"When you're a somebody, remember when you were a nobody and it'll keep you from being a jerk." You epitomize this, my friend. Beautifully done!

"I lost my place." "Oh, there we go."

Prepare for this to be the most watched video on this channel

"This will be over in 14 minutes" *13 minutes 57 seconds* John is God confirmed

why is it that every time I finish listening to any of John's speeches I always end up tearing up while still simultaneously having a wide grin on my face? This man is wonderful

Few people like John can handle the "I lost my place...there we go" like a boss as he did.

how much of a nerd does it make me that i clapped at the freaking computer screen, hand aching from history revision? Dear John, I hope the weather is good with you.

DID ANYONE NOTICE THE BOY AT THE BEGINNING WHO INTRODUCED JOHN AND HIS EYES LIKE PHEEWW WHEN HE LEFT THE STAGE AND DIDNT KNOW HE WAS STILL IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA

(One of those so-called horrors of adulthood: losing your place during a speech.) Thank you, John Green, for being human - very wonderfully human - and by losing your place unintentionally providing an mini example and reminder that we are not alone in being human. You are appreciated. [:

damn john you got me all happysad

As always, John's ability to smith words together into deep thought provoking sentiment is amazing. Thank you John, and DFTBA.

This commencement address makes me happy because John Green, without a single doubt, intended it as a response to David Foster Wallace's commencement speech at the same college in 2005. He first talks, in his own ways, about the mundanity of life that so captivated This is Water, and then he goes off of that and responds directly to the Wallace thesis that liberal arts teaches you how to think with his "it teaches you how to listen". He also broadens the scope to include systemic racism and marginalization, which Wallace did not include, but if you compare the two speeches, without a doubt Green was very conscious and listening very closely to Wallace. Quite fascinating. Congratulations, Class of 2016 at Kenyon.

All I remember from the speech at my graduation was the guy saying "You won't remember who I was or what I said.. " (*me thinking of course I would remember*) ".. but the one thing I want you to take away from it is this..."

Wherever Nerdfighters go the comment section is nothing but love and admiration. never been more proud of being a member of the best superhero group EVER - Nerdfighteria !!

"But living for ones self, even very successfully, will do absolutely nothing to fill the gasping void inside of you. In my experience, that void gets filled not through strength but through weakness. you must be weak before the world, because love and listening weaken you, they make you vulnerable, they break you open, and it is only when you are weak that you can truly see and acknowledge and forgive and love the weakness in others. Weakness allows you to see other humans not as enemies to defeat but as collaborators and co-creators. In the end, we're making humanness up together as we go along." Gives me all the feels! DFTBA

My second favorite commencement speech ever, second only to David Foster Wallace’s (at the same college no less), which John’s speech is clearly a response to. I love it.

at what age do you become so good at making elegant and insightful conversation?

That moment at 0:13 where the announcer looks like "Oh God, got through that without a hitch! It's over! Yes!" Congrats on delivering an amazing speech, John! DFTBA

We love you, John. Thanks for always inspiring us to be awesome.

at 5:59 the guy behind him is wondering whether allowing John Green to speak to a room full of college students is a good idea

I didn't understand some tiny bits of the speech, but I will watch it again, when I'll be fully bilingual.

So glad this was put up on KZfaq so quickly. Thanks, Kenyon! :)

Haha, the guy's look of relief at 0:13 is very relatable. Oh, and the speech is amazing, typical wiseful John.

The hand sign translator is amazing in this.

1:13 the part that makes me cry without fail every single time. My grandfather was one of the most pivotal people in my life until he died ten years ago and I always without fail think of him.

Thank you, John Green, for the tears. Very cathartic.

Love this speech. Real, truth, sincere, and made sense even to a 49 year old still trying to find out what I want to be when I 'grow up'. I forgot and stopped dreaming, now that my kid is an adult, I can go back and do what I forgot to do and re-learn to live, dream, and if I want to, grow up.

Probably the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. Thank you John for making my life wonderful. IS THERE RAINING IN YOUR POCKET OF THE WORLD?

That one guy at the front who didn't close his eyes..

I really loved the speech and all, but why the hell is their a man on a throne? Anyway, great speech from the great and powerful. Almost wished that he'd say DFTBA at the end, but anyway, great messages and congratulations on making me actively listen to speech for more than three minutes without falling asleep.

That one dude who doesn't close his eyes 😂

Thank you John... that was very moving, deep and fun all at the same time. Thanks for providing me with constant inspiration! Thank you!

there is a quote that says "the wound is the place where the light enters you" i was recently in a situation where a group exercised this idea together, to be vulnerable with each other, to connect to one another. it was a very inspiring experience

Paused a dear Hank and John to come listen to this. Beautiful

"...those people, they're so proud of you right now." ...dammit John. #Imnotcrying #yourecrying

I didn't even graduate and I thought about life. Great speech!

there is so much David Foster Wallace in this speech. John cites his commencement speech "this is water" as a major life influence - I recommend that to others who enjoy this speech

How awesome would it be if this was your commencement address?

Thank you, John! 😭

Okay, I'm in tears, that was so beautiful

Now I wanna write a song called "Hows the Weather By You?" and have it be about this kinda thing.

Now I remember why I love John Green so much :') This man is an inspiration

I revisit this when life pulls at my confidence. Thank you for your wise words. Keep humaning the way you do.

I'm usually not one to comment on KZfaq videos. But for this I can't resist. Thank you John. For the hope you've given and for making my ass listen intently for 13:57, because you truly do give such amazing speeches. Phenomenal is redefined in your writing and your voice. It gives a deeper meaning to this miracle of human consciousness. Thank you.

I’m watching this as I apply. I’m so excited!

Awesome speech! Very moving and thoughtful.

Honestly this video made me feel really good, and I'm a year and a half out of school

Beautiful!

Thanks for being awesome, John.

great speech!!

They probably keep inviting John back just for the KZfaq views lol

I love every word so much

It's difficult not to hear DFW in this speech.

Well done, John. I like the hat tips to DFW's 'This is water'.

i could listin to this man talk all of time (still havn't read any of his books)

This is fantastic. John is really nice, somehow I like his speeches but not his writing haha

Hehehe I can see John's anti-Randian sentiments in this speech as well. Great speech, love it.

How did this make me well up with unshed tears? This hurts, because it is true and it is correct and it is right and it is good.

When it went to the profile shot I realized that there is an ASL translator next to John. Hopefully, in the future, that will become the norm at all public events where a speaker is involved, worldwide.

i am a 32 year old woman and i still feel inspired.

John's a smart guy. This was a deep and inspiring speech.

By the end I found my eyes welling up and an oceans worth of joy in my heart ❤. DFTBA

Golly this was great!

Not hating on Kenyon College or anything, but why do they get so many good commencement speeches?

Very good, and much better than the usual cant one hears in such addresses.

I think a couple other people mentioned that this speech is definitely an echo of David Foster Wallace's "This is Water" commencement speech at Kenyon in 2005. Just a bump to the top - If you haven't watched DFW's speech, just search "This is Water" and give it a listen. Then read some George Saunders ("The Braindead Megaphone") and call it a day!

Why does the sign language interpreter have a microphone?

The sad thing is that even though that was an awesome speech, a lot of those kids won't remember a thing.

There is sooooo much of David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water in this. If you like this, go check This Is Water, you’ll love it

John Green will always be the author that made the most impression on me, so much so that I have decided to start a PhD exploring the many subtleties of his fiction and how he creates unforgettable fictional landscapes

loved it! so inspiring and goosebump-prodcing :)

Well done John. Hit the right tones all the way through. DFTBA

Beautiful, by the way.

amazing :)

beautiful! reminds me a ton (im sure intentionally) of this is water.

Freaking brilliant!

This was really inspirational *impressed face*

did yall notice the static at 3:30 or was that just on my side

Thanks, youtube. Please keep sending me random john green speeches

I LOVE JOHN GREEN

I would have no problem if I was more than 14 mins.....I can listen to him alllllllllll Day....

I think he used David Foster Wallace's speech as inspiration. They're both incredible speakers.

I wish John Green would speak at my university

Lol, I'm going to use that technique next time I have a speech I need to stretch out.

1:49 There's always that one kid who refuses to play along XD

Actual tears at the life insurance part

Did anyone else skip the minute of silence.

Wow

We had to choose a speech for an assignment in class and everyone else is choosing speeches from presidents and stuff and I’m over here like SHARPIE FACE HAS A SPEECH I HAVE FOUND MY SPEECH HALLELUJAH

That was a long minute.

Damn.

Hahaha I would love it if he was there for my graduation

That guy in the front didn't close his (DAMN) eyes !!

That's odd..........because I have found growing up(so far, I'm only begining) to be at least in part a process of building emotional strength not hardness to others, but simply the werewithall to function under preassure without opening up when it would not help. Without being weak to those who would only crush you... I am trying to build myself up as a protagonist, because that is _not_ what I would be otherwise. If I was not the protagonist I would just grind along in the abiss of mundanity. As the protagonist I think, and love, and help when others might not.

can I have John at my graduation, too, please?

1:54 hey you, yeah you in the bottom rig corner with the green button down shirt underneath your gown, you're supposed to close your eyes!

Wow, how did the woman translate all of that so fast into gestures? :o

5:01 !!!!!!

GUESS WHAT, GIVE PEWDS HIS DIAMOND PLAY BUTTON

Gaaaaah John!!