Steve Jobs' Commencement Speech

Why did Steve Jobs decide to drop out of college?

• He felt too much pressure from his parents who wanted him to graduate.

• He was afraid that he would not be able to pass his required classes.

• He thought he was wasting his parents money and he was not learning about what he cared about.

• He thought he should spend his money on building a business instead of a school.

Which of the following did Jobs NOT do after dropping out?

• eat one good meal a week

• learn about calligraphy

• sleep on the floor

• quit attending class

What did Jobs learn after using his knowledge of calligraphy when designing the Mac?

• that some things you learn may not help you until later in life

• that Mac is always better than Windows

• that he can attribute all of his success to calligraphy

• that planning your future is the key to success

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the following quotation?: “[Y]ou can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” (Paragraph 9)

• Don’t concern yourself by looking back on the past; focus on your drive for the future.

• It’s impossible to know how to get where you want to go, but as long as you’re working hard, you’ll get there.

• While you cannot predict the future, looking back you can often see how you got to where you are.

• It is okay to not have an expressed purpose in life; you’ll find success once you find what you love.

Which statement from the text best supports the answer to the previous question?

• “…it's likely that no personal computer would have them.” (Paragraph 8)

• “…it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.” (Paragraph 8)

• “…destiny, life, karma, whatever.” (Paragraph 9)

• “This approach has never let me down…” (Paragraph 9)

Which of the following bests describes Jobs' after being fired from Apple?

• unaffected and carefree

• happy and relaxed

• furious and spiteful

• shocked and dejected

How did being fired from Apple impact Jobs?

• He realized he didn't need a job to be happy.

• He became very unsuccessful.

• He realized he would be happy as long as he had wife.

• He remained successful, still doing what he loved.

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the following quote?: “It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.” (Paragraph 15)

• The cancer treatments Jobs had to endure were difficult physically and emotionally.

• The experience was extremely difficult, but in hindsight, it was valuable.

• Sometimes, you need to be able to swallow difficult information or experiences.

• You have to suffer in order to grow.

Which detail from the text best supports the answer to the previous question?

• “…it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.” (Paragraph 13)

• “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick.” (Paragraph 15)

• “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” (Paragraph 18)

• “…they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas…” (Paragraph 20)

In paragraph 16, Jobs says, “My third story is about death.” What is the central idea of that story?

• Everyone dies eventually—don’t take yourself more seriously or consider yourself more important than anyone else.

• The loss of a beloved person or position can be a catalyst for great life changes—embrace them.

• Your time on Earth is limited—don’t spend it trying to please anyone but yourself.

• Don't waste your life working; instead focus only on what is fun and enjoyable.