We’re continuing our series through several of this year’s notable Commencement speeches. Last week, we looked at Stephen Colbert’s address to Wake Forest University, and we heard from Ian McEwan, on the gift of free speech.
Today, we listen to Katie Couric, who delivered an address at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Couric’s life story includes highs and lows — an illustrious career in journalism as well as her family’s encounter with cancer. Considering her experience at work and home, it’s interesting to see how her speech begins and ends.
The Heart and Soul of America
Couric starts by praising the institution and America’s educational system, one that continues to attract people from all over the world. But it is somewhat startling to hear her say “state schools are the heart and soul of our nation.”
A century ago, a commencement speaker would likely have mentioned churches as the heart of America, not the state-run educational system. Of course, she’s right that these campuses are where “brainpower” is “ignited” (in her words), but we generally use “heart” and “soul” language to refer to the cultivation of who we are as people, not just our intellectual learning but also moral formation — places where morality and virtues are extolled and inculcated. When one thinks of the scandals and accusations plaguing many state schools, this statement from Couric, taken at face value, should be troubling. If UVA is the heart of America, our soul is in trouble.
Timeless Principles in a Fast-Paced World
Couric moves on to the main body of her speech, acknowledging the ”breathtaking, head-swiveling change” that is powered by technology and is changing our everyday lives in so many ways. She mentions the way technology has disrupted the workplace and transformed “career ladders” into ”an Escher drawing.”
With all these options and no sure footing, what will guide us? Couric offers a few ”enduring principles and timeless values” as the answer.
First, she encourages people to pursue what they’re passionate about. Figure out what it is that excites you and go for it. But don’t take too long, because you don’t want to reinforce millennial stereotype of “living in your parents’ basement eating microwave popcorn and binge watching reruns of The OC.” She goes on:
“Don’t drift through your twenties. Use every stop along the way as a chance to make an investment in the person you want to become.”
Good counsel. I’ve said similar things to twenty-somethings before.
Couric is also helpful in cautioning against extremes. Be confident and courageous, but don’t let that confidence morph into hubris. “Make sure that moxie comes with a big dose of humility,” she says. After all, your education isn’t over. Life is all about learning new things. Learn from successes, and learn from failures.
Over against Colbert’s advice to adjust the standards so that failure becomes practically impossible, Couric says failure can be a good thing. She also encourages students to fight against their generation’s entitlement mentality.
The Good Life and What Threatens It
It’s at the end of the speech that Couric’s vision of the good life comes into view:
A successful life isn’t just about what career path you’re on, or what milestone you’ve met, or what the numbers are on your direct deposit. Success is about becoming the kind of person you want to be.
It’s here that she sounds a little like Colbert’s speech, in that there is no objective standard to measure your success in becoming who you want to be, or whether who you’ve become is good. But, while Colbert gave this advice as a way of shielding graduates from external criticism, Couric is afraid technology is shielding graduates from ever contemplating the big questions. For Colbert, the big problem you’ll face is detractors. For Couric, it’s distraction.
We spend so much time these days, I think, looking for external validation – with our carefully crafted Instagrams, clever postings, perfect pictures, counting our likes, favorites, followers and friends – that it’s easy to avoid the big questions: Who am I? Am I doing the right thing? Am I the kind of person I want to be? – the kind of honest self-examination that truly fuels personal growth.
Without sustained attention to our character, says Couric, we will wind up without purpose and meaning. And only once we’ve discovered a life of purpose will we be able to attain “that sometimes-elusive condition known as happiness.”
If your purpose is changing something in the world or fighting injustice of becoming an activist, good for you! But Couric cautions against an activism that is blind:
Activism can’t truly lead to lasting, meaningful change without dialogue, even with those with whom you may disagree.
Losing Your Soul To Your iPhone
How we disagree is an important issue moving forward. For all the good that social media can accomplish, there are downsides. I am quoting her more extensively here because this is an important point:
Constant connectivity can leave you feeling isolated and disconnected. Do not be seduced by the false intimacy of social media. Comfort and support can be found in online communities, but they cannot replace the humanity of real ones.
Life is too exciting and wonderful and intense and insane and just plain fun to have your nose buried in a screen for hours on end.
I used to tell graduates that no one on their deathbed ever said, “Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office.” The 2015 version of that should be, “No one on their deathbed ever said, ‘Gee, I wish I had spent more time on my iPhone.'”
And remember: words have power. Anonymity may be the new phenobarbital, and while digital snark – trolling, trashing, mocking and ridiculing, judging and hating – may make you feel temporarily superior, it hardens your heart and corrodes your soul.
Couric began with the exhilarating promise of technology and the potential for change in the world, but she ended with a warning to not lose your soul in the process.
Because she sees state schools as the heart and soul of our country, Couric’s vision of the good life is already diminished. And yet she senses that not all is well. There are dangers lurking around the newest and most innovative products our “brainpower” can devise.
In this speech, Couric does not appeal to any sort of higher power. She does not reference religion or mention anything more than “this world” as it is. Within the words of this speech, we are trapped in what Charles Taylor calls “the imminent frame.” Still, Couric’s warning has the faint and distant echo of Someone who once said to be careful not to gain the world and lose one’s soul.