Change the World- First Essay Down

“What starts here changes the world,” coins the University of Texas at Austin as their university slogan.  This saying, though, applies to everyone about to take significant steps into the world.  In a commencement speech given by William H. McRaven, a retired United States Navy SEAL Admiral, the importance of changing the world now for future generations is explored.  After a thirty-seven year career in the Navy, especially accredited for organizing and executing Operation Neptune Spear (the special operation force that assassinated Osama bin Laden), Admiral McRaven, shares his experiences and advice as respected and admired example of one who gathered courage and took the opportunities in life to change the world.  In Admiral William H. McRaven’s speech to University of Texas at Austin’s graduating class of 2014, the Admiral evokes the urge to change the world through the use of vivid anecdote, compelling diction structure, and strong repetition.

As a decorated Admiral, McRaven uses several personal accounts from his experiences in the Navy to persuade his audience to find the courage to change the world.  Beginning by sharing his morning routine while in Afghanistan, the Admiral advises, “if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed” (McRaven).  He explains that though this action is tedious and may seem extremely unnecessary, “by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.  Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.  If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right” (McRaven).  Starting small can even change the world. 

Another anecdote the Admiral shares is an experience while training for the Navy SEALs in which he had to conduct underwater attacks against the enemy.  He explains the process of swimming into the depths and being surrounded by complete darkness:   “The keel is… the darkest part of the ship—where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship’s machinery is deafening and where it is easy to get disoriented and fail.  Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission—is the time when you must be calm, composed—when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear.  If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment” (McRaven).  Although extreme for the average human, the experience McRaven portrays compels people to do and be better.  When there’s no apparent hope, push through, and one will change the world.  

A final incident the Admiral shares explains the importance of perseverance through challenges.  While freezing, exhausted, and abused throughout SEAL training, McRaven tells of a ‘quitting bell’.  “Ring the bell and… you no longer have to endure the hardships of training.  If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell” (McRaven).  If one gives up, one cannot make a difference.  These experiences assist Admiral McRaven in persuading his audience to change the world as they look up to his seemingly impossible achievements and find the courage to start small, champion challenges, and persevere to the end.

The use of diction in Admiral William H. McRaven’s speech also compels his audience to change the world.  “Obstacle” is frequently used throughout this speech.  Another word the Admiral chooses is “overcome.”  In order to make the world a better place, one must overcome challenges.  The Admiral assures there will be obstacles, but that they can always be overcome.  This verbatim allows negative undertones to be followed by encouraging, positive outcomes, giving the audience a feeling of capability that they can change the world, and courage that can help them succeed.  This wording structure used throughout the Admiral’s speech, by starting with negative diction: “stress, chaos, failures, and hardships,” is always concluded with reassurance of success. “Hope” is sometimes all one needs.  “If you do these things—“ maintain hope and a positive spirit throughout the worst of troubles, “YOU… will indeed have changed the world—for the better” (McRaven).  McRaven’s powerful diction and paragraph structure compels his audience to get up and make a change.

Furthermore, Admiral McRaven’s use of repetition encourages his audience to find the courage to make a difference in the world. The Admiral concludes every paragraph with “if you want to change the world…” (McRaven). This repetition explicitly gets his point across.  The Admiral inspires his audience through repeating that simple, manageable tasks can make an immense impact.  This repetition also persuades the audience that it’s possible to accomplish something as overwhelming as “changing the world.”  Moreover, Admiral McRaven repeats the word “never.”  “Never” is used to tell the audience that they should never give up and never say never.  It also portrays to the listeners that anything is possible, even changing the world, and is inspiration to always give it a try.  If one never tried to change the world, it would never be possible.  The Admiral also concludes with a call to action: “you must.”  “Must,” an auxiliary verb meaning, “to be obliged or bound by an imperative requirement” (Dictionary, must).  This is exactly what the Admiral means by “you must change the world.”  By repeating this call to action, this “imperative requirement” becomes more urgent and clear.  The world, McRaven’s audience, “must” change the world for the better if we want our future generations to survive.

McRaven closes, “it matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status.  Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all” (McRaven).  Mustering courage through simple tasks, a persevering spirit, and a sense of urgency, the challenge to change the world can become an accomplishment.  Through Admiral William H. McRaven’s persuading use of inspiring anecdote, diction structure, and repeated clause, the drive to change the world is aroused throughout the audience at the University of Texas at Austin’s 2014 graduation and the audience around the globe.

Assessment:

Today we turned in our first analysis essay. I wrote my essay on a commencement speech given by Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired NAVY Seal, to the 2014 graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin. To complete my analysis, my teacher, Sister Steadman, reviewed my draft and advised me on what to further expand. Unfortunately, the easy, four page essay is now to be followed by a research paper that Sister Steadman claims is "double the work and double the pages." Wish me luck!!