This speech at an Arizona State University convocation discusses two ideas from a professor that truth is contextual and assigned meaning, not absolute. It argues that graduates should be proud of their accomplishments but recognize they were achieved through interdependence and teamwork. The future demands innovation through adaptation and lateral thinking to address emerging challenges, using knowledge as a tool to forge new paths rather than make claims. The speech encourages graduates to continue their education through collaborative inquiry and service to others.

1. Arizona State University
School for the Future of Innovationin Society
Convocation: May 9, 2016
David Flick,Student ConvocationSpeaker
While Iwas inthe TurkishRepublicof NorthernCyprusconductingresearchformycapstone
project,Iwas lucky to workwithDr. Yasar Ozden.Dr.Ozdenisa reflectivelyjovial sort,withavery
academicallydis-orderedbeard,quite fondof reinforcingtwogreatideas: The firstisfoundinhis
unendingreference toMevlana,a13th century,Anatolianpoet,mystic,andphilosopherwhois
reportedtohave saidsomethinglike this:“Itisnotso important…the thingsthatIsay…itisimportant
whatyou understand.”The secondideacame fromDr. Ozden’sownwork,the bodyof whichhe
managesalwaystosum up withthe furtive,concrete assertionthat“There isnosuch thingas teaching!”
Afterthishe offersa predictable dramaticpause.Whenhe issure he youare listening,he beginsagain:
“There isno teach,there isonlylearn…”
Takentogether,these ideasforce the considerationthatmeaningisalwaysathingassigned.
These ideasproduce the conclusionthatTruthisnot some absolute ideal.ThatTruthis actuallypartof a
highlycontextualizedchoreography.Itisadance of sharedresponsibility.Itisa responsibilityexpressed
infutureswe have hopedfor,initiativeswe have begun,anddoorswe have orwill open.Truthisas
variable asthe intentionsof ourcombinedefforts. So,onourgraduationday,whatis our Truth?
Havingspenta good deal of time figuringouthow touse these 10 minuteswisely,I
brainstormedathousandthemes.ButneverdidIconsiderinvoking‘pride’.Outof everythingIwanted
to cram intothisaddress,I wouldhave neglectedpride altogether;evenpossiblyfosteringanindictment
of anyone’sattempttothe contrary.But on Friday,while consideringthe Truthof thismoment;the
meaningswe assign;andinorderto respectour sharedfuture…Ithoughtforthe firsttime,we all must;
we needtobe proud.We have to considerwhattodayoffers us…here…within ourparticular
intersection.We are here determiningourfuture;the future.
I AMproud; standinghere,amongyou;…the graduates,the graciousfaculty,oursupportivefamiliesand
friendsall gatheredhere proclaimingthe endlesspossibilityof tomorrow.We needtoconsiderthis.We
needtoconsiderus.We needtoconsiderhow the complexityof the choiceswe make now regarding
our efforts,individuallyandcollectively,will escalateovertime.Itismypropositionthattodayrequires
a collective pledge…ateameffort. Teamsare ascrucial andinevitable,astheyare powerful.The
meaningof ourteam’sintentisan assignmentwe make now…Ibelieve we shouldassignthatmeaning
withall of the presence andmindful attentionwe mightsummontoourdisposal.Thisisour
opportunity.
The future demandsa readinesstoinnovate.And,that firstinnovation...must…alwaysbe…an
adaptation.Anadaptationof contextandour presumedvantage.Todayisacelebrationof where we
have beenandwhere we will go…butitisalsoan opportunitytolooklaterally;toadaptandreframe;to
recognize the collective aswell asitsparts;itis to see a wayforwarduponunexploredpathstruedby
the compassof sharedknowledge.We are,andwe will remain,the fruits of inter-dependentendeavors;
as will the laborsof our sharedcontextandthe teamswe choose or create.We are not…nor can we
everact…alone.Inorderto respectthisfirstpresumption,we mustnotonlytake ‘pride’inefforts,but

2. recognize thatthe Truth of today ismore than a celebrationof achievement.Itisalsothe fanfare that
attendsthe journey,sunrise aftersunrise,intothe gulf of tomorrow.
It isnot ours to relegate whatwe have garneredfromourresearchandstudiestouse insupport
or defense,aspropositionorassumptionof astagnate vantage uponthe past.It is ours,our mandate,to
use and to share whatwe have learnedastoolsforcarvingthe future.Toolsthat needconstant
maintenance andupdate.Toolsthatare onlydulledbythe bluntforce of neglectandmisuse.Toolsthat
shouldrefuse the laborof the oftenconceitedunwillingnesstoappreciate the communitiesinneedof
theiremploy.These toolswillonlybe sharpenedbythe laborfoundincreative inquiry,sharedintention,
and cooperation.Theyrequirethe type of hope thatisonlyuncoveredbya continuousefforttoexplore
and forge eachnewtechnologyasa tool of ‘being’,of living,of understanding.Ourclaimtoknowledge
shouldonlybe thateach assumptionencountered isbaseduponsome otherhighlycontextualizedand
qualifiedassumption.A tool inthe workshopof one,maybe a weaponinthe hand of another.Let’sbind
ourselvestoinquirypriortoassumptionorresolution.
It isnot ours to make claimsuponthe future,butto understandthe pathswe carve will be
claimedbyfuturespossible.Ourtomorrowswill reflectaTruthprovidedbythe intentionsattendingthis
event.Whatdo we intendtodo together?Whatwill we doineverytogetherthatfollows? Tomorrow
will spreadaswe determine itthroughourlateral circumstance.Gettoknow whoyoushare inits
creationwith.Smile atwhoeverissittingnexttoyou.Thankand congratulate themforall of the hard
work.We need and deserveto thankeach other.We needto meanitand we needto weighit;because
we needtorespectit.By acknowledgingeachother,we provide afoundationforrespectingafuture
that not onlyresultsfrom,butbenefitsfromthe contextwe choose.A future definedbymeaningswe
assignrightnow.Our pledge directsthatwe are not finished,butthatwe have justbegun.
Thisfoundationisouropportunity;notasindividuals…alone,andnotonlyas Scientistsor
Researchers…butalsoas Artists;interpreting,exploring,qualifying…infact creating knowledge byand
throughthe interdependencieswe nourish.Thisisyourteam….We are yourteam.We will spreadwith
youin all that youdo. The strengthand velocityof ourendeavorswill be measuredbythe 7.3 billion
people whoshare tomorrowwithus.Eachof themrepresentingdifferinganxieties,hopes,and
circumstances.Eachvyingfor accessto finite resources.Eachseekingsome parityincapacitiesrealized.
Each of themmore than the sum of the hard-earned,material details,of living.Eachismade up of more
than the necessitiesandtotemsrequiredof identitiesmarkedbythe risingandsettingof the sun.
There isno one Truth. There are onlybinariesdefinedbyanyindividual’sassertiveclaimagainst
another.The areas betweenare gray,upongray,upongray. It isnot oursto own the future,butto open
doorsby acceptingthismandate;torigorouslyinvestigate the gray…toilluminate it…toacceptthat
everychoice we make will spreadoutaroundusinescalatingcomplexityaccordingtoourwillingnessin
service towardthisideal.Ihope we canall humblyacceptthat “not knowing”isthe firststepinlearning.
I hope we continue tofacilitate the spreadof inquiry,tocreate knowledge;fromwhichotherTruths
may be gleanedandexplored.
To paraphrase JeanPiaget,‘The principlegoal of educationistocreate menand womenwho
are capable of doingnewthings,notsimplyof repeatingwhatothergenerationshave done –menand
womenwhoare creative,inventive,menandwomenwhoare…discoverers.’The future demandswe
addresseachmomentas an opportunitytogatherourselves,acknowledge oursharedefforts,codifyour
resolve,andwithgreatpurpose launchheadlongintothe gulf.

3. We donot congratulate one anotherbecause we have finishedsome great task,althoughwe
have.We congratulate inorderto respecta communitycommittedtochallengingpathsforward.
Congratulationsnotforhavingrunthe race, but forhavingwarmedupenthusiasticallyforthe marathon
ahead;surroundedbyteammatesserving asadvocates,protagonists,soundingboards,co-conspirators,
supporters,counselors,foils,andfans.All inserviceasbrothersandsistersinarms.
I propose we leave here proudandsupportiveof one another,the workwe will do,andassured
of ourintentto make the bestof it… together.Inthe wordsof Tennyson’sUlysses,ourpledge is“to
remainstronginwill tostrive,toseek,tofind,andneverto yield.”
Thank you,andcongratulations.