Ten life lessons from a Medal of Honor recipient

The explosion felt like a punch to the face for Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, who had instinctively jumped on top of a rooftop grenade to save the life of a fellow U.S. Marines during a daylight Taliban attack nearly two decades ago in Afghanistan.

His vision? Like static on a television screen. What he thought was warm water running down his face? Blood. Could he even push himself up? No. There was no feeling below his shoulders.

“In the next few moments, I thought about my family and, specifically, my mom, and how devastated she was going to be when that government car pulled into the driveway and there’re two Marines in uniform to tell her and my family that I would not be coming home from Afghanistan alive,” Carpenter recalls. “I said a quick prayer for forgiveness and for anything that I had done wrong in my life.”

But Carpenter didn’t die. The explosion led to a prolonged hospital recovery, countless surgeries, the loss of his right eye and most of his teeth, and significant scarring. It also led to a renewed focus on life that eventually included a college degree, completion of several marathons, and publication of “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For,” a memoir that chronicles his journey of resilience and purpose.

Carpenter shared his life story and more with hundreds of guests who attended the Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship on Nov. 11, 2026, held in McCrary Theatre as part of the university’s Veterans Day observance. Over the course of an hour, he expounded on several life lessons and practical tips intended for Elon University students.

That list:

• Live your life accordingly: “Time and our lives are extremely finite. Our bodies are strong and resilient, but at the same time, still very fragile. Our journeys are uncertain.”
• Stay humble: “Never compare your journey, your struggles, or your victories with anyone else. Comparison can be the thief of joy.”
• The obstacle is the way: “Embrace the obstacles of life and understand that every challenge, every lesson learned, every success, and just as importantly, every failure, is another doorway on the path to your ultimate potential. And never forget that growth and comfort can rarely co-exist.”
• Focus on what is in your control: “One of the most helpful practices to master is being able to understand what is in your control and accept what is out of your control. … You can always control how you react, who you surround yourself with, and, most importantly, the attitude that you have.”
• Don’t hide your scars: “If you’re here and you’re alive today, you face adversity, and you have scars inside and out. I’m here to tell you to never hide those and to always be proud of them. Your scars show that when life hit you, you got back up.”
• You can’t please everyone: “You just need to love yourself, to take care of yourself and your families, to be kind and help others. That’s all that really matters.”
• The smallest of steps completes the grandest of journeys: “You don’t have to have a perfect plan in life, if such a thing even exists. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going. You don’t have to know exactly how to get there. You just need to be willing to stand up and take that next step, which can be difficult, and shaky, and uncertain, but it’s still a step forward. Every one of those steps takes you closer to the greatest version of yourself.”
• You are never out of the fight: “It’s OK to struggle. It’s OK to have bad days. Life is a difficult journey full of adversity. Just know that your mind and body are stronger than you can ever imagine, and you can always get back up even stronger and better than you were before.”
• There are times when you will fail and that’s OK: “Always strive to never be just good enough but also understand that if you give your absolute best effort, that good enough is always something to be proud of.”
• Always seek perspective and choose your lens: “Perspective allows us to see the most in people and in the world around us. It allows us to see the blessings and silver linings throughout life that at times are faint but are always there.”

And on Veterans Day 2026, Carpenter, the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, used his time on stage to thank those in the theatre who have worn a military uniform in service to the country.

“To veterans here in attendance, especially on this meaningful day, of course I want to thank you for your service,” he said. “But I want to go beyond that. I want to remind you that when no one made you, when you could have taken any other path in life … you chose to go into that recruiting station, and to raise your right hand and give up to your life for our great nation and for people you will never meet. That is powerful and profound.”

The Veterans Day lecture began with the singing of the national anthem by Arielle Henley ’27 before Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book welcomed attendees to the program. Carpenter was introduced by Associate Professor Alex Luchsinger, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and today teaches journalism in the School of Communications.

The lecture was one of several events this month at Elon to commemorate Veterans Day. The Army ROTC led a special morning flag raising at Scott Plaza on Nov.11, and the university hosted a Veterans Day-themed College Coffee on Nov. 10.

ABOUT the CAROL ANN WALKER INTERNATIONAL LECTURESHIP

Rear Admiral Edward K. Walker, Jr. (Ted), USN (Ret.), and his wife, Carol Ann, were regular supporters of Elon for more than 45 years because of their daughters, Wendy Walker ’78 and Lynn Streett ’79, and their grandson, David Streett ’06.

In an effort to ensure that all Elon students develop a better understanding of the scope of the world and the place of the United States in that world, specifically from a military and geopolitical perspective, Admiral Walker endowed the Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship in memory of his late wife. Invited speakers have senior military or government experience with geopolitical responsibilities and are engaged in international cooperation.