Blog Post Random: David Foster Wallace - This Is Water

After watching the inspiring yet reality check of a speech made by David Foster Wallace, I couldn't really describe it. Not in a way that put me speechless, but like I can't really relate to his speech. As a teenage high school student, I can't put myself in the situation that Foster Wallace described. However, I still can see the perspective in which he wants us to take, and so I can apply that to my lifestyle. For example

My goals in life are many to dream about, but a few to achieve in reality. I want to be able to attend university and graduate with a degree in my dream job: to be a software engineer. But if we were to go out there, I always dream about being able to go to different countries and learning about the technology they possess and how it functions in their communities.

Through this speech, I feel as if I can be ready for college and its difficulties. These difficulties are not only found academically but more socially and economically. Being able to fit in, impressing new friends, having to look for a job to fully pay for tuition costs, and other situations are examples of the aspects that Foster Wallace's speech brings up. I can prepare myself for this. I won't get used to it, but  I can prevail and be able to deactivate that "default setting" in my conscious and open up to others and my surroundings.

I'm most excited about being able to graduate knowing that I have given my whole effort and dedication to my education. Hopefully, I can be accepted to a university before I graduate. But I'm most terrified about not creating a pleasureful memory before graduation, never being able to remember how good or how I enjoyed my high school years before I left. I want to live life to the fullest, in school and out.

I always imagine how I would be when the day comes that I would live on my own. I sometimes become anxious, other times I become very terrified. But I think everything will be alright once I get older. I'll become mature and have a different mindset than the one I have right now. Maybe later, living on my own won't be so bad. It can go the other way as well though. I believe real life means being out there. Driving by yourself. Buying groceries and necessary clothes on your own. Going to work to earn money for your own self-being and health. It'll be different, I can guarantee that.