Think Outside the Box

The greatest minds in history have been those whose who can think abstractly. Picture a ball. If you think abstractly, you will be able to say what color the ball is, what it is made of, and so on. In his commencement speech to the graduating class of Kenyon College in 2005, Wallace says that "a liberal arts education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about 'teaching you how to think'". As far as schooling goes, it is supposed to prepare you to enter the workforce in the field you choose. But Wallace shares a different view on the value of education: that it teaches you how to think creatively and problem solve. Most kids always complain saying things like "when would I ever need to know how to make a sine graph?" or "who cares what the polyatomic ions are?", but they fail to see the deeper importance of education. It helps to develop your mind and enhance your ability to think. So next time you're sitting in AP English wondering in what way knowing the definition of colloquialism will help you in life, remember Wallace's speech. Be that person who isn't afraid to speak out and think differently because you never know, maybe everyone else is wrong and you're the only one who's right.