DFW, JULIEN TREMBLAY
Reading what he had to say seemed like a pessimistic way of looking at a life spent before death, but it is really an optimistic view of living out your life to the fullest before its over. The main points that David is constantly hitting home are about the selfishness of the human, the value of a liberal arts education, and being "alive." It is easy to realize your needs, wants, goals, motivation, purpose, but how often do we really take the time to realize someone else's? I know personally that when i go about in MY OWN day to day life every thing i am thinking about is about me, myself, and and every thought is in first person (obviously), but what is astounding is that i never realized it until i read this piece and saw that deep down we are all narcissists indirectly. The expression "putting yourself into someone else's shoes" couldn't hold a more important meaning to me, and everyone i assume, now that i have read this article. having an open mind and understanding were others are "coming from" are very important skills in life whether it be at work in your career or at home with your friends. we are all entitled to our opinions. Yes, that does mean some people have stupid opinions or are completely wrong, but, you (I) could be that person and this is the thing that so many people do not understand, but David Foster Wallace makes very clear. This aspect of his speech really has been a revelation to me.
I also think that the value he places on a liberal arts education, like Champlains, is incredibly important. From grades K-12 the idea in the school system is conformity whether it be a dress code or just the general subjects that all are required to take. For me, coming to college has been a way to break free from this system and learn to develop a deeper thought process, deductive reasoning, and analysis. My opinion does matter, whether it is wrong or right, ridiculous or sane, what i believe has made me. David does a good job of tying the liberal arts thought process to beliefs (religion in this case) and culture. to me this is extremely important because, as he points out, it helps guide you throughout life, this new though process, and make you a more developed and well rounded individual with unique qualities and ideas.
"The only thing that's capital-T True is that you get to decide how you're gonna try to see it." ("it" in this case being a situation at hand such as a line or bad driver)
"You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't. You get to decide what to worship."
"The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death."
These are the three main points or quotes i drew out of his speech that really relate to me and make me realize that if its not me then who? and if its not now the when?
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