaworldatwar,ravagedbydisagreements,abizarrelyglobalizedpeopleinwhichtheextravagantexcessesofoneculturewashupasfamineorfloodontheshoresofanother.Eventhearchitectureofourplanetiscollapsingundertheweightofourefficientproductivity.Ourclimate,ouroceans,migratorypaths,thingswebelievedwereindependentofhumanaffairs.Twentyyearsago,climatescientistsfirsttoldCongressthatunlimitedcarbonemissionswerebuildingtowardadisastrousinstability.Congresssaid,“Weneedtothinkaboutthat.”Abouttenyearslater,nationsoftheworldwrotetheKyotoProtocol,asetoflegallybindingcontrolsonourcarbonemissions.TheU.S.said,“Westillneedtothinkaboutit.”Nowwecanwatchasglaciersdisappear,thelightsofbiodiversitygoout,theoceansreversetheirancientorders.Afewdegreeslookedsosmallonthethermometer.Wearesogoodatmeasuringthingsanddeclaringthemundercontrol.Howcouldourweatherturnmurderous,pummelourcoasts,andpushnewdiseaseslikedenguefeverontoourdoorsteps?It’sanemergencyonascalewe’veneverknown.We’verespondedbyfollowingtherulesweknow:Efficiency,Isolation.Wecan’tslowdownourproductivityandconsumption;that’sunthinkable.Can’twejustgohomeandputareallybiglockonthedoor?Notthistime.Ourparadigmhasmetitsmatch.Theworldwillsaveitself,
don’tgetmewrong.Theterm“fossilfuels”isnotametaphororasimile.Inthegeologicalsense,it’sover.Theinternalcombustionengineissotwentiethcentury.Nowwecaneithershiftawayfromacarbon-basedeconomyorfindanotherplacetolive.Imagineit:Weraisedyouonalie.Everythingyouplugin,turnon,ordrive,theout-of-seasonfoodsyoueat,themusicinyourears.Wegaveyouthisworldandpromisedyoucouldkeepitrunningon:afossilsubstance.Dinosaurslime,andit’srunningout.Thegeologistsonlydisagreeonhowmuchisleft,andtheclimatescientistsarenowsayingthey’resorrybutthat’snoteventhepoint.Wewon’tgettimetouseitall.Tostabilizethefloodsandfirestorms,we’llhavetoreduceourcarbonemissionsby80percent,withinadecade.
“YOUCANOBSERVEALOTJUSTBYWATCHING.”
Heavenhelpusgetourmindsaroundthat.We’restillstuckonastrategyofbaitandswitch:OK,we’llkeepthecars,butrunthemonethanolmadefromcorn!But—weusepetroleumtogrowthecorn.Evenifyouliketheideaofrobbingthefoodbanktofillupthetank,thereisamathproblem:Ittakesnearlyagallonoffossilfueltorenderanequivalentgallonofcorngas.Bysomeaccounts,ittakesmore.ThinkoftheJulesVernenovelinwhichtheheroisracingAroundtheWorldinEightyDays,andfindshimselfstrandedinthemid-Atlanticonasteamshipthat’srunoutofcoal.It’sDaySeventy-Nine.SoPhileasFoggconvincestheCaptaintopullupthedecksandthrowthemintotheboiler.“Onthenextdaythemasts,rafts,andsparswereburned.Thecrewworkedlustily,keepingupthefires.Therewasaperfectragefordemolition.”TheCaptainremarked,“Fogg,you’vegotsomethingoftheYankeeaboutyou.”Oh,novelists.Theyalwaysmanagetohavethelastword,evenwhentheyaredead.
Howcanwegetfromheretothere,withoutburningupourship?Thatwillbecentralquestionofyouradultlife:toescapethewildrumpusofcarbon-fueldependency,inthenickoftime.You’llmakerulesthatwerepreviouslyunthinkable,imposinglimitsonwhatwecanuseandpossess.Youwillradicallyreconsiderthepowerrelationshipbetweenhumansandourhabitat.InthewordsofmyesteemedcolleagueandfriendWendellBerry,thenewEmancipationProclamationwillnotbeforaspecificraceorspecies,butforlifeitself.Imagineit.Nationshavealreadyjoinedtogethertoreininglobalconsumption.Faithcommunitieshavefoundanewpointofagreementwithstudentactivists,organizingaroundtheconvictionthatcaringforourplanetisamoralobligation.BeforethelastU.N.ClimateConference,inBali,thousandsofU.S.citizenscontactedtheStateDepartmenttopressforbindinglimitsoncarbonemissions.We’rethe5percentofhumanswhohavemade50percentofallthegreenhousegasesupthere.Butourgovernmentisreluctanttoaddressit,foronereason:Itmighthurtoureconomy.Foralotofhistory,manynationssaidexactlythesamethingaboutabolishing
slavery.Wecan’tgranthumanitytoallpeople:Itwouldhurtourcottonplantations,oursugarcrop,ourbalanceoftrade.Untilthedaughtersandsonsofanewwisdomdeclared:Wedon’tcare.Youhavetofindanotherway.Enoughofthisshame.Havewelostthatkindofcourage?Haveweleteconomicgrowthbecomeour
undisputedmasteragain?Aswetracktheunfoldingdisruptionofnaturalandglobalstabilities,youwillbetoldtobuyintobusinessasusual:Youneedajob.Tradeyourfutureforanentrylevelposition.Dowhatwedid,preserveaprofitableclimateformanufactureandconsumption,atanycost.Evenatthecostoftheotherclimate—theonethatwashospitabletolifeasweknewit.Isanyonethinkingthisthrough?Intheawfulmomentwhensomeonedemandsatgunpoint,“Yourmoneyoryourlife,”that’snotsupposedtobeahardquestion.
Generosityisnotoutofthequestion.
Alotofpeople,infact,arerethinkingthemoneyanswer.Lookingbehindthecashpriceofeverything,toseewhatitcostuselsewhere:tomineandmanufacture,totransport,toburn,tobury.Whatdiditharmonitswayhere?CouldIgetitclosertohome?Previousgenerationsrarelyaskedaboutthehiddencosts.Weputthemonlayaway.Youdon’tgettodothat.Thebillhas
hiddencosts.Weputthemonlayaway.Youdon’tgettodothat.Thebillhascomedue.SomeEuropeancountriesalreadyarecalculatingthe“climatecost”onconsumergoodsandaddingittotheprice.Thefutureishere.We’reexaminingthemoralitiesofpossession,inventingrenewabletechnologies,recoveringsustainablefoodsystems.We’reevenwarminguptotheideathatthewealthynationswillhavetohelpthepoorerones,forthesakeofareconstructedworld.We’vedoneitbefore.ThatwastheMarshallPlan.Generosityisnotoutofthequestion.ItwillgrindsomegearsinthemachineofEfficiency.Butwecanretool.
Wecanalsorethinkthebig,lonelyhouseasametaphorforsuccess.Youareinaperfectpositiontodothat.You’veprobablyspentverylittleofyourrecentlifeinafree-standingunitwithabathroom-to-residentratioofgreaterthanone.(Maybemorelike1:200.)You’vebeenlivingsoclosetoyourfriends,youdidn’thavetoaskabouttheirproblems,youhadtostepoverthemtogetintotheroom.Asyoumovedfromdormitorytoapartmenttowhateveryou’vehadsuchafulllife,surroundedbypeople,inallkindsofsocialandphysicalstructures,noneofwhichbelongedentirelytoyou.You’retoldthat’sallabouttochange.Thatgrowingupmeansleavingtheherd,startingupthelongescalatortoisolation.Notnecessarily.Asyouleavehere,rememberwhatyoulovedmostinthis
place.NotOrgo2,I’mguessing,orthecrazedsquirrelsoreventhebulkcerealintheFreshmanMarketplace.Imeanthewayyoulived,incloseandcontinuouscontact.Thisisanancienthumansocialconstructthatoncewascommoninthisland.Wecalleditacommunity.Welivedamongourvillagers,dependingonthemforwhatweneeded.Ifwehadaproblem,wedidnotdiscussitoverthephonewithsomeoneinBhubaneshwar.Wewenttoaneighbor.Weacquiredfoodfromfarmers.Welistenedtomusicingroups,inchurchesoronfrontporches.Wedanced.Weparticipated.Evenwhentherewasnomoneyinit.Communityisournativestate.Youplayhardestforahometowncrowd:Youbecomeyourbestself.Youknowjoy.Thisisnotaguess;thereisevidence.Thescholarswhostudysocialwell-beingcanputitonchartsandgraphs.Inthelastthirtyyearsourmaterialwealthhasincreasedinthiscountry,butourself-describedhappinesshassteadilydeclined.Elsewhere,thepeoplewhoconsiderthemselvesveryhappyarenotintheverypoorestnations,asyoumightguess,norintheveryrichest.ThewinnersareMexico,Ireland,PuertoRico,thekindsofplacesweidentifywithextendedfamily,noisyvillages,alotofdancing.Thehappiestpeoplearetheoneswiththemostcommunity.
YOU’LLSEETHINGSCOLLAPSEINYOURTIME,THEBIGHOUSES,THEEMPIRESOFGLASS.THENEWGREENTHINGSTHAT
SPROUTUPTHROUGHTHEWRECK—THOSEWILLBEYOURS.
Youcantakethattothebank.I’mnotsurewhatthey’lldowithitdownthere,butyoucouldtry.Youcouldwalkoutofherewithanunconventionallycommunalsenseofhowyourlifemaybe.Thiscouldbeyourkeytoaneworder:Youdon’tneedsomuchstufftofillyourlifewhenyouhavepeopleinit.Youdon’tneedjetfueltogetfoodfromafarmer’smarket.YoucouldinventanewkindofSuccessthatincludeschildren’spoetry,butterflymigrations,butterflykisses,theGrandCanyon,eternity.Ifsomebodysays,“Yourmoneyoryourlife,”youcouldsay:life.Andmeanit.You’llseethingscollapseinyourtime,thebighouses,theempiresofglass.Thenewgreenthingsthatsproutupthroughthewreck—thosewillbeyours.Thearcofhistoryislongerthanhumanvision.Itbends.Weabolished
slavery,wegranteduniversalsuffrage.Wehavedonehardthingsbefore.Andeverytimeittookaterriblefightbetweenpeoplewhocouldnotimaginechangingtherulesandthosewhosaid,“Wealreadydid.Wehavemadetheworldnew.”Thehardestpartwillbetoconvinceyourselfofthepossibilities,andhangon.Ifyourunoutofhopeattheendoftheday,toriseinthemorningandputitonagainwithyourshoes.Hopeistheonlyreasonyouwon’tgivein,burnwhat’sleftoftheship,andgodownwithit.Theshipofyournaturallifeandyourchildren’sonlyshot.Youhavetolovethatsoearnestly—you,whowerebornintotheAgeofIrony.ImaginegettingcaughtwithyourOptimismhangingout.Itfeelssorisky.Likeshowingupatthebusstopasthevillageidiot.Youmaybeaskedtostandbehindthebarn.Youmayfeelyou’renotuptothetask.Butthinkofthis:Whatifsomeonehaddaredyou,threeyearsago,toshowup
tosomepubliceventwearingabig,flappydresswithsleevesdowntoyourknees?Andonyourhead,oh,let’ssay,abeaniewithasquareboardontop.Andatassel!Lookatyou.Youarebeautiful.Themagiciscommunity.Thetimehascomeforthesquarebeanie,andyouarerockedinthebosomofthepeoplewhogetwhatyou’regoingfor.Youcanbeasearnestandridiculousasyouneedtobe,ifyoudon’tattemptitinisolation.Theridiculouslyearnestareknowntotravelingroups.Andtheyareknowntochangetheworld.Lookatyou.Thatcouldbeyou.I’llclosewithapoem:
Hope,AnOwner’sManualLook,youmightaswellknow,thisthingisgoingtotakeendlessrepair:rubberbands,crazyglue,tapioca,thesquareofthehypotenuse.Nineteenth-centurynovels.Heartstrings,sunrise:alloftheseareuseful.Also,feathers.
alloftheseareuseful.Also,feathers.
Tokeepithumming,sometimesyouhavetostandonanincline,whereeverythinglookspossible,onthelineyoudrewyourself.Orinthegroceryline,makingfacesatatoddlersecretly,overhismother’sshoulder.
Youmighthavetopoptheclutchandrunpastalltheevidence.Pasteveryonewhoislaughingorprayingforyou.Definitelyyoudon’twanttogodirectlytojail,butstill,hereyougo,passingtime,passingstrange.Don’tpassthisup.
Intheworstoftimes,youwillhavetopassitoff.Parkitandflybytheseatofyourpants.Withnothinginthebank,you’llstillwanttotaketheexpress.Tiptoepastthedogsoftheapocalypsethataresleepingintheshadeofyourfuture.Payatthewindow.Passyourhopelikeabadcheck.Youmightstillhavejustenoughtime.Tomakeadeposit.
Congratulations,graduates.
......BARBARAKINGSOLVER......isaninternationallyacclaimedAmericanauthor.HernovelThePoisonwoodBiblewasaPulitzerPrizefinalistandanOprah’sBookClubselection,andTheLacunareceivedBritain’sOrangePrizeforFiction.In2011,sheearnedtheprestigiousDaytonLiteraryPeacePrizeforlifetimeachievement.In1999,
KingsolvercreatedtheBellwetherPrizeforFiction,abiennialawardhonoringfirst-timenovelistsforliteraturethatfosterssocialjustice.Shelivesin
southwesternVirginia.
EileenMylesHAMPSHIRECOLLEGE,1998
Iwaswonderingifallcommencementspeakersfeelcompelledtoaddresstheirowncollegeexperience.I’drathernot.Iwantedtofocusonyouguys,evenjustforalittlewhile;Itriedtogetsomestatisticsfromtheschoolaboutwhoyouare—youknow,boysandgirls,straightandgay,racially,ethnically,economically,andage-wise.Ibetyou’renotalltwenty-oneyearsold,buthereitisMay16andIneverfoundout.Youhavetheseoutfitson,butthat’sallthat’sthesame.Onebyoneyouknowwhoyouare.Ibetafewofyouaredepressed.Noteveryonefeelsgoodatgraduation.Someofyoufeelgreat,someofyouareworried,someone’ssick,someone’sinlove,someone’smotherdiedthisyear.Maybenot.Ihopethat’snottrue,butithappens.Everythingdoes.Ihavesomephotographsofmyselfgraduatingfromcollege,Ididn’tbringthem,butthosepicturesreplacedanymemoriesImighthavehadofthatday.IseemefromtheoutsidewalkingdownanaisleinawhitecapandgowninBostonandthat’sallthatIknow.I’dliketobeherewithyou.Youhavegivenmeanhonorablejob.Ididn’tknowwhatIwasgoingtodo
withmylifewhenIgotoutofcollege.I’mforty-eight;I’mprobablyalotofyourparents’age,moreorless.Ihaven’thadanykids;ImeanIdefinitelywon’t.It’saveryhotyear,1998,theearthmovingcloserandclosertothesunandmegoingthroughmenopause,soIprobablywasn’tgoingtohaveanykidsanyhow,butnowIdefinitelywon’t,butIteachalot,andIhavealotoffriendsintheirtwenties,andIlikeyourgenerationalot.Ifeelveryclosetoyou,andyou’dprobablylikemypoetryifyoureadit,it’sbasicallyjustlikethistalk,it’ssomethingtodo.Beingapoetisajob,butit’samade-upone.There’snojobdescription,andthat’swhatIlike.Ilikedthevaguefeelingofbeingincollege;itmaynothavebeenthatwayforyou,well,itwasn’tforme.Itwasexciting,Idiscoveredthatlovingliteraturecouldbeajob,andthenIdecidedIdidn’twantthatone,andIgotdepressed,andalotmorehappenedtomewhenIwasincollege,butwhatwaswonderfulaboutcollegeasaninstitutionisthatitencompassedthat—everythingthatIfelt,itheldmeforawhile,andpeoplewouldsay,whatdoyoudo?andI’dsaythatIwasastudentandthey’dsaygreat.Youcouldn’tgowrong,itwaslikewashingyourclothes.Nooneargueswithlaundry,ortheidentityofastudent;it’sacyclicalthingyoujusthavetogo
laundry,ortheidentityofastudent;it’sacyclicalthingyoujusthavetogothrough,andIdid.Imeanit’salittlelikeridingabike.Youjustkeeppedaling,andthewheels
goroundandroundandyougetsomeplace.Youcan’thelpit.Andyouseesomeoneyouknowandtheysay,whatareyoudoing?andyousay,ridingabike.Imeanyoucouldhavejustrobbedabank,butitlookssoinnocent.Thisisaniceplace.Itmusthavebeennicetogotoschoolhere.It’sa
beautifulplace.ThethingIfoundaboutbeingoutsideofcollegeisthatyouhavetofigureoutwheneverythingstopsandstarts.Youwalkintothebankandyougetinline.Youmaynotlikeit,butyoustay.Youdon’thaveto.Yougointoarestaurantandyougetacupofcoffeeandthecoffee’sbadandyougetupandwalkout.Yougohomeandyoucallafriend.Thenyouthink,IwishIcalledsomeoneelse.Onedayyou’restandinginfrontoftheEiffelTowerandyouthink,thisisgreat.ItisexactlythewayIexpectedit.Ihadthatfeelingatleastonceinmylife.Somethingsareutterlysatisfying.TheTajMahal,ontheotherhand,wasatotaldisappointment.Indiawasnot.ButtheTajMahalwasnotsogood.Lifeissoincomplete.Collegeisn’t.Itisn’tatall.It’sjustyou.
ThethingIfoundaboutbeingoutsideofcollegeisthatyouhavetofigureoutwheneverythingstopsand
starts.
SoIjustgotoutofcollegeandI’vedoneanawfullotofthings,butbasicallyIstartedtravelingandwritingpoems.IliketravelingbecauseIlikeanactivity,butyoureallydon’tknowwhatyou’regoingtoget.Russia,forinstance,justkindofruinedmylife.Ididn’tknowthatwasgoingtohappen.HowwouldIknowthat?Iwantedtochangemylife.NowI’vegottowaitafewyearstoseeexactlyinwhatwayitruinedmylifesoIcanwriteaboutit.Basically,I’vebeenwritingpoems.Igotoutofcollegeandtheyjustcamepouringoutofme.They’reallovereverything.Napkins,stationeryfromsomanydifferentjobs.Notebooks,notebooksofallsizes.
ActuallyIwaslookingatabigboxofnotebookstheotherday,andIpulledoneoutofthebox,1964.Iwasfourteen.InthenotebookIwouldtalkaboutschool,andIwouldtalkaboutwhatIate,andhowJanetfeltaboutme,buttherewasthisonething:ItwouldgoMarch5th:C+day.Thenitwouldbeanotbadday:Bminus.Iwasratingthedays,that’swhatmylifewaswhenIwasfourteen.Icouldn’timaginelivingwithoutsayinghowmuch.Howbad,howgood.That’swhatIdid.Ilookedaround.Ihadstoppedprayingbythen.ButIlookedattime,rowsofit,daysanddays,theonesIwasinandIsaidbad,good,okay.ButIdon’tdothatanymore.See,apoemisatinyinstitution.Ijustwritelots
andlotsofthem,anditgivesmeawaytobeintheworld.It’sactuallyaveryworldlyjob;therereallyisn’tawrongplacetobe,apoetkindofgoeswithanything,anykindofdecor,indoor,out.Presidentsliketohavepoetsnexttothem,we’resortoflikeaspeakingwreath,thekindofpoetyoupicktellsthekindofpresidentyouare.Thehellofdatingormarryingapoetisthatcertainlywewillwriteaboutyou,soifyoudon’twanttobeseen,don’tdateapoet,anyoneshouldknowthat.Becausereally,apoethasnothingbettertodothanlookatyou.Apoet’sbestfriendisherdog,becauseinstantlythedogwilltakethepoetonwalks;thepoetisliketheearth’sshadow.Thesunmovesandthepoetwritessomethingdown.Ifeltsohappytobeinvitedherebytheclassof’98thatIboughtanewsuit.Iguessbynowyou’vegottentheideathatIamyourpoet.SoIfeelgood,andIlookgood,andnowI’dliketogoalittlefurther,simplydoingmyjob.Thenotionofleadershipchangeseveryfewyears.Rightnowweliketohave
aleaderthatwedon’tmindlookingat,whoseanticswemaynotapproveof,butweknowabout.Weliketoknoweverythingwecanaboutourleaderstoday.Wedon’tcaremuchabouttheirprivatelives.We’reexcitedbyaleaderwholikestolivepublicly.Ithinkwe’relivinginapublicmomentandthat’swhypoetsneedtocomeback.Whilewe’realllivingontheoutsideweneedsomeonelivingontheinside,towatchthemselvesandthenus,tobringourinsideout.DoyouknowwhatImean?Ourtimeneedsashadow.Weknowthis,butwehavetohearittoo.I’lltellyouaboutthehistoryofthis.
WHILEWE’REALLLIVINGONTHEOUTSIDEWENEEDSOMEONELIVINGONTHEINSIDE,
TOWATCHTHEMSELVESANDTHENUS,TOBRINGOURINSIDEOUT.
About300yearsagotherewasapoetinNewSpain,whichiswhattheycalledMexicothen,andhernamewasSorJuanaInésdelaCruz.I’msuresomeofyouhavereadher,haveheardabouther.Themanwhowasherbiographer,OctavioPaz,diedjustacoupleofmonthsago.Anyway,shewasindeedthefirstpoetofNorthAmerica,evenbeforeAnneBradstreet,andshewasworldfamous—abiglibraryatthattimeintheworldwouldhaveabout400volumes,andinthatlibrarywouldbeherbooks;everyoneintheworldwhoread,readSorJuanaInézdelaCruz.Now,thisisapoetwhodidnottravel.Infactshedidn’tevengoout.Her
workdid,ofcourse.ShelivedinsideaconventinMexicoCityandbecauseshewasfriendswithagreatmanypowerfulpeopleinthechurchandthegovernment,shewouldbeinvitedtowritetheimportantpoemscommemoratingtheeventsofhertime.Todothatpublicthing.Iboughtarefrigeratortheotherday,thefirstrefrigeratorIhaveeverboughtin
mylife,andthemaninthestore,Gringer’sonFirstAvenue,askedmewhatIdo,andIsaidI’mapoet.“Let’shearone,”hesaid.Ibalked,maybefeelingalittlecheesy,youknowlikeIshouldentertainhimwhileI’mbuyingarefrigerator,likethosecabdriversorwaiterswhoflirtwithwomenwhiletheywork,sothatyou’reremindedthatyou’reneverreallyacustomer,you’realwaysjustawoman,orapoet.Irecitedone—notwell—Ikindofstuttered.Itwasshort.Helookedatmeblankly.“Doyouwanttohearitagain?”Iasked.No.“Ithinkthatonewentovermyhead,”hesaid,andturnedhisattentiontothenextcustomer.WhenanewViceroy,anewleader,arrivedinNewSpain,thelocal
governmentwouldcommissionaceremonialarch,andtheViceroyandhiswifewouldpassunderitwithmuchfanfare.Thinkaboutthatwhenyoulookatarches,thattheydescribeimportantmoments,thatsomeonecommissionedsomeoneelsetomakethem,thatsupposedlyanarchcelebratesanimportantmoment,thatsomeonepassesthrough.Thegreatestsculptorwoulddesignthearch,usuallywithimagesofPoseidon,andcherubim,andvanquishedIndians,andbeautifulwomen,whateverwaschic,andthepoetwouldwriteapoemtobereadastheprocessionofgloriousnewpeoplewouldwalkunder,goingfromthismomenttothat;it’sahistoryyoucansee,likewhatwe’redoingtoday.Mostpoetsteach,Ido,andschooljustendedeverywhereintheworld,and
towardstheendofthesemester,Ifindmyselfgettingcontinuallymorekindofwoo-wooandrisky,wantingtogooutintotheworldwithmywritingclass;
woo-wooandrisky,wantingtogooutintotheworldwithmywritingclass;mostlyI’vealreadytoldthemeverythingIknow,andIwanttohaveanexperiencetogether,sowewenttoseesomeart,wetookatripupto112thStreet,toSt.JohntheDivine.Insideoneofthesmallchapelsthatlinethecathedralwallsthere’saninstallationbythevideoartistBillViola.It’satriptych,andthoughthecontentsofhispieceareextremelyobvious,theyreallywork.Thefirstpanelisawomangivingbirth.Ayoungish,maybeearlythirties,whitewomanwhoiscradledbetweenherhusband’sopenlegs.Itlooksliketheidealbirth—bothofthepeoplearecalmandbeautifulandtherearemidwiveshovering,andthetapeisclearlyedited,butwegetthewholeexperience.Theinfant’sheadispushingoutfrombetweenthebeautiful,sufferingyoungwoman’slegs.Themiddletriptychisamanfloatingunderwater.ItmightbeBillViola;he’s
wearingaflowingrobeandthere’sawirethathe’sdangledon,andtherobeisrippling,anditmightbeanyone,somelonelybabyinthemiddleofhislife—hopelesslyconnectedandsubmergedin“it,”whateverthesubstanceis,andclearlyalone.Thefinalpanelisanoldwomanonalife-supportsystem,andshefinallydies.
Turnsoutit’sBillViola’smother.Theentireinstallationcyclelaststhirtyminutes.Ifoundmyselfsobbingatthemomentofthebirth.Itwassoriveting,IknewIwasgoingtodoit;I’vebeencryingallovertheplacelately,andthiswassuchagoodcry,thecryofbirth.Laterwesatinalittlegardenoutsidethecathedral.Itwasaclass,afterall,
andisn’tthisthedefinitionofacademy—agroveoftrees?Wesataroundanothersculpture,abigsunflower,andwetalkedaboutBillViolaandtheWalterBenjaminessayIhadaskedthemtoreadfortoday,anditwasreallyperfect,becausetheessaywas“TheWorkofArtintheAgeofMechanicalReproduction,”andherewehavebirthandvideotapeinachurch.Allofuswereenjoyingeachother’sintelligenceandtheniceweather,andthenabeautifulpeacocksteppedintoourmidst,arealone,anditsprayedopenitsfeathers,hundredsofeyeslikeoldTV.Itoldthem,“NBC,”andthenwegotonthetraindowntown.
Thisisgreatness,topassthroughandknow,toknowthatit’shappeningtoyou,tobeawakeatthemoment
ofbirth.
Irodedowntownwithtwostudents,AllisonandTanya,andtheytoldmeaboutthealtarofthechurch,whichIhadn’tlookedat,andhowtherewasagreatmanforeachcentury,andthespotforthetwentiethcenturywasempty,andalsoitwasthefinalcentury,sohowcouldthatspotbefilled,itwassoominous.Wehadamomentofsilenceforthetwentiethcentury.IsuggestedGandhi;Gandhi’sgreat,weagreed.Butifthetwentiethcenturyisthefinalspotonthealtar,shouldn’titjustbethegatewaytoallothercenturies,notjustthelast?Andwhatgreatpersoncoulddothat?Wecouldn’tthinkofanygreatwomen—greatintherightway.There’sMotherTeresaandGertrudeStein;wediscussedthescandalsinbothoftheirlives.Isuggestedthewomangivingbirth.It’sjustagreatact,thatgreatactmakesalltheotheronespossible;it’sanactofallowing,ofnotdestroying,ofgiving,lettinglifepassthrough,andIthoughtIshouldbringthistoyou.Whatafrighteningthought,awoman’sbodybeingthearchwaytothefuture,andaswestandhere,andsomeofyouwillbegivingbirth,orbeingthereandholdingher,andsomeofyouhavealreadydonethis,andhereareyourkids,theysitintheirseatstoday,graduatingfromcollege.Thisisgreatness,topassthroughandknow,toknowthatit’shappeningtoyou,tobeawakeatthemomentofbirth.Afriendofmine,Susie,isadeath-penaltylawyer.IguessIshouldbefrank
withyou.Youmayormaynothavebeenobsessedwithgraduatingfromcollegethisspring.ButIhave.Whenyouinviteapoet,youareinvitingsomeonewhoisobsessed,whohasnothingbettertodo,whowantstobeyourarch.Idoweddingsandfunerals.In1992Iranforpresident.Itwastherightthingtodowiththatyear.Soallspringwhileyouhavebeenthinkingaboutgraduation,ornotatall,I’vebeengatheringthingsforyou.Iwonderedwhoyouwere.Isawthemomentofbirthatthecathedral,andIthoughtthatwouldbegreatfortheclassof’98.IwasinHawaiithisspring;Iwasinvitedtheretodoareadingandatalk,and
Iwastakenforwalksinthenationalpark,andIsawtheformofworshiptheyhavethere.YouwillseeinholyplacesinHawaiiapileofrocks,it’scalleda
heiau,anditsimplynotatesaholyplace,threeorfourrocks,sometimesaflowerandatoy,acanofpop,andnoonedisturbsthesepiles,it’sasiteofworship.IwasgivingatalkattheUniversityofHawaii,itwascalled“HowtoWriteaPoem,”andIguessinmyillustration,Iwasunwittinglydoingthesamething,tellingthemthatthepoemcouldjustbeapileofthings,forinstance—andIgrabbedayoungman’scanofjuice—Imean,Iasked—Isaid,couldIhavethisforamoment?Hesaidsure,andIsaidthatthepoemcouldbelikeredchair,canofHawaiianPunch,man’sleg—thatwhatever’snexttoeachothercounts,theassemblagemakesthetruth,thetruthofthepoem.Imetthatyoungmanlateratareadingandhetoldmethathelikedmytalkverymuch,buttherewasoneproblem.“Younevergavememyjuiceback.”Ilookedathim.“Iwasthirsty,”hesaid.AllspringI’vebeengatheringthemostimportantthingsIcanthinkofand
puttingthemtogether.WhenIwasachildIwouldtaketheselongwalks,beforeIcouldwrite,beforeIhadlanguage,andIwouldcomehomeandmymotherwouldsay,emptyyourpockets.Andtherewasmypoem:apieceofbrightglass,astone.Alittlepieceofwood.Susieisadeath-penaltylawyer,andwhenItoldherIwascomingtotalkat
yourgraduation,shesaidIthinkthiswouldbeinterestingtoyou.WewenttotheSupremeCourtinBrooklynlastweek.Weareallsittinginourseats.Here’sthecourtroom.Overthereisthejury.Afewwhitepeople,mostlyblackandHispanic,thecourtroomissosmall.Susiesaid,that’sbad.Thejuryisrightontopoftheprosecution.TheDAisawomannamedHeidi;shelookedfamiliar,wemadeeyecontactrightaway.She’sverysmart,thejudgeisfemale,white.Idon’tknowwhathappenedtoher,saysSusie.Shehasnopatience,watchher.Ourclientisgoingtofry,ifshehasherway.I’msittingontheleft.I’msittingwithSusieandthedefense.Again,we’reallwhite.Ontheleftsideofthecourtroom,Imeantheaudienceside,isthefamily,therelatives,mother,brothersofthepeoplewhodied,themassacred,thevictims,theslain.Here’sthestory.DarrylHarris,ayoungAfrican-Americanman,theone
sittingrightinfrontofusinthecourtroom,heworkedatRikersIsland,aNewYorkCityprison,formanyyears.Hewasahero;hesavedatleastoneman’slifeinaprisonriotandwasdecoratedbytheCityofNewYork.Hebegantosmokecrackcocaine,andeventuallyhelosthisjobandthenworkedasasecurityguardforawhile,andlostthatjobtoofromsmokingdope,andonenightlastyearhewashangingoutinasocialclub,ClubHappiness,inBrooklyn.DarrylHarrisflipped.Noonedeniesthat.Heshotfourmenheknewinthebackoftheirheads.Hemadethemliedown.TheyoungDAinthegreensuitquestionsthedetectivewhocametothescene
ofthecrimethatDecembermorningandcountedthebodiesandhelpedcreatean
ofthecrimethatDecembermorningandcountedthebodiesandhelpedcreateanoverheaddrawing,adiagramofthesocialclub,andtheDAquestionshim.DidyouseeapackofNewportsonthebar?Yes.Canyoupointtothatplaceonthedrawing?Didyouseeawhitebaseballcap?Yes.Onewomanwasslain.Shewatchedthedeathsofalltheothers;shebeggedforherlife.Shehadfivechildren,andhechasedher,therewasastruggle,herepeatedlystabbedher,andherbodywasfoundoutsidebythedetective.Hewasdirectedtoherbodybyahomelessman;shewaslyingonanabandonedmattressoutsidetheclub.Isthisphotographaccurate,theDAasked.Yes.Andlateryouidentifiedherinthemorgue.Itissoemotional,thecourtroomscene.Clearlywearebeingbroughtthrough
thisscenestep-by-stepsowewillfeelhorror,slowcreepinghorror,ofhowoneofuscan,has,DarrylHarrishaseradicatedfiveotherpeople’slives,andherearetheirfamiliestomyleft,andthereisthejurypeeringaround,guiltythemselves,thereisthejudgeinherwhitehair.Oftenthedefenseandthejudgeandtheprosecutionhavetogetupandgointothejudge’schambersandsaysomethingthatthejurycan’thear,andDarrylHarrissitstherealoneatalongtableandhe’swearingagreensweater,andhe’sahandsomeman,helookssweet.Ikindofwanttotouchhisheadandforgivehim,becausethehorrorofallthisisthateverythinghashappenedalready,everyhorriblethinghashappenedalready,thatisthetruthandnowwehavetodecidewhetherweshoulddestroyDarrylHarris,wholosthismindonenight,andthoughheisamaninagreensweater,withateenygoldearringinhisear,lookingstrong,lookingvulnerable,murderer,evenlookingsad,laughingsoftlyforamomentwithhislawyer,clearlyweshouldputhimdown.Hedidsomethingincrediblywrong,andthiscourtroomsceneistense,isafrozengreasyportraitofhislife,probablytheendofit.Butthedrawingwasthemostemotionalscene,oddly.Itallcametrue,whentheypinnedittothewall.Whenwehadaplan,alayout.ThemanIspoketointhehallagreed.He’saNewYorkerwriter.Doyoucometoalotofthese?No,hesmiles.It’sanimportantcase.It’samazing,heagrees.Itquickensit.Notexactlyart,butanorder.Itsayswemustbehere.Wherearewenow?Idon’twantthatmantodie.Doyou?Itmademewantto
bealawyer.IthoughtI’vedoneeverythingwrong,Iwanttogoback,togotolawschool,totakepartinthisriteofconfusionandjusticeandraceandnarrativeanddrugs.Offamily,andlanguage,andtruth.Awkwardpartsofit,life.ButIwon’tgoback.NotunlessI’vegotsomethingtowrite.ThisIfinish.Thetrialwillend.IhopethatDarrylwon’tdie.Notbecausehe’sgood,butbecausehe’salive.IwantedtodrageverylittlethingIcouldthinkofthisspringontothisplatformwithme,becausebirthisgreatandthenitends,thelittleheadofthepersonispartoftheworld,withherweaknessandherprivilege,andthe
ofthepersonispartoftheworld,withherweaknessandherprivilege,andthefirstgrassofherlife.
Iwokeupoutofadreamtheothernight.Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingtohappentotheclassof1998,butI’mhappytobealivewithyou.That’swhatIthought.Ihadthisdream.Ihavetotellyouaboutit.TherewasacaravanofbeetlescrossingtheflooroftheroomIsleepin.Theystreamedovermydog’sbowl,whichwasonthefloor.AndIstartedsingingasong,notthewords,justthemusic.Itwasthe“StarSpangledBanner,”andsuddenlyIwasrememberinglate-nightTVinthesixties,andwewouldseecaravansofmenoncamelscrossingadesert,andthenjetplaneswouldsoaroveramosque,andwe’dhearthatsong,anditwasscarythatbeforetheTVwentoutinAmerica,thestationneededtosaythatweruledtheworld.Itgavemybrotherandmeachill.Andthenwewenttobed.Mydreamjustmademelaughandlaugh,thatbeetlesinmyapartmentcouldmeanthesamething,andIwasn’talone.Itoldittoyou,andshelistenedtome.Ihopeyouallfindyourselvessleepingwithsomeoneyoulove,maybenotallofthetime,butalotofthetime.Thetouchofafootinthenightissincere.Ihopeyoulikeyourwork,Ihopethere’smysteryandpoetryinyourlife—notevenpoems,butpatterns.Ihopeyoucanseethem.Oftenthesepatternswillwakeyouup,andyouwillknowthatyouarealive,againandagain.
......EILEENMYLES......isawidelyrecognizedpoet,essayist,andnovelistwhohaspublishedmanyworksofpoetry,fiction,plays,essays,articles,andlibretti.Herrecentworks
includeSnowflake/differentstreets;Inferno(APoet’sNovel),whichisavailableoniTunesinherownvoice;TheImportanceofBeingIceland:TravelEssaysinArt;Sorry,Tree;andCoolforYou.In2012,shewasawardedaGuggenheimFellowshipandin2014theFoundationforContemporaryArtawardedhera
poetryfellowship.ShelivesinNewYork.
JonathanSafranFoerMIDDLEBURYCOLLEGE,2013
Note:ThetextbelowisMr.Foer’sabridgementofhistalkintoanOpEdpieceintheNewYorkTimes,publishedonJune8,2013.Avideoofthecompletespeechcanbefoundonline.
Acoupleofweeksago,Isawastrangercryinginpublic.IwasinBrooklyn’sFortGreeneneighborhood,waitingtomeetafriendforbreakfast.Iarrivedattherestaurantafewminutesearlyandwassittingonthebenchoutside,scrollingthroughmycontactlist.Agirl,maybefifteenyearsold,wassittingonthebenchoppositeme,cryingintoherphone.Iheardhersay,“Iknow,Iknow,Iknow”overandover.Whatdidsheknow?Hadshedonesomethingwrong?Wasshebeing
comforted?Andthenshesaid,“Mama,Iknow,”andthetearscameharder.Whatwashermothertellingher?Nevertostayoutallnightagain?That
everybodyfails?Isitpossiblethatnoonewasontheotherendofthecall,andthatthegirlwasmerelyrehearsingadifficultconversation?“Mama,Iknow,”shesaid,andhungup,placingherphoneonherlap.Iwasfacedwithachoice:Icouldinterjectmyselfintoherlife,orIcould
respecttheboundariesbetweenus.Interveningmightmakeherfeelworse,orbeinappropriate.Butthen,itmighteaseherpain,orbehelpfulinsomestraightforwardlogisticalway.Anaffluentneighborhoodatthebeginningofthedayisnotthesameasadangerousoneasnightisfalling.AndIwasme,andnotsomeoneelse.Therewasalotofhumancomputingtobedone.Itishardertointervenethannotto,butitisvastlyhardertochoosetodo
eitherthantoretreatintothescrollingnamesofone’scontactlist,orwhateverone’sfavoriteiDistractionhappenstobe.Technologycelebratesconnectedness,butencouragesretreat.Thephonedidn’tmakemeavoidthehumanconnection,butitdidmakeignoringhereasierinthatmoment,andmorelikely,bycomfortablyencouragingmetoforgetmychoicetodoso.Mydailyuseoftechnologicalcommunicationhasbeenshapingmeintosomeonemorelikelytoforgetothers.Theflowofwatercarvesrock,alittlebitatatime.Andourpersonhoodiscarved,too,bytheflowofourhabits.Psychologistswhostudyempathyandcompassionarefindingthatunlikeour
Psychologistswhostudyempathyandcompassionarefindingthatunlikeouralmostinstantaneousresponsestophysicalpain,ittakestimeforthebraintocomprehendthepsychologicalandmoraldimensionsofasituation.Themoredistractedwebecome,andthemoreemphasisweplaceonspeedattheexpenseofdepth,thelesslikelyandablewearetocare.
Everyonewantshisparent’s,orfriend’s,orpartner’sundividedattention—evenifmanyofus,especiallychildren,aregettingusedtofarless.SimoneWeilwrote,“Attentionistherarestandpurestformofgenerosity.”Bythisdefinition,ourrelationshipstotheworld,andtooneanother,andtoourselves,arebecomingincreasinglymiserly.Mostofourcommunicationtechnologiesbeganasdiminishedsubstitutesfor
animpossibleactivity.Wecouldn’talwaysseeoneanotherfacetoface,sothetelephonemadeitpossibletokeepintouchatadistance.Oneisnotalwayshome,sotheansweringmachinemadeakindofinteractionpossiblewithoutthepersonbeingnearhisphone.Onlinecommunicationoriginatedasasubstitutefortelephoniccommunication,whichwasconsidered,forwhateverreasons,tooburdensomeorinconvenient.Andthentexting,whichfacilitatedyetfaster,andmoremobile,messaging.Theseinventionswerenotcreatedtobeimprovementsuponface-to-facecommunication,butadeclensionofacceptable,ifdiminished,substitutesforit.Butthenafunnythinghappened:Webegantopreferthediminished
substitutes.It’seasiertomakeaphonecallthantoschleptoseesomeoneinperson.Leavingamessageonsomeone’smachineiseasierthanhavingaphoneconversation—youcansaywhatyouneedtosaywithoutaresponse;hardnewsiseasiertoleave;it’seasiertocheckinwithoutbecomingentangled.Sowebegancallingwhenweknewnoonewouldpickup.Shootingoffane-mailiseasierstill,becauseonecanhidebehindtheabsence
ofvocalinflection,andofcoursethere’snochanceofaccidentallycatchingsomeone.Andtextingiseveneasier,astheexpectationforarticulatenessisfurtherreduced,andanothershellisofferedtohidein.Eachstep“forward”hasmadeiteasier,justalittle,toavoidtheemotionalworkofbeingpresent,toconveyinformationratherthanhumanity.Theproblemwithaccepting—withpreferring—diminishedsubstitutesisthat
overtime,we,too,becomediminishedsubstitutes.Peoplewhobecomeusedtosayinglittlebecomeusedtofeelinglittle.
Beingattentivetotheneedsofothersmightnotbethepointoflife,butitistheworkoflife.
Witheachgeneration,itbecomeshardertoimagineafuturethatresemblesthepresent.MygrandparentshopedIwouldhaveabetterlifethantheydid:freeof
present.MygrandparentshopedIwouldhaveabetterlifethantheydid:freeofwarandhunger,comfortablysituatedinaplacethatfeltlikehome.ButwhatfutureswouldIdismissoutofhandformygrandchildren?Thattheirclotheswillbefabricatedeverymorningon3-Dprinters?Thattheywillcommunicatewithoutspeakingormoving?Onlythosewithnoimagination,andnogroundinginreality,woulddenythe
possibilitythattheywillliveforever.It’spossiblethatmanyreadingthesewordswillneverdie.Let’sassume,though,thatweallhaveasetnumberofdaystoindenttheworldwithourbeliefs,tofindandcreatethebeautythatonlyafiniteexistenceallowsfor,towrestlewiththequestionofpurposeandwrestlewithouranswers.
Weoftenusetechnologytosavetime,butincreasingly,iteithertakesthesavedtimealongwithit,ormakesthesavedtimelesspresent,intimate,andrich.Iworrythattheclosertheworldgetstoourfingertips,thefurtheritgetsfromourhearts.It’snotaneither/or—being“anti-technology”isperhapstheonlythingmorefoolishthanbeingunquestioningly“pro-technology”—butaquestionofbalancethatourliveshangupon.Mostofthetime,mostpeoplearenotcryinginpublic,buteveryoneisalways
inneedofsomethingthatanotherpersoncangive,beitundividedattention,akindword,ordeepempathy.Thereisnobetteruseofalifethantobeattentivetosuchneeds.Thereareasmanywaystodothisastherearekindsofloneliness,butallofthemrequireattentiveness,allofthemrequirethehardworkofemotionalcomputationandcorporealcompassion.Allofthemrequirethehumanprocessingoftheonlyanimalwhorisks“gettingitwrong”andwhosedreamsprovidesheltersandvaccinesandwordstocryingstrangers.Weliveinaworldmadeupmoreofstorythanstuff.Wearecreaturesof
memorymorethanreminders,oflovemorethanlikes.Beingattentivetotheneedsofothersmightnotbethepointoflife,butitistheworkoflife.Itcanbemessy,andpainful,andalmostimpossiblydifficult.Butitisnotsomethingwegive.Itiswhatwegetinexchangeforhavingtodie.
.....JONATHANSAFRANFOER......istheauthoroftheaward-winningandbestsellingnovelsEverythingIsIlluminatedandExtremelyLoudandIncrediblyClose(bothpublishedby
HoughtonMifflin)aswellastwoworksofnonfiction:EatingAnimalsandTheNewAmericanHaggadah(bothpublishedbyLittleBrown).HewasincludedinGranta’s“BestofYoungAmericanNovelists”issueandinTheNewYorker’s“20under40”listofthebestyoungwritersintheU.S.,andhisbooksare
publishedinmorethanthirtylanguages.
KhaledHosseiniVANDERBILTUNIVERSITY,2010
OntheeveofyourgraduationfromVanderbilt,oneofthemostdistinguishedhousesoflearninginthisnation,Iwanttoaskyouaquestionaboutwhyweeducate.Whydoinstitutionsgothroughtheeffortandmoneyandalltheenergytobuildcollegesanduniversitiestorecruitthebestandthebrightest,andtoteachthemtothebestoftheirability?Whydoyouguys—thestudents—workyearstogetadmitted,andyouthenscroungearoundforfundssothatyoucanattendtheschool,andthenspendafifthofyouryounglivesinstudy?Youguysmightsay,well,becauseeducationisthekeytogreateropportunity,
toprosperity.EducationiswhereIgettheskillsIneed,andIgetadegreethatstandsasamarkofmyexperienceandmyknowledge.Butwhatabouttherestofus?Whatdowehaveatstakeinthisprocess?Whyshouldweteach,whyshouldwecontributetoouralmamaters?Whyshouldwementoryoungpeoplecomingoutofcollege?Andtheansweristhatthecollegeanditsgraduatesarepartofourcommunity.Thepeoplewholearntodayaregoingtoworkandexercisetheirambitionstomorrow.Weallhaveavestedinterestinsupportingthebestthinkersandthebestlearnersinourcommunity.Youknow,Iremembermyowneducationandthecountlesspeoplewhowere
thereforme,whosupportedme,andwhocontributedtowhoIamtodayandwhatIhaveaccomplished.SoIrecognizethereisadebtthatIowe.Inotherwords,wehaveanappreciationfortheprocessoflearning.AndIwanttotalkforjustaminuteaboutwhatlearningmeans—andthat’s
somethingthatyou’veallbeendoingforthelastfouryearsinthisschool.Tome,learningischange.It’snotanelaborationonafamiliarsetofknowledge.Learningoccursinthosemomentswhenwemeetrevelations.Learningisunexpected.Learningisachallengetowhatyouknoworwhatyouthinkyouknow—it’snotaconfirmationofit.Learningisaremappingoftheworldaroundyou.Andlearningisnotalwayscomfortable,youknow,itcanalarmyou.Itcanmakeyouangry.Butitwillalwaysmakeyouthink.Hereinschoolyou’vebeenluckytohavepeopletosupportyouandtohelp
youconfrontthesemomentsandthesechallenges.Butasyouleave,bearinmindthatyou’renotdoneyet,andthatwhereveryougo,thesechallengesaregoingtoseekyouout,andthey’regoingtofindyou.Andtherealtestofyour
goingtoseekyouout,andthey’regoingtofindyou.AndtherealtestofyoureducationhereinVanderbiltishowyou’regoingtofacethesechallengesonyourown.I’llgiveyoutheexampleoftheburka,whichisthefull-bodyveilthathas
broughtsomuchmediaattentiontoAfghanistan.IntheWest,theburkahasbecomethisfamiliarandiconicsymboloffemaleoppression.Acoupleofyearsago,afriendofminecamebackfromAfghanistan,whereshe’dgonetofoundanonprofittohelpAfghanwomen.Shetoldmethatbeforeshewent,shehadtheseverystrongvisceralfeelingsabouttheburka,anditrepresentedforherallthatwaswrongandallthatwasvexingaboutthesituationofwomeninAfghanistan.Itwas,forher,areliablebarometerforsocialchangeinAfghanistan.Andshefeltthatasthingsforwomengetbetterforwomen,peoplewouldshedtheburka.Butshesaidthataftershehadlivedthereforawhile,shecametoseethatall
themediaattentionabouttheburkathatithadreceivedintheWestwasactuallyoutofproportionwiththerealitythatshefoundinAfghanistan.AndshefoundthattheburkawasactuallymoreimportanttoherthanitwastomanywomeninAfghanistan.Andshefoundthatformanywomenshemet,unveilingwasactuallynotaprimarypreoccupation.Theyhadotherpriorities.Theyweremoreworriedaboutfood,aboutshelter,aboutcleanwater,abouteducationandhealthcare,andmanywhoworetheburkawereactuallyverythoughtful,strong,decisive,andcapablewomen.Andsoshecametoseethatjustbecauseawomanworetheveildidn’tnecessarilymeanthatshewasnotanactiveparticipantinherownfuture.Andthiswasnoteasyforhertoaccept.Itchallengedherpreconceivednotions.Butsheleftherselfopentothechallengeandopentoashiftinthewaythatsheperceivedtheworld.Andthat’swhatlearningis.Andthat’sgoingtohappentoyou.You’regoingtohavethesemoments,
whetheryouseekthemoutornot.Andyouwon’tbeabletoavoidthem.Youwon’tbeabletoavoidthembecauseweliveinamuchsmallerworldtoday.Becauseoftechnology,we’refarmoreconnectedthanwewereinthepasttootherpeople,othercountries,othercultures.Evenifyou’rethekindofpersonwho’smorecomfortableinasmallcommunity.Evenifyou’rethekindofpersonwhoavoidsdiscussingpoliticaltopicsatadinnertable.Evenifyoureadonlythosepublicationsandthosewriterswhoshareyouropinions.Newideasandnewpointsofviewaregoingtofindyou.Andyouwon’thaveachoiceaboutthat.Butwhatyoudowiththesechallengesisyourchoice.Andthat’snota
questiontotakelightly.Theeasiestthingistojustignorefactsandfeelingsthatdon’tmatchupwithyourideaofyourselfandtheworld.Wespendalotoftime,alotofourlife,buildingupourperceptionofpeopleandevents,andwhen
alotofourlife,buildingupourperceptionofpeopleandevents,andwhensomethingisoutofstepwiththatperception,itmayseemliketoomuchworktogobackandrewriteeverything.Butinfact,that’swhatyou’vebeenpracticingtodohereinVanderbiltforthelastfouryears.Andwhileleavingschoolmayseemlikethetimetosetyourthoughtsandyourpracticesinstone,Iwouldsaythatit’sactuallythetimetoexperienceandtoexperiment.Andnowthatyou’releavingthesewalls,Icanthinkofnobetterwaytohonoryoureducationandyourlearningthantouseyourskillstomakethisworldabetterplacethanthewayyoufoundit.Becauseyougettodeterminethesizeofyourworld.Itcanbejustyou.Or,it
couldbeyourfamily,oryourschool.Itcouldbeyourcountry.Itcouldbeyourgender.Itcouldbethepeoplewhoshareyouropinions.Yourworldcouldbethepeoplewhoshareyourinterests,orpeoplewhosharemaybeadifficultywithyou,maybeanillness.Butitcouldbemuchmore.AndIwillurgeyou,throughoutyourlives,toexpandyourknowledgebyalwaysexpandingyourcommunity.Andacommunityisnotjustabunchofpeoplewhohavethingsincommon.
Acommunityisacomplicatedorganism,anditrequiresdifferentpeopleanddifferentpointsofviewinordertothrive.Acompletecommunityneedspeoplewhoworkwiththeirhands,andpeoplewhoworkwiththeirminds.Itneedsanoldergenerationthat’shadyearsofexperience,anditneedsnewbloodtobringininnovation.Itneedspeoplewhoarecautious,andpeoplewhoarebold.Itneedswomen,anditneedsmen.Itneedsloyalists,anditneedscritics.
NEWIDEASANDNEWPOINTSOFVIEWAREGOINGTOFINDYOU.ANDYOUWON’THAVE
ACHOICEABOUTTHAT.
Butveryimportantly,acommunityhastorecognize,want,andcareforitsown.Andsometimes,thepeopleinacommunitywhoneedthemosthelparethehardesttosee—or,asthefablegoes,thosewhocryouttheleastandsufferthemost.SoI’mgoingtoasksomethingdifficultofyou.I’mgoingtoaskthatyouseekoutpeopleinyourcommunitywhoareinneed.AndI’mgoingtoaskyoutotrytonotjustunderstandthem,buttohelpthem.It’shardtomakeaconnectionwithpeoplewhoaresuffering.Itrequiresyoutotakeonsomeofthatpainforyourself.Itmakesyouforgeakinshipwithmisfortune,andtoseehowitcouldhappentoyou,andhowitwouldmakeyoufeel.
couldhappentoyou,andhowitwouldmakeyoufeel.There’sanimpulsetoturnawayfromabeggaronthestreet.Andwe’veall
donethat.OrfromdisturbingimagesontheTVscreen.Thisimpulsecomespartlyfromthispainthatwefeel,absolutely.But,andthishastobesaid,Ithinkitalsocomesfromapathy,andapathy’sinsidiousandenormouslynegativepower.ItwasHelenKellerwhosaid,“Sciencemayhavefoundacureformostevils,butithasfoundnoremedyfortheworstofthemall:theapathyofhumanbeings.”
Isthisbecausewewanttorefuteourconnectiontootherpeople’sproblems?Havewe,inthisindustrializedworld,becomelulled?Arewekindoflikethesetranquilizedpeoplewhohavenotimetothinkofthehardshipofpeoplewhoarelessfortunatethanus?ThegreatphysicianWilliamOslersaidthatbyfarthemostcommonfoewehavetofightisapathy,indifferencefromwhatevercause,notfromalackofknowledgebutfromcarelessness,fromabsorptioninotherpursuits,fromacontemptbredofself-satisfaction.Andit’seasytostageadialogueinyourmind,knowingthattroublesexistand
you’refaraway,butnotknowinghowyoucanhelp.Andtheargumentgoessomethinglikethis:Ididn’tdoanythingtocontributetothisproblem,sowhyshouldIfeelresponsible?Oryoucansay:Idon’thavethetimeorthemoneytofixthisproblem.AndIthinkthere’sarealelementoftruthinthispictureofhowapathycomestobe.Or,maybeithastodowithnotrefutingtheconnection,butwiththepainthatwefeelbecauseweknowthattheconnectionisthere,becausewedon’twanttoknowthatpainfirsthandandtheeasiestthingtodoistojustnotdealwithit.Or,maybeapathycomesfromthebeliefthatwe’rehelpless.Thatsufferingispervasive,andawayoflifeonthisplanetaslongastherehavebeenpeopleonthisplanet.Povertyandtheassociatedsufferingareubiquitousandinevitableinthehumanexperience.Sufferinginthisworldissowidespreadandoftenofsuchmassscalethatwefeeldefeatedbyit,andweslowlyturnfatalisticandweloseoursenseofmoralurgency.Whytry,whenwecan’tchangeanythinganyway?ButIwouldsaythatweneedtobeopentothispain.Becausewhenweare,
wehavenochoicebuttohelp.Itbecomesourpain.Andthisisadifficultprocess,becauseitrequiresnotjustknowledgeandnotjustlearning,butveryimportantly,itrequiresimagination.Andforthat,forimagination,weneedthetoolstohelpusmakethatconnection.Totakesomethingthatisabstractandmakeitreal.Iknowthatincollegeallofyouhavetakencoursesthatwillprepareyouforaspecificcareer,andthat’sfine,butafulleducationrequireshumanities.Itrequiresart.Andthereasonwhythosecoursesaregiventoyouinthisuniversityisthatartisawindowintothemindsofotherpeoplewhoareverydifferentfromyou.AndIthinkinthatregardthenovelhasaveryuniqueability.Acoupleof
yearsago,IreadabookcalledWhatIstheWhatbyDaveEggers.It’sabookaboutthetrialsofaSouthSudaneserefugeeduringSudan’sdevastatingcivilwar.WhatIknewaboutthatwarandhadappliedtothepeopleofSouthSudanhadcomefrombasicallyarandomnewspaperarticle.ButafterIreadDaveEggers’sbook,withitshumanityanditshumoranditscompassion,thatwar
cametomeinaveryrealwayeverynightwhenIsatdowntoreadthatbook,anditmadeitimpossibleformetoglossoverthesufferingofthepeopleofSouthSudan,becausesuddenlyIfeltlikeIknewwhotheywere.Withregardstomyownbooks,IgetlettersfromIndia,fromTelAviv,from
Sydney,fromLondon,andfromNashville.AndpeopletellmethattheywanttosendmoneytoAfghanistan.OnereadertoldmehewantedtoadoptanAfghanorphan.Andtomeit’sagreathonorwhenreaderswritetomeandsaythatAfghanistanforthemisnowmorethanjustthecavesofToraBoraandthepoppyfieldsofHelmand,andthatthey’vecometoseeAfghanistanasmorethanjustanotherchronicallyafflicted,troublednation.IntheselettersIseetheuniqueabilityofart,especiallythenovel,toconnectpeoplethroughuniversalhumanexperiences.Sotheartsarekeyincreatingtheunderstandingandcompassionthatdrivesyoutohelp.
Butwhatcomesnext?Youhavetohaveapracticalcourseandsomeactionthatyoucantake.Amantraoftheworldofvolunteerworkandphilanthropyistheideaof“give5percent.”Give5percentofyourtime,or5percentofyourmoney.It’saverysmallpieceofyourluckandyourprosperitythatyouowebacktoyourcommunity.It’ssomethingthatallofuscanmanage.Ifyouworkfortyhoursperweek,twohoursspentwithsomebodylessfortunatethanyoucanmakeaworldofdifference.Iknowthisisatallorder,andit’salottoaskofpeoplewhoalreadyhavealot
ontheirplate.Youhavenotinheritedaneasyworld,andrightnowyoumightbewonderinghowyou’regoingtofaceallofthechangesthatyourlifehasinstoreforyou.ButIwouldsaythattoconsiderotherpeopleisnotanadditionalburden,butratheranincreasedopportunitytobeappreciatedforwhoyouareandwhatyou’recapableof.Whenyouseethedifferencethatyoumakeinotherpeople’sworld,youbecomealivetothechangesthatyoucanmakeinyourown.Andit’sawaytobestrong;it’sawaytobewise,andtoknowthemeasureofyourownpowers.Youcanalsothinkofitasachancetogivethepartofyouthatsparklesthe
brightest.Ifyou’re,say,agreatwriteroranavidreader,it’sanopportunitytotakeyourloveandyourskillandtutorinliteracy.Ifyou’regoodwithyourhands,maybethere’sahousethatneedsbuilding.Ifyou’reoutgoingandyou’recharismatic,whynotusethatskilltomakephonecallsthatconnectwithpeopleandengageothersinyourcause.Withinthelimitsofmyownsetofskills,Ihavetriedtodothatonmyown.I
havetriedtoengagepeoplearoundtheworldinmycausethroughthefoundation,whichwasinspiredbya2007tripthatImadetoAfghanistanasagoodwillenvoyfortheUnitedNationsRefugeeAgency.IwenttoNorthernAfghanistanandImetpeoplewhohavecomebacktoAfghanistanafterten,twentyyearsoflivinginIranandPakistan,fleeingtheTalibanandthewars,andhadcomebacktoAfghanistanandtheywerelivinginthemiddleofnowhere,inadesertundertentsorincardboards,onlessthanadollarperday,withnoaccesstoschoolsorhealthcareorfood,andtheyspentwinterslivinginholesthattheyhaddugintheground.InthevillagesthatIvisited,theelderstoldmethattheyroutinelylosttentofifteenchildreneverywintertothefreezingtemperatures.I’madad,andforme,asadad,itwasoverwhelmingandheartbreaking.AsanAfghan,Ifeltconnectedtothesepeoplesuffering,andIdecidedtodowhatIcouldtoadvocateforthesepeople,andtogivethemasenseofcontrolovertheirownlives,andtoprovidethemwithsomebasicservices—especiallyshelterandeducation—sothattheycouldgetonwiththebusinessofrebuildingtheirbrokencountry.
rebuildingtheirbrokencountry.
Andinclosing,fortherestofyou,Iwishyougoodfortune,andIwishyouprosperity,andIwishyouexcitementinyournewlives.Ilookforwardtoseewhatyourgenerationisgoingtoaccomplish,withyourgreatcapacitytoconnectandtoimagine.IknowIhavealottolearnfromyouinthecomingyears,andIknowthattogetherwe’llcontinueoureducationinthecommunityoftheworld,wherewecanseeourselvesinfellowhumanbeings,beitinpain,orinpassion,orinhope.AndtodayIamhonoredtoconsidermyselfpartofyourcommunity.Thankyousomuch.
......KHALEDHOSSEINI......madehisauthorialdebutwiththenovelTheKiteRunner,whichreleasedtowide
acclaimandhassincesoldinmorethanseventycountries.Hissubsequentnovels,AThousandSplendidSunsandAndtheMountainsEchoed,areNewYork
Timesbestsellersaswell.HeisalsothefounderoftheKhaledHosseiniFoundation,ahumanitariannonprofitsupportingthepeopleofAfghanistan.
HosseinilivesinnorthernCalifornia.
DavidFosterWallaceKENYONCOLLEGE,2005
Ifanybodyfeelslikeperspiring[cough],I’dadviseyoutogoahead,becauseI’msuregoingto.InfactI’mgonna[mumbleswhilepullinguphisgownandtakingoutahandkerchieffromhispocket].
Greetings,parents,andcongratulationstoKenyon’sgraduatingclassof2005.Therearethesetwoyoungfishswimmingalongandtheyhappentomeetanolderfishswimmingtheotherway,whonodsatthemandsays,“Morning,boys.How’sthewater?”Andthetwoyoungfishswimonforabit,andtheneventuallyoneofthemlooksoverattheotherandgoes,“Whatthehelliswater?”ThisisastandardrequirementofU.S.commencementspeeches,the
deploymentofdidacticlittleparable-ishstories.Thestory[“thing”]turnsouttobeoneofthebetter,lessbullshittyconventionsofthegenre,butifyou’reworriedthatIplantopresentmyselfhereasthewise,olderfishexplainingwhatwateristoyouyoungerfish,pleasedon’tbe.Iamnotthewiseoldfish.Thepointofthefishstoryismerelythatthemostobvious,importantrealitiesareoftentheonesthatarehardesttoseeandtalkabout.StatedasanEnglishsentence,ofcourse,thisisjustabanalplatitude,butthefactisthatintheday-to-daytrenchesofadultexistence,banalplatitudescanhavealife-or-deathimportance,orsoIwishtosuggesttoyouonthisdryandlovelymorning.
THEMOSTOBVIOUS,IMPORTANTREALITIESAREOFTENTHEONESTHATAREHARDEST
TOSEEANDTALKABOUT.
OfcoursethemainrequirementofspeecheslikethisisthatI’msupposedtotalkaboutyourliberalartseducation’smeaning,totrytoexplainwhythedegree
youareabouttoreceivehasactualhumanvalueinsteadofjustamaterialpayoff.Solet’stalkaboutthesinglemostpervasiveclichéinthecommencement-speechgenre,whichisthataliberalartseducationisnotsomuchaboutfillingyouupwithknowledgeasitisabout“teachingyouhowtothink.”Ifyou’relikemeasastudent,you’veneverlikedhearingthis,andyoutendtofeelabitinsultedbytheclaimthatyouneededanybodytoteachyouhowtothink,sincethefactthatyouevengotadmittedtoacollegethisgoodseemslikeproofthatyoualreadyknowhowtothink.ButI’mgoingtoposittoyouthattheliberalartsclichéturnsoutnottobeinsultingatall,becausethereallysignificanteducationinthinkingthatwe’resupposedtogetinaplacelikethisisn’treallyaboutthecapacitytothink,butratheraboutthechoiceofwhattothinkabout.Ifyourtotalfreedomofchoiceregardingwhattothinkaboutseemstooobvioustowastetimediscussing,I’daskyoutothinkaboutfishandwater,andtobracketforjustafewminutesyourskepticismaboutthevalueofthetotallyobvious.Here’sanotherdidacticlittlestory.Therearethesetwoguyssittingtogetherin
abarintheremoteAlaskanwilderness.Oneoftheguysisreligious,theotherisanatheist,andthetwoarearguingabouttheexistenceofGodwiththatspecialintensitythatcomesafteraboutthefourthbeer.Andtheatheistsays:“Look,it’snotlikeIdon’thaveactualreasonsfornotbelievinginGod.It’snotlikeIhaven’teverexperimentedwiththewholeGodandprayerthing.JustlastmonthIgotcaughtawayfromthecampinthatterribleblizzard,andIwastotallylostandIcouldn’tseeathing,anditwasfiftybelow,andsoItriedit:Ifelltomykneesinthesnowandcriedout‘Oh,God,ifthereisaGod,I’mlostinthisblizzard,andI’mgonnadieifyoudon’thelpme.’”Andnow,inthebar,thereligiousguylooksattheatheistallpuzzled.“Wellthen,youmustbelievenow,”hesays.“Afterall,hereyouare,alive.”Theatheistjustrollshiseyes.“No,man,allthatwaswasacoupleEskimoshappenedtocomewanderingbyandshowedmethewaybacktocamp.”It’seasytorunthisstorythroughkindofastandardliberalartsanalysis:The
exactsameexperiencecanmeantwototallydifferentthingstotwodifferentpeople,giventhosepeople’stwodifferentbelieftemplatesandtwodifferentwaysofconstructingmeaningfromexperience.Becauseweprizetoleranceanddiversityofbelief,nowhereinourliberalartsanalysisdowewanttoclaimthatoneguy’sinterpretationistrueandtheotherguy’sisfalseorbad.Whichisfine,exceptwealsoneverenduptalkingaboutjustwheretheseindividualtemplatesandbeliefscomefrom.Meaning,wheretheycomefromINSIDEthetwoguys.Asifaperson’smostbasicorientationtowardtheworldandthemeaningofhisexperienceweresomehowjusthardwired,likeheightorshoesize,orautomaticallyabsorbedfromtheculture,likelanguage.Asifhowweconstruct
meaningwerenotactuallyamatterofpersonal,intentionalchoice.Plus,there’sthewholematterofarrogance.ThenonreligiousguyissototallycertaininhisdismissalofthepossibilitythatthepassingEskimoshadanythingtodowithhisprayerforhelp.True,thereareplentyofreligiouspeoplewhoseemarrogantandcertainoftheirowninterpretationstoo.They’reprobablyevenmorerepulsivethanatheists,atleasttomostofus.Butreligiousdogmatists’problemisexactlythesameasthestory’sunbeliever:blindcertainty,aclose-mindednessthatamountstoanimprisonmentsototalthattheprisonerdoesn’tevenknowhe’slockedup.ThepointhereisthatIthinkthisisonepartofwhat“teachingmehowto
think”isreallysupposedtomean.Tobejustalittlelessarrogant.Tohavejustalittlecriticalawarenessaboutmyselfandmycertainties.BecauseahugepercentageofthestuffthatItendtobeautomaticallycertainofis,itturnsout,totallywronganddeluded.Ihavelearnedthisthehardway,asIpredictyougraduateswilltoo.HereisjustoneexampleofthetotalwrongnessofsomethingItendtobe
automaticallysureof:EverythinginmyownimmediateexperiencesupportsmydeepbeliefthatIamtheabsolutecenteroftheuniverse,therealest,mostvividandimportantpersoninexistence.Werarelythinkaboutthissortofnatural,basicself-centerednessbecauseit’ssosociallyrepulsive.Butit’sprettymuchthesameforallofus.Itisourdefaultsetting,hardwiredintoourboardsatbirth.Thinkaboutit:Thereisnoexperienceyouhavehadthatyouarenottheabsolutecenterof.TheworldasyouexperienceitisthereinfrontofYOUorbehindYOU,totheleftorrightofYOU,onYOURTVorYOURmonitor.Andsoon.Otherpeople’sthoughtsandfeelingshavetobecommunicatedtoyousomehow,butyourownaresoimmediate,urgent,real.
Learninghowtothinkreallymeanslearninghowtoexercisesomecontroloverhowandwhatyouthink.
Pleasedon’tworrythatI’mgettingreadytolectureyouaboutcompassionorother-directednessoralltheso-calledvirtues.Thisisnotamatterofvirtue.It’samatterofmychoosingtodotheworkofsomehowalteringorgettingfreeofmynatural,hardwireddefaultsetting,whichistobedeeplyandliterallyself-centeredandtoseeandinterpreteverythingthroughthislensofself.Peoplewhocanadjusttheirnaturaldefaultsettingthiswayareoftendescribedasbeing“well-adjusted,”whichIsuggesttoyouisnotanaccidentalterm.Giventhetriumphantacademicsettinghere,anobviousquestionishowmuch
ofthisworkofadjustingourdefaultsettinginvolvesactualknowledgeorintellect.Thisquestiongetsverytricky.Probablythemostdangerousthingaboutanacademiceducation—atleastinmyowncase—isthatitenablesmytendencytoover-intellectualizestuff,togetlostinabstractargumentinsidemyhead,insteadofsimplypayingattentiontowhatisgoingonrightinfrontofme,payingattentiontowhatisgoingoninsideme.AsI’msureyouguysknowbynow,itisextremelydifficulttostayalertand
attentive,insteadofgettinghypnotizedbytheconstantmonologueinsideyourownhead(maybehappeningrightnow).Twentyyearsaftermyowngraduation,Ihavecomegraduallytounderstandthattheliberalartsclichéaboutteachingyouhowtothinkisactuallyshorthandforamuchdeeper,moreseriousidea:Learninghowtothinkreallymeanslearninghowtoexercisesomecontroloverhowandwhatyouthink.Itmeansbeingconsciousandawareenoughtochoosewhatyoupayattentiontoandtochoosehowyouconstructmeaningfromexperience.Becauseifyoucannotexercisethiskindofchoiceinadultlife,youwillbetotallyhosed.Thinkoftheoldclichéabout“themindbeinganexcellentservantbutaterriblemaster.”This,likemanyclichés,solameandunexcitingonthesurface,actually
expressesagreatandterribletruth.Itisnottheleastbitcoincidentalthatadultswhocommitsuicidewithfirearmsalmostalwaysshootthemselvesinthehead.Theyshoottheterriblemaster.Andthetruthisthatmostofthesesuicidesareactuallydeadlongbeforetheypullthetrigger.AndIsubmitthatthisiswhatthereal,nobullshitvalueofyourliberalarts
educationissupposedtobeabout:howtokeepfromgoingthroughyour
comfortable,prosperous,respectableadultlifedead,unconscious,aslavetoyourheadandtoyournaturaldefaultsettingofbeinguniquely,completely,imperiallyalonedayinanddayout.Thatmaysoundlikehyperbole,orabstractnonsense.Let’sgetconcrete.Theplainfactisthatyougraduatingseniorsdonotyethaveanycluewhat“dayindayout”reallymeans.Therehappentobewhole,largepartsofadultAmericanlifethatnobodytalksaboutincommencementspeeches.Onesuchpartinvolvesboredom,routine,andpettyfrustration.TheparentsandolderfolksherewillknowalltoowellwhatI’mtalkingabout.Bywayofexample,let’ssayit’sanaverageadultday,andyougetupinthe
morning,gotoyourchallenging,white-collar,college-graduatejob,andyouworkhardforeightortenhours,andattheendofthedayyou’retiredandsomewhatstressedandallyouwantistogohomeandhaveagoodsupperandmaybeunwindforanhour,andthenhitthesackearlybecause,ofcourse,youhavetogetupthenextdayanddoitallagain.Butthenyourememberthere’snofoodathome.Youhaven’thadtimetoshopthisweekbecauseofyourchallengingjob,andsonowafterworkyouhavetogetinyourcaranddrivetothesupermarket.It’stheendoftheworkdayandthetrafficisapttobeverybad.Sogettingtothestoretakeswaylongerthanitshould,andwhenyoufinallygetthere,thesupermarketisverycrowded,becauseofcourseit’sthetimeofdaywhenalltheotherpeoplewithjobsalsotrytosqueezeinsomegroceryshopping.Andthestoreishideouslylitandinfusedwithsoul-killingmusicorcorporatepop,andit’sprettymuchthelastplaceyouwanttobe,butyoucan’tjustgetinandquicklyout;youhavetowanderalloverthehuge,over-litstore’sconfusingaislestofindthestuffyouwantandyouhavetomaneuveryourjunkycartthroughalltheseothertired,hurriedpeoplewithcarts(etcetera,etcetera,cuttingstuffoutbecausethisisalongceremony)andeventuallyyougetallyoursuppersupplies,exceptnowitturnsouttherearen’tenoughcheckoutlanesopeneventhoughit’stheend-of-the-dayrush.Sothecheckoutlineisincrediblylong,whichisstupidandinfuriating.Butyoucan’ttakeyourfrustrationoutonthefranticladyworkingtheregister,whoisoverworkedatajobwhosedailytediumandmeaninglessnesssurpassestheimaginationofanyofushereataprestigiouscollege.Butanyway,youfinallygettothecheckoutline’sfront,andyoupayforyour
food,andyougettoldto“Haveaniceday”inavoicethatistheabsolutevoiceofdeath.Thenyouhavetotakeyourcreepy,flimsy,plasticbagsofgroceriesinyourcartwiththeonecrazywheelthatpullsmaddeninglytotheleft,allthewayoutthroughthecrowded,bumpy,litteryparkinglot,andthenyouhavetodriveallthewayhomethroughslow,heavy,SUV-intensiverush-hourtraffic,etcetera,etcetera.Everyoneherehasdonethis,ofcourse.Butithasn’tyetbeenpartofyou
Everyoneherehasdonethis,ofcourse.Butithasn’tyetbeenpartofyougraduates’actualliferoutine,dayafterweekaftermonthafteryear.Butitwillbe.Andmanymoredreary,annoying,seeminglymeaningless
routinesbesides.Butthatisnotthepoint.Thepointisthatpetty,frustratingcraplikethisisexactlywheretheworkofchoosingisgonnacomein.Becausethetrafficjamsandcrowdedaislesandlongcheckoutlinesgivemetimetothink,andifIdon’tmakeaconsciousdecisionabouthowtothinkandwhattopayattentionto,I’mgonnabepissedandmiserableeverytimeIhavetoshop.Becausemynaturaldefaultsettingisthecertaintythatsituationslikethisarereallyallaboutme.AboutMYhungrinessandMYfatigueandMYdesiretojustgethome,andit’sgoingtoseemforalltheworldlikeeverybodyelseisjustinmyway.Andwhoareallthesepeopleinmyway?Andlookathowrepulsivemostofthemare,andhowstupidandcow-likeanddead-eyedandnonhumantheyseeminthecheckoutline,orathowannoyingandrudeitisthatpeoplearetalkingloudlyoncellphonesinthemiddleoftheline.Andlookathowdeeplyandpersonallyunfairthisis.Or,ofcourse,ifI’minamoresociallyconsciousliberalartsformofmy
defaultsetting,Icanspendtimeintheend-of-the-daytrafficbeingdisgustedaboutallthehuge,stupid,lane-blockingSUVsandHummersandV-12pickuptrucks,burningtheirwasteful,selfish,forty-gallontanksofgas,andIcandwellonthefactthatthepatrioticorreligiousbumperstickersalwaysseemtobeonthebiggest,mostdisgustinglyselfishvehicles,drivenbytheugliest,[respondingheretoloudapplause](thisisanexampleofhowNOTtothink,though)mostdisgustinglyselfishvehicles,drivenbytheugliest,mostinconsiderateandaggressivedrivers.AndIcanthinkabouthowourchildren’schildrenwilldespiseusforwastingallthefuture’sfuel,andprobablyscrewinguptheclimate,andhowspoiledandstupidandselfishanddisgustingweallare,andhowmodernconsumersocietyjustsucks,andsoforthandsoon.Yougettheidea.IfIchoosetothinkthiswayinastoreandonthefreeway,fine.Lotsofusdo.
Exceptthinkingthiswaytendstobesoeasyandautomaticthatitdoesn’thavetobeachoice.Itismynaturaldefaultsetting.It’stheautomaticwaythatIexperiencetheboring,frustrating,crowdedpartsofadultlifewhenI’moperatingontheautomatic,unconsciousbeliefthatIamthecenteroftheworldandthatmyimmediateneedsandfeelingsarewhatshoulddeterminetheworld’spriorities.Thethingisthat,ofcourse,therearetotallydifferentwaystothinkabout
thesekindsofsituations.Inthistraffic,allthesevehiclesstoppedandidlinginmyway,it’snotimpossiblethatsomeofthesepeopleinSUVshavebeenin
horribleautoaccidentsinthepast,andnowfinddrivingsoterrifyingthattheirtherapisthasallbutorderedthemtogetahuge,heavySUVsotheycanfeelsafeenoughtodrive.OrthattheHummerthatjustcutmeoffismaybebeingdrivenbyafatherwhoselittlechildishurtorsickintheseatnexttohim,andhe’stryingtogetthiskidtothehospital,andhe’sinabigger,morelegitimatehurrythanIam:ItisactuallyIwhoaminHISway.
ITTAKESWILLANDEFFORT,ANDIFYOUARELIKEME,SOMEDAYSYOUWON’TBEABLETODOIT,ORYOUJUSTFLATOUT
WON’TWANTTO.
OrIcanchoosetoforcemyselftoconsiderthelikelihoodthateveryoneelseinthesupermarket’scheckoutlineisjustasboredandfrustratedasIam,andthatsomeofthesepeopleprobablyhaveharder,moretediousandpainfullivesthanIdo.Again,pleasedon’tthinkthatI’mgivingyoumoraladvice,orthatI’msaying
youaresupposedtothinkthisway,orthatanyoneexpectsyoutojustautomaticallydoit.Becauseit’shard.Ittakeswillandeffort,andifyouarelikeme,somedaysyouwon’tbeabletodoit,oryoujustflatoutwon’twantto.Butmostdays,ifyou’reawareenoughtogiveyourselfachoice,youcan
choosetolookdifferentlyatthisfat,dead-eyed,over-made-upladywhojustscreamedatherkidinthecheckoutline.Maybeshe’snotusuallylikethis.Maybeshe’sbeenupthreestraightnightsholdingthehandofahusbandwhoisdyingofbonecancer.Ormaybethisveryladyisthelow-wageclerkatthemotorvehicledepartment,whojustyesterdayhelpedyourspouseresolveahorrific,infuriatingred-tapeproblemthroughsomesmallactofbureaucratickindness.Ofcourse,noneofthisislikely,butit’salsonotimpossible.Itjustdependswhatyouwanttoconsider.Ifyou’reautomaticallysurethatyouknowwhatrealityis,andyouareoperatingonyourdefaultsetting,thenyou,likeme,probablywon’tconsiderpossibilitiesthataren’tannoyingandmiserable.Butifyoureallylearnhowtopayattention,thenyouwillknowthereareotheroptions.Itwillactuallybewithinyourpowertoexperienceacrowded,hot,slow,consumer-helltypesituationasnotonlymeaningful,butsacred,onfirewiththesameforcethatmadethestars:love,fellowship,themysticalonenessofallthingsdeepdown.Notthatthatmysticalstuffisnecessarilytrue.Theonlythingthat’scapital-T
Notthatthatmysticalstuffisnecessarilytrue.Theonlythingthat’scapital-TTrueisthatyougettodecidehowyou’regonnatrytoseeit.This,Isubmit,isthefreedomofarealeducation,oflearninghowtobewell-
adjusted.Yougettoconsciouslydecidewhathasmeaningandwhatdoesn’t.Yougettodecidewhattoworship.Becausehere’ssomethingelsethat’sweirdbuttrue:Intheday-to-day
trenchesofadultlife,thereisactuallynosuchthingasatheism.Thereisnosuchthingasnotworshipping.Everybodyworships.Theonlychoicewegetiswhattoworship.Andthecompellingreasonformaybechoosingsomesortofgodorspiritual-typethingtoworship—beitJCorAllah,beitYHWH,ortheWiccanMotherGoddess,ortheFourNobleTruths,orsomeinviolablesetofethicalprinciples—isthatprettymuchanythingelseyouworshipwilleatyoualive.Ifyouworshipmoneyandthings,iftheyarewhereyoutaprealmeaninginlife,thenyouwillneverhaveenough,neverfeelyouhaveenough.It’sthetruth.Worshipyourbodyandbeautyandsexualallureandyouwillalwaysfeelugly.Andwhentimeandagestartshowing,youwilldieamilliondeathsbeforetheyfinallygrieveyou.Ononelevel,weallknowthisstuffalready.It’sbeencodifiedasmyths,proverbs,clichés,epigrams,parables:theskeletonofeverygreatstory.Thewholetrickiskeepingthetruthupfrontindailyconsciousness.
Worshippower,youwillendupfeelingweakandafraid,andyouwillneedevermorepoweroverotherstonumbyoutoyourownfear.Worshipyourintellect,beingseenassmart,youwillendupfeelingstupid,afraud,alwaysonthevergeofbeingfoundout.Buttheinsidiousthingabouttheseformsofworshipisnotthatthey’reevilorsinful,it’sthatthey’reunconscious.Theyaredefaultsettings.They’rethekindofworshipyoujustgraduallyslipinto,dayafterday,getting
moreandmoreselectiveaboutwhatyouseeandhowyoumeasurevaluewithouteverbeingfullyawarethatthat’swhatyou’redoing.Andtheso-calledrealworldwillnotdiscourageyoufromoperatingonyour
defaultsettings,becausetheso-calledrealworldofmenandmoneyandpowerhumsmerrilyalonginapooloffearandangerandfrustrationandcravingandworshipofself.Ourownpresentculturehasharnessedtheseforcesinwaysthathaveyieldedextraordinarywealthandcomfortandpersonalfreedom.Thefreedomforalltobelordsofourtiny,skull-sizedkingdoms,aloneatthecenterofallcreation.Thiskindoffreedomhasmuchtorecommendit.Butofcoursetherearealldifferentkindsoffreedom,andthekindthatismostpreciousyouwillnothearmuchtalkaboutinthegreatoutsideworldofwantingandachieving...Thereallyimportantkindoffreedominvolvesattentionandawarenessanddiscipline,andbeingabletrulytocareaboutotherpeopleandtosacrificeforthemoverandoverinmyriadpetty,unsexywayseveryday.Thatisrealfreedom.Thatisbeingeducated,andunderstandinghowtothink.
Thealternativeisunconsciousness,thedefaultsetting,theratrace,theconstantgnawingsenseofhavinghad,andlost,someinfinitething.Iknowthatthisstuffprobablydoesn’tsoundfunandbreezyorgrandly
inspirationalthewayacommencementspeechissupposedtosound.Whatitis,asfarasIcansee,isthecapital-TTruth,withawholelotofrhetoricalnicetiesstrippedaway.Youare,ofcourse,freetothinkofitwhateveryouwish.Butpleasedon’tjustdismissitasjustsomefinger-waggingDr.Laurasermon.Noneofthisstuffisreallyaboutmoralityorreligionordogmaorbigfancyquestionsoflifeafterdeath.Thecapital-TTruthisaboutlifeBEFOREdeath.Itisabouttherealvalueofarealeducation,whichhasalmostnothingtodo
withknowledge,andeverythingtodowithsimpleawareness:awarenessofwhatissorealandessential,sohiddeninplainsightallaroundus,allthetime,thatwehavetokeepremindingourselvesoverandover:“Thisiswater.”“Thisiswater.”Itisunimaginablyhardtodothis,tostayconsciousandaliveintheadult
Itisunimaginablyhardtodothis,tostayconsciousandaliveintheadultworlddayinanddayout.Whichmeansyetanothergrandclichéturnsouttobetrue:youreducationreallyISthejobofalifetime.Anditcommences:now.Iwishyouwaymorethanluck.
......DAVIDFOSTERWALLACE......(1962–2008)wasanAmericanauthorwhosebest-knownworksinclude
acclaimednovelsInfiniteJest,TheBroomoftheSystem,andPulitzerPrize–finalistThePaleKing,aswellastheshortstorycollectionsOblivionandBriefInterviewswithHideousMen.WallacealsopublishedarticlesinRollingStone,Harper’sMagazine,theNewYorker,andmanyotherinternationalperiodicals.AmonghismanyhonorsareaMacArthurFellowshipandaWhitingWriter’s
award.
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