McKenzie Fleeman
mdf001@marietta.edu
Wes Moore, author of the 2015 freshman common reading “The Work”, spoke at Marietta College on October 19, 2015 as a part of the Esbenshade Series.
Moore emphasized that individuals should strive to be impactful and have a sense of purpose in their life. He recalled in college constantly being asked the question “What’s your major?” He was asked this question so much that he eventually came to believe that this was the most important question. Over time, Moore learned that it was really just a temporary dilemma.
“The most important question is, ‘who did you choose to fight for’?” he said.
Moore elaborated, asking the audience foe whom they chose to fight when they were standing alone with only one other person. He also pointed out that when doing the right thing, you often stand with little company.
To college students, earning letters after your name or getting a diploma may seem of the utmost importance. However, Moore stresses that there are much larger things than earning letters after your name and that students should strive to make their degree mean something to someone else. When their degree means something to others, and not just themselves, higher education has been achieved. Moore believes that Marietta College understands this as well.
“I’m thankful to be at an institution that understands that education is imperative but also understands the difference in a higher education,” he said.
Moore believes there are no limitations when trying to make an impact on the world. For instance, it does not take an advanced degree or even a great amount of wealth. There are no excuses and everyone should strive to take action. Moore mentioned that the people who do not wait to be called upon are the ones that make the change.
Passion was another highly discussed topic in Moore’s presentation.
“Every minute you spend doing something you’re not passionate about, you become extraordinarily ordinary,” he said
Moore thinks that individuals can find their passion by finding the place where their greatest gifts and joys overlap with the world’s greatest needs. When this place is found, individuals know where their work is, though it is common that the individual’s work is different from their occupation. Moore warns students to always make time for their work, in addition to their occupation.
“And if the two [your work and occupation] are the same, God bless you,” he said.
Moore claims that as a whole, our common goal should be greatness. The only way individuals can achieve greatness is to care deeply about what they do. If an individual finds where their heart is, Moore believes the rest will figure itself out.
