In David Foster Wallace’s speech “This is Water” he addresses the topic of education. Wallace talks about education having a deeper meaning than just knowledge, stating that education can free individuals mentally and help one live out his or her days with more purpose. Through training one’s mind to think, listening to others’ views on topics, and focusing one’s thoughts on important topics; education is the key to making day-to-day life less repetitive.

The first time Wallace uses the word “education” is in the third paragraph where he states, “liberal arts education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about quote teaching you how to think” (Wallace XI).  In this context, his definition of education is rather literal, stating that education teaches one how to think and is not just knowledge. If one uses his or her time thinking about irrelevant topics or purely the topics that society focuses on, then the education one strives for could go to waste. Wallace strengthens this argument by saying “education is about the choice of what to think about” (XI). This “choice” is what society today struggles with, getting caught up in irrelevant news that does not aid in the development of critical thinking. One has to create and contemplate their own opinion on issues. The freedom of thought that education gives oneself is the real gain from education, and it is up to the individual receiving the knowledge to use it correctly. Wallace expresses the importance of education to the audience because many times people get caught up in grades only and just completing the requirements in order to get a degree. This is not what a student should be focused on. A student should rather be focused on actually learning and using the information to better their day to day life. Once one understands this concept, he or she can focus on taking full advantage of education and not just wasting the knowledge simply memorizing concepts for an exam.  

Several paragraphs later, Wallace refers to education as the ability “to be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my uncertainties” (XII).  In this instance, education is more symbolic. He talks about education giving him the ability to listen and respect other people’s opinions, whether he agrees with them or not. Uneducated individuals, or those educated persons who do not exercise critical thinking, can often fall into the trap of the everyday routine. Wallace addresses how through education, positive thinking in tough situations is made possible. Therefore, if one does not have that same education, he or she can be considered more likely to fall into the negative daily routine. An example of when Wallace addresses this is when he discusses waiting in line in the supermarket. Wallace describes how education has given him the alternative more positive route of thinking when he says “I can choose to force myself to consider the likelihood that everyone else in the supermarket’s checkout line is just as bored and frustrated as I am, some people having harder, more tedious and painful lives than I do” (XV). Wallace is referring to education in this instance as the key tool to help with social interaction, and that education allows individuals to have more in depth and real conversations with one another. This is a different meaning from several paragraphs prior where he referred to education in a more literal sense, stating that it is the ability to teach one how to think. Wallace focuses in this paragraph on the fact that not a single person knows everything about every topic. Wallace means by this that it is advantageous to listen to other’s opinions and ideas to see what one could gain from the experience. Through learning another’s way of thinking, one could possibly adapt their thinking style in the future in order to aid in the completion of one’s own mind. Once seeing another’s way of thinking and interaction, one could possibly mold that way of thinking with their own. For example, if an individual’s closest friend is very optimistic, the individual could mold the thinking of their closest friend with their own. Due to the positive thinking of their friend, the individual’s mindset could in turn become more positive. This could change the individual’s outlook on life, as he or she may therefore be more likely to think positively in tough situations. From thinking more positively, one can break the unconscious nature of negative thinking, and escape the traps of the daily routine.

A few paragraphs later, Wallace refers to education as being a means to escape the daily routine by saying, “(a)nd I submit that this is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about; how to keep you from going through your comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult life dead, unconscious, a slave to your head and to your natural default setting of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone day in and day out” (XIII).  In this powerful statement Wallace uses education as symbolizing a wrecking ball; breaking down the barriers of boring thought and the normal routine in order to allow one’s mind to focus on more important topics or issues. This mental image of the wrecking ball is portrayed when Wallace states “getting free of my natural, hard wired default setting” (XIII). It paints the picture of his brain smashing out of his daily routine for the first time and continuing his path to learn how to think fully. For this example, education could be considered the crane holding the wrecking ball. This is because without the crane, the ball would be ineffective. The positive thinking would then be the wrecking ball itself, potentially breaking through the wall. The wall in this case would be negativity and the daily routine. Therefore, through knowledge and education, positive thinking has the capability to break through and replace negative thoughts. Education gives an individual the means to think more positively. From years of schooling one can put that knowledge to use effectively by striving to think more positively. Once thinking more positively, one can successfully look at life through a different perspective. This would successfully allow the mind to break out of the repetitive negativity that naturally comes with the daily routine.

 Later in the paragraph, Wallace expands on the idea that educated people can, “adjust their natural default settings” which he says are to go in accordance with society and what society wants people to think (XIII). This idea of adjusting one’s default setting is an attribute he or she can acquire primarily through education. Often in life, days can start to blend together or become repetitive due to jobs or other obligations, but that will only happen if one lets it become that way. Wallace tells the reader that due to education one can avoid this repetitive default setting. Whether it be thinking about useful information in his example of being stuck in a traffic jam after a long day of work, or simply becoming a more positive thinker in times which can try one’s patience. In either situation, wasting time thinking about trite and unimportant issues will not help develop one’s mind further. Developing one’s mind is critical to make day-to-day life less repetitive. Without new and growing knowledge one could lose their desire to make a change in their life, forcing them into the trap that is the daily routine. Wallace exclaims that education is a means to change one’s lifestyle. He means by this that through the education one learns in their life, he or she can use this information to gear one’s mind toward what is important. Issues such as the long grocery line that Wallace mentions earlier in the paragraph do not become a factor once one can train their brain correctly. He expands on the idea of how this new positive type of thinking can start to become automatic, and that before long, one will become a positive thinker without even meaning to. This way of thinking is something that can change one’s outlook on life and help “break out of the routine.”

Through Wallace’s many different definitions of education one can learn how important education truly is. This can be in a more literal sense, such as teaching one how to think, or in a more symbolic sense, such as a tool to aid in social interaction. Whether it be training one’s mind to think, listening to other’s views on topics and traditions, or focusing on topics that aid in critical thinking; education is essential to spice up the day-to-day routine. The different definitions of education helped create a fuller understanding of the point that Wallace was trying to convey. By using these different definitions, Wallace was able to portray that education allows one to think more positively. This allows the individual to break up the low points in life and think less negatively when faced with them in the future. In the closing of his speech, Wallace exclaims and urges the audience to use education to be aware of what is real and essential in life. Through education there is no limit to what an individual can achieve. 