Spontaneous - Hero's, Martyr's, and Saints Speech

I decided to post a speech I wrote for the final project of the best class I've ever taken. Period. Hero's, Martyr's, and Saints pushed my boundaries and allowed me to think in ways I've never known possible.  Since that class three years ago, the way I read, the way I dream, and the way I live have changed drastically for the better.


Here it is:

When I was choosing a writing class, I knew I wouldn’t solely be filling a requirement with Heroes, Martyrs, and Saints because the topics greatly appealed to me.  What I didn’t know at the time though, was that this class would not only broaden my academics but also would more importantly revolutionize all of my personal beliefs and change my life.  So much of what I’ve learned in this class has challenged my convictions that I previously thought were concrete and has introduced many paradoxical concepts that now affect my daily life.  This semester I’m also taking a class on Eastern Religions which greatly relates to this course, so I decided to represent my points with a yin yang, that describes the way that seemingly opposing forces are bound together.

Writing and Literature classes that I’ve taken in the past have always stressed the importance of relying on the author’s word as doctrine.  But, this is the first class that has truly allowed me to have my own voice.  Coleridge’s ideas on the differences between fancy and imagination highlight one of the most important lessons of this course, and life in general.  Fancy is simply stating what you already know based on memory while imagination involves the creation of novel ideas. To me, fancy is the stepping-stone on the way towards imagination and neither can stand on its own.  It was crucial that we began the course with Emerson who taught of the importance of imagination over fancy.  Although Emerson presents his own imaginative ideas, he encourages readers to choose to agree or disagree and has instilled within me the power of originality.  Gandhi and Thoreau teach a similar lesson, as they believe one should not just simply listen to the law as the ultimate authority.  If unjust laws exist it is our responsibility to use our imagination in ways to amend them.  Aside from setting the path for the rest of the course, Emerson more importantly set the path for the rest of my life.  Now, instead of relying on the words of others as creed I look to them for guidance to pave the way for my own ideas.  I’ve learned that I have so much more life to live and my potential is boundless.  Instead of disregarding my own thoughts that I previously believed to be insignificant, I now appreciate them.  I used to be afraid to focus in on my thoughts, but now I take time out every day to attempt to understand and grow from them.

At first I struggled with the seemingly paradoxical views on self-reliance and friendship.  I am a psychology major and I resented people who were self-absorbed and unable to understand the emotions of others.  The relationships in my life have been my driving force and I was so disturbed by those who were unable to put faith in others.  But the realization that self-reliance and friendship share a symbiotic relationship, with each benefiting one another has truly changed me. It is necessary to be self-reliant and have individual thoughts but at the same time gain insight from others.  Practically applied, I’ve found that each person I have met has had an impact on my life whether it is good or bad, that has shaped me into the person that I am today. But, I am also able to stand on my own two feet by learning from myself. All the heroes that we’ve read about gain their strength from the people around them but depend on themselves to facilitate change.  Friendship and self-reliance are like yin and yang.  Although they seem like opposites they survive because of one another.

All of the hero’s that we’ve read about have taught me that some things are completely ineffable and nearly impossible to be put into words.  These heroes take on the task of articulating these ideas to the best of their ability in order to guide others.   In this way the ineffability acts as the yin while the task of putting these philosophies to words acts as the yang.  The most important message that comes from this though, is that each person must go out and have his or her own human experience.  Although it most likely won’t be as otherworldly as the experiences of Saint Teresa or Gandhi, it is necessary to take learning beyond the classroom.  I’ve realized that the impact I end up having on the world will be a result of going out and doing, not just thinking of doing.  In such a difficult time in our world now, this lesson pushes the idea that my capabilities are endless and makes me look forward to the change that is possible.  Just as the heroes taught of their experiences with words, it is up to us to do the same in order to better our future.

This class has been more of a philosophical transformation for me and I don’t have an immense amount of concrete examples because it’s changed my ideology overall.  Now instead of trying to filter my perceptions through one nearsighted lens I have more of a worldview that accepts paradoxical ideas.  The end of this course is instead the beginning for me as I look forward to continuing to form my own beliefs and recognizing the harmony of everything in our world.  In the inspirational words of Emerson, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”


Hope my followers (shout out to C.Co and Yanus) enjoyed that.  Peace. Love. Yin and Yang.