“It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness” (Wallace XVII). In David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” he gives a commencement speech to the Kenyon graduating class of 2005. In a speech to recently graduated college seniors, one would assume it would be filled with tips for the future, learning about that first job, or what the next steps are. Wallace chooses to not embrace that “standard requirement of US commencement speeches,” but rather he chooses to deliver some information that he feels is more vital (Wallace X). In “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace, he decides to make this speech more than a light, airy message about how their education will open doors like never before; Wallace chooses to convey tough lessons about life.

David Foster Wallace allows the reader to see that this speech will not be a typical one. He provides the reader with some foreshadowing and instances that indicate his intent for this speech. “The point of the fish story is merely that the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about” (Wallace X). In this quote, Wallace specifically states that the things one needs to discuss are tricky to talk about. He is revealing that as he continues this speech he will tell these students things they need to know, but may not want to hear. He is allowing the reader to see that he intends to talk about an “important reality” (Wallace X). “Of course the main requirement of speeches like this is that I’m supposed to talk about your liberal arts education’s meaning” (Wallace XI). In this quote, Wallace tells the reader what he is supposed to be doing. Typically, when one acknowledges what they are supposed to be doing they intend to do just the opposite. Wallace does give some insight into the importance of a liberal arts education, but he also is not just going to be satisfied with only discussing that matter.

Since David Foster Wallace has displayed his intent to make this an unusual speech, it is now about the message he delivers. “The point here is…to be a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness” (Wallace XII). At this part of the speech, Wallace has just told a story about an argument over the existence of God. It ends with the nonreligious person being so sure about the lack of God that he cannot acknowledge the significance of being saved during a blizzard and the religious guy being positive about God’s existence he cannot see the likelihood of an Eskimo being in Alaska. Wallace is using this story to show that people live in an egocentric world. No one wants to be told that they are arrogant and have no critical awareness. Wallace telling these students that they are arrogant and have no critical awareness could be perceived as rude or harsh, which is exactly why he says it. Wallace does not want to sugarcoat things for these students. He wishes to deliver a truth, not to completely belittle them, but to make them aware of reality. He wants these students to know the way of the world and accept that what lies ahead of them may not be what they had initially thought. “Think about it: there is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute center of” (Wallace XII). To further reiterate his point, Wallace recognizes that all one does they are the center of. Wallace states that this is people have this “default setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth” (Wallace XII). He once again tells the students that humans are selfish people at the core. Wallace knows that people do not want to be told that they are selfish people and they have been so since they were born. He is aware that it may be controversial to discuss the errors of human egotism, but he chooses to ignore all of this. Wallace wishes to convey his message and to do so he has to take an abnormal route.

David Foster Wallace also talks to the students about worship. “Worship power, you will end up feeling weak…worship intellect, being seen smart, you will end up feeling stupid” (Wallace XVI). Here Wallace says that even if religion is not your thing, everyone worships something. He gives examples of money, power, intellect, and beauty. He states that whatever one worships they will not be able to reach. In the quote it can be seen that in an attempt to be powerful one becomes is weak and in an attempt to be smart one becomes stupid. Wallace wants to let people know that the worship something is like trying to achieve the unachievable. Regardless of how hard one tries become the richest person, failure will happen and your life will have been a waste. Wallace is not trying to tell people to not be ambitious or to not have any goals, but rather to not center oneself around something that does not matter. Wallace is trying to convey the message to the students to not get caught up in material things, but rather to pay attention to the things that matter.

In David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” he decides to make this speech more than a light, airy message about how their education will open doors like never before; Wallace chooses to convey tough lessons about life. Throughout his speech to the class of 2005 he delivers messages of being less arrogant, becoming more self-aware, learning to focus on others, and that material things are not what is important. 
