David Foster Wallace devoted an assessment of the value of a liberal arts degree to the graduating class of Kenyon College in 2005. Throughout his commencement address he places great emphasis on the concept of awareness. He believes that people in general get far too caught up in their daily lives and therefore, their perception of the world around them is greatly diminished (Wallace). He explains that everyone lives a life full of freedom, but how are they supposed to actually live if they are unaware of what freedom entails (Wallace). This speech provides readers and listeners with a background of how to become more self-aware. Wallace explains that being aware means having the capability to recognize that there is more value to a degree than “material payoff,” how turning off the “default setting” will aid in conscious self-awareness, and recognizing worship as a pivotal factor in the idea of becoming self-aware is fundamental to success (Wallace).

Evidently, David Foster Wallace is elucidating the meaning of a liberal arts education (Wallace, 2). He is trying to rewire both listeners and reader’s minds by teaching them how to “think” (Wallace, 2). He notes, “The really significant education in thinking that we’re supposed to get in a place like this isn’t really about the capacity to think but rather about the choice of what to think about” (Wallace, 2). He is explaining that American society places great pressure among the value of admission to a prestigious institution, however, learning how to think is much more valuable than the capacity for knowledge (Wallace, 2). A “real education” is not about how smart an individual is but rather simply being self-aware and taking awareness into account in everyday life. In addition, he states, “The point here is that I think this is one part of what teaching me how to think is really supposed to mean. To be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties” (Wallace, 3). Here, Wallace references the concept of selfishness and how that directly correlates to becoming self-aware. Re-teaching an individual how to think proves to be difficult because people tend to be caught up in their own daily lives rather than concerning themselves with the “outside world.” Consciously choosing to not become more self-aware reflects upon the personality of an individual because it proves them to be arrogant and self-centered. Following this, education provides a helping hand in regards to people struggling with the concept of self-awareness and learning how to think. 

On the other hand, David Foster Wallace references what he calls a “default setting” multiple times throughout this commencement address (Wallace). He explains that individuals have the option of choosing to worship a society that praises materialistic items and face the consequences of getting wrapped up in their “default setting,” or choosing to live a life full of freedom by turning off the “default setting” and focusing on how to become more self-aware (Wallace). He declares, “This is not a matter of virtue. It’s a matter of my choosing to do the work of somehow altering or getting free of my natural, hard-wired default setting which is to be deeply and literally self-centered and to see and interpret everything through this lens of self” (Wallace, 3). Wallace knows that what he is requesting is incredibly difficult to comprehend, let alone succeed at which is why he says that it is not a matter of morality/virtue. However, turning off the “default setting” relinquishes the fear of becoming a self-absorbed individual because they are no longer focusing on their priorities, their needs, and their wants, but rather investing their energy into consciously becoming more self-aware (Wallace). 

Wallace goes on to explain a concept that is equally important as those listed above which is choosing what to worship. He suggests, “The only choice we get is what to worship. And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship- be it JC or Allah, be it YHWH or the Wiccan Mother Goddess, or the Four Noble Truths, or some inviolable set of ethical principles-is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive” (Wallace, 7). This statement proves to almost be an accusation against society in general. Wallace is saying that if an individual worship something other than a God or a religion such as money or any other materialistic item, they will be consumed in a “worship of self” (Wallace, 7). Furthermore, he says that people worship without realizing what they are worshipping because most often it is an unconscious act (Wallace, 7). When an individual worships a God or religion they are provided with a truth greater than themselves, a truth that is spiritual, guiding, and real. However, when someone chooses to worship money or materialistic items they get sucked into a world that is fake and self-absorbing. It is a decision that is difficult to make as society has evolved into one of frustration and craving, however, choosing the right decision is the “real value of a real education” (Wallace, 7). 

On the whole, being aware means having the capability of recognizing the value of a liberal arts education, learning how to adjust the “default setting,” and choosing what to worship. Being aware of what is hidden in plain sight is unimaginably hard and it takes constant effort and evaluation of oneself. Wallace ends his commencement address by declaring, “It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive in the adult world day in and day out. Which means yet another grand cliché turns out to be true: your education really IS the job of a lifetime” (Wallace, 8). Wallace assesses the value of a liberal arts degree throughout the duration of his speech and concludes it with irony saying that what people spend four years of their lives studying to work towards a “material payoff” proves to be the job of a lifetime (Wallace, 8). Essentially, learning how to think is learning how to become self-aware (Wallace).
