The definition of perfection is unknown to many. If one does have a definition of perfection, it may be different from their friend. To sum up those to sentences, perfection is a matter of opinion. A common definition is having specific elements or characteristics that make you desirable to others. In May of 1999, Anna Quindlen gave a commencement speech at Mount Holyoke College that was centered on perfection and being yourself or who you want to be. Quindlen’s purpose is to inform the audience of perfection, people’s standards, and being who you want to be.
Quindlen was effective in achieving her purpose to inform. Once again, her purpose was to inform the audience, which in this case is graduating students at Mount Holyoke College, of perfection, people’s standards, and being you. Quindlen uses examples from her life to fulfill her purpose. Quindlen says, “I smiled at everyone in the form hallways, because it was important to be friendly, and I made fun of them behind their backs because it was important to be witty.” The idea that one has to be friendly and witty is an opinion. Sure, if someone is friendly and witty without being too offensive, they will be respected more by their peers. But the choice of whether or not someone will respect their peer because of the friendliness and wittiness is an opinion. Quindlen goes on to talk about her job as a residence counselor and how she has no idea why she did it. She says, “But I can tell you, today, that I did them to be perfect, in every possible way.” Quindlen was striving for perfection by trying to fulfill her peer’s standards. She compares the ability to become perfect to carrying a backpack filled with bricks all the time. In the fourth paragraph, Quindlen says, “So what I want to say to you today is this: if this sounds, in anyway familiar to you, if you have been trying to be perfect in one way or another, too, then make today, when for a moment there are no more grades to be gotten, classmates to be met, terrain to be scouted, positioning to b e arrange- make today the day to put down the backpack.” In short, that super long sentence is saying to be you. Don’t be a people pleaser, please yourself. In the days to come, be who you want to be. Disregard the high standards of society and live your life how you want to live it. Quindlen does a good job closing her speech with an aphorism. What she says is this: “Take it from someone who has left the backpack full of bricks far behind. Every day feels light as a feather.” That statement ties the whole speech together and because of the depth of it, is a fantastic closer.
Quindlen’s purpose of this commencement speech is to inform the audience, who are graduating students at Mount Holyoke College of the class of 1999, of perfection and how people’s standards can blur your vision of who you want to be. Perfection is very broad. Everyone has their own opinion on what perfection is. I today’s society, too many people are striving to be perfect and fit society’s standards. Hopefully, people can learn a little something from this speech and start to live their life the way they want to.
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