College 101 | David McCoullough Jr. | TEDxYale

Summary

In this heartfelt and humorous speech, the speaker reflects on their childhood struggles with learning, particularly their challenges with algebra. They share stories of family members, including their Uncle Tommy, who offered unconventional advice, and Mr. Mayu, a former WWII fighter pilot who became a pivotal math teacher. These experiences highlight the importance of perseverance, personal growth, and the value of struggle in education. The speaker emphasizes that true achievement comes from overcoming difficulties, inspiring both students and educators to embrace challenges rather than avoid them.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker feels honored to be included in a distinguished group of speakers and acknowledges the efforts of those working behind the scenes.
• 👶 As a child, the speaker would mimic his father by typing random characters on a typewriter, creating his own 'masterpieces'.
• 📘 The speaker reflects on an upcoming book release and recalls childhood memories where he would seek his father's feedback on his 'writing'.
• 🎓 The speaker shares a personal story from high school, describing how difficult subjects like Algebra intimidated him.
• 📉 The speaker humorously recounts how he used to count down minutes during math class, dreading each session, and how he struggled with understanding algebra.
• 💡 The speaker's uncle gave him unusual advice: 'Get Fs in September, so by June, everyone celebrates when you improve'.
• 📊 Despite failing many quizzes, the speaker was unexpectedly given a passing grade, which made him reflect on the fairness of the situation.
• ✈️ A turning point came when the speaker discovered that his math teacher, Mr. Mayu, was a World War II fighter pilot, which sparked his respect and desire to learn.
• 🏆 With the help of Mr. Mayu, the speaker worked hard and eventually earned a legitimate passing grade in Algebra 2, changing his outlook on learning.
• 🎓 The speaker, now a teacher, reflects on the importance of students facing challenges and struggling in order to grow, instead of having everything made easier for them.

Q & A

What is the significance of the speaker's childhood memory of using his father's typewriter?

The speaker fondly recalls pretending to type on his father's typewriter as a child, even though he couldn’t yet read or write. This memory highlights his early fascination with words and writing, which later influenced his career as a writer.

What major event in the speaker's life took place 50 years after his childhood memory?

50 years later, the speaker mentions having written a book that his father has yet to read. This connects the early influence of his father with his current achievement of writing a book.

How did giving a commencement speech change the speaker’s life?

After delivering a commencement speech to high school students, the speaker's life changed dramatically when he received an opportunity to write a book, which he didn’t expect but embraced as an exciting challenge.

Why was the speaker intimidated when he first started high school?

The speaker was intimidated by high school because he was new to the town, didn’t know anyone, and found subjects like science, English, and especially mathematics to be very challenging.

How did the speaker struggle with Algebra, and what advice did his family give him?

The speaker found Algebra incomprehensible and described it as a subject designed to exclude him. His father advised him to work harder, while his Uncle Tommy gave unconventional advice, suggesting that he 'get Fs in September' to lower expectations.

Who was Uncle Tommy, and what was his role in the speaker's life?

Uncle Tommy was a carefree, fun-loving figure in the speaker's life, often leading the speaker and his brothers on adventures. He also provided humorous but supportive advice during the speaker's struggles with Algebra.

How did Mr. McCarthy, the speaker’s Algebra teacher, respond to his concerns about grades?

When the speaker approached Mr. McCarthy about receiving a grade that was too high, the teacher surprisingly complimented him, calling him a 'good kid' and assuring him not to worry, even though the speaker had failed the tests.

What was significant about the speaker's interactions with Mr. Mayu, his Algebra 2 teacher?

Mr. Mayu, who was also a World War II fighter pilot, inspired the speaker by showing him that learning algebra was important. His background as a war hero motivated the speaker to take the subject more seriously.

What lesson did the speaker take from his experience with learning Algebra?

The speaker learned that, while he didn’t particularly care about algebra, the respect and encouragement from his teacher, Mr. Mayu, made him realize that some things are worth learning because someone else believes in their importance.

What broader point does the speaker make about education today?

The speaker laments that many parents today try to make things too easy for their children, rather than allowing them to struggle and achieve success on their own. He emphasizes the value of hard work and self-earned accomplishments.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Childhood Memories of Writing and Typewriters

The speaker reminisces about their childhood, sneaking into their father’s office to play with his typewriter. They humorously describe typing random letters and symbols, showing it to their father, who pretends it's a historical speech. This moment held great meaning for the speaker, as it symbolized a deep bond with their father and sparked an early fascination with writing. As an adult, the speaker is now eager for their father to read their upcoming book.

05:01

📚 Struggles with High School and Mathematics

The speaker shares their difficulties during high school, especially their struggle with Algebra 1. Despite doing well in other subjects like history, math was a constant challenge. The speaker humorously recounts counting down the minutes during algebra class, just waiting for it to be over. Their father’s advice to 'work harder' didn’t resonate, and algebra, with its mix of letters and numbers, felt like an impenetrable code.

10:06

👨‍👦 Uncle Tommy's Unconventional Advice

The speaker introduces their Uncle Tommy, a fun-loving, eccentric figure who gave them unconventional advice during their algebra struggles: 'Get Fs in September so that in June, everyone celebrates when you get a D.' They recount Tommy’s quirky personality and how his carefree, playful nature left a lasting impression. While Tommy’s advice wasn’t exactly practical, it helped the speaker cope with their frustrations in school.

15:06

✈️ Meeting Mr. Mayu: The WWII Pilot and Math Teacher

The speaker describes meeting Mr. Mayu, a math teacher and WWII fighter pilot, who became a mentor during their algebra journey. A pivotal moment occurs when the speaker realizes that someone as extraordinary as Mr. Mayu finds algebra important, which motivates them to work harder. Despite their continued struggles, the speaker earns a legitimate D in the class, a victory they credit to Mr. Mayu’s influence and personal connection.

Keywords

💡Commencement Speech

A commencement speech is a talk given during a graduation ceremony to inspire and guide students as they transition into the next phase of their lives. In the video, the speaker reflects on a commencement speech he gave, which became a pivotal moment in his life, changing his career and leading to a book opportunity. This speech serves as a key event that transforms the speaker's trajectory.

💡Father

The speaker’s father is a central figure in his early childhood experiences. As a boy, the speaker would type random letters on his father's typewriter and ask his father what it 'said.' His father's imaginative response ('Four score and seven years ago') gave the speaker confidence and shaped his sense of accomplishment. The father symbolizes encouragement and validation in the speaker’s formative years.

💡Algebra

Algebra represents the speaker's academic struggle during high school. The speaker expresses deep frustration with the subject, feeling as though it was a code designed to keep him out. His difficulty with algebra becomes a metaphor for larger life challenges that seem insurmountable, yet through perseverance and guidance, he eventually overcomes them.

💡Uncle Tommy

Uncle Tommy is a carefree, adventurous figure in the speaker's life, known for his unconventional wisdom. He suggests getting Fs in September to lower expectations and create room for improvement by June. Uncle Tommy symbolizes an alternative approach to challenges, providing humor and a relaxed perspective on life’s difficulties, especially in contrast to more traditional advice.

💡Mr. Mayu

Mr. Mayu is the speaker’s math teacher and a World War II veteran. His revelation about his war experiences changes the speaker’s attitude toward algebra. Mr. Mayu represents the importance of mentorship and how respect for a teacher can inspire a student to engage with learning. His military background adds a layer of admiration, motivating the speaker to take math seriously.

💡Moral Quandary

A moral quandary refers to a difficult decision involving ethical principles. The speaker finds himself in one after receiving an undeserved 'D' in algebra, which conflicted with his honesty. This ethical dilemma reflects the tension between personal benefit and integrity, a theme that resonates throughout his experience in school.

💡Struggle

Struggle is a recurring theme, highlighted through the speaker’s academic challenges, particularly with algebra. The speaker believes that struggle is necessary for growth, especially in education. He contrasts this with modern parents who try to make things easier for their children, arguing that overcoming difficulties leads to a greater sense of accomplishment and self-reliance.

💡Encouragement

Encouragement is a significant theme in the video, shown through the roles of the speaker’s father, Uncle Tommy, and Mr. Mayu. Each of these figures supports the speaker in their own way, helping him overcome personal and academic challenges. Encouragement from others plays a crucial role in the speaker's eventual success.

💡Mentorship

Mentorship refers to the guidance provided by someone more experienced, which is central to the speaker's journey. Mr. Mayu, the math teacher and war hero, serves as a mentor, helping the speaker through his struggle with algebra. The mentor-student relationship is portrayed as vital to personal and academic growth, with mentorship often being a source of inspiration.

💡Perseverance

Perseverance is the act of persisting in the face of difficulty, and it is exemplified in the speaker's journey through his academic struggles, particularly with math. Despite his failures in algebra, he continues to work hard, ultimately passing the class. This theme underscores the idea that perseverance, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, leads to eventual success.

Highlights

The speaker shares a childhood memory of typing random letters on his father's typewriter and asking what it 'said,' reflecting early creativity and playfulness.

The speaker reminisces about giving a commencement speech to high school students in 2012, which changed his life and led to the opportunity to write a book.

A significant tribute is made to an influential high school teacher, highlighting the impact of mentorship in education.

The speaker discusses his struggles in high school, particularly with Algebra 1, showcasing vulnerability and the challenges of academic life.

An anecdote about counting down the minutes during algebra class, revealing the speaker’s frustration and difficulty with math as a student.

The speaker describes advice from his uncle to 'get Fs in September,' which made sense to him in dealing with academic pressure.

The speaker humorously reflects on receiving a D in Algebra 1 despite failing every quiz, sharing his moral dilemma over accepting the grade.

A turning point occurs when the speaker realizes that passing Algebra 1 would lead to being enrolled in Algebra 2, creating further anxiety.

A pivotal interaction with his future Algebra 2 teacher, Mr. Mayu, who was also a World War II pilot, serves as an inspiration to the speaker.

Learning that Mr. Mayu fought at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ignites a newfound respect for the teacher and motivates the speaker to improve in math.

The speaker works hard in Algebra 2 under Mr. Mayu’s mentorship and eventually earns a D, this time feeling proud because it was an 'earned' grade.

The story reflects the importance of struggle and effort in education, emphasizing the value of perseverance in learning difficult subjects.

The speaker draws a parallel between his experience and modern education, observing that students today are often shielded from failure and struggle.

He criticizes how parents sometimes make things too easy for their children, depriving them of the opportunity to experience challenges and personal growth.

The talk concludes with a message about the importance of self-accomplishment, as students need to know that their successes are a result of their own efforts.

Transcripts

hi everybody it's a uh a great honor to

be here and to be included in such a

distinguished lineup of speakers and uh

I'm grateful to be included and grateful

too to the great people backstage who

worked so hard to make this happen

um where to begin when I was a boy

before I learned how to read andite

right I would tiptoe sometimes into my

father's office and I would secretly

roll a piece of paper into his

typewriter and I would like bugs's bunny

when he sat down at the piano I would

Poise my fingers above the keys and then

I would go and I would nnnnnn and

asterisk asteris and 7777 mmm space LL

QQQ and fill the whole page and then I

would bring the paper down to my father

and I would say what does it

say and he would take it and he'd look

at it and stern look on his face and

he'd look up at me and back at the paper

and up at me again and pretty soon a

smile would emerge and his eyes would

widen he said did you write this I said

yes I

did I said what is it say he says well I

I can't believe

this four score and seven years

ago that meant the world to me

then it's 50 years later in a few weeks

I have a book coming out he hasn't read

it hasn't seen it I'm very eager for him

to tell me what it says

uh a

a on June 1st 2012 so 22 months ago or

so I stood before a group of high school

kids whom I knew pretty well and liked

very much and gave a commencement

speech uh when I came down off the stage

my life suddenly changed very much and a

mild-mannered

quiet English teacher probably would

have been played by somebody like Jimmy

Stewart in the movie maybe uh had an

opportunity to write a

book and uh I didn't know if I could

write a book but it just seemed too

exciting a a chance possibility

opportunity to turn down and I got to

work and uh well it's going to be out in

a few days I I did not though in the

book include a footnote about some of my

own high school experiences and I'd like

to share as a tribute to a very

important teacher to me um an experience

I had when I was a freshman in high

school

I was 13 years old when I started high

school and woefully intimidated about

about all I was going to face we were

new to the town I knew no one at the

school except nice Mr Mayu who would

drive by every morning on his his way to

school he was the chairman of the math

department there and he would wave to me

and I would wave to him and I would walk

up the street to the bus stop and he was

gone around the corner and uh I

discovered very quickly that high school

was

hard uh science was

hard English was hard they expected you

to know

symbolism and then they handed me

Shakespeare and English wasn't even in

English Spanish was another language

altoe history was easy history was easy

and then they discovered that for me it

was too easy though say so they said

Dave all right independent project we

want you to read these five books and

write a 30-page paper on Teddy Roosevelt

and trust busting I was a freshman in

high

school worst of all the worst by far was

for me Mathematics Algebra 1 with Mr

McCarthy was impossible I was the very

portrait of

incomprehension I would trudge into

class I would find my seat in the back

corner and I would open my notebook and

in the margin just to the left of the

red line in the notebook I would write

60 59 58 50 7 all the way down to zero

and as Mr McCarthy would turn to the

board and do problems I would look at

the clock and just cross out the

minutes until they were

over and I would trudge home from school

and my mother would say how is school

dear and I would say

lousy and I grew ever more

forlorn

and nowhere is the is there a Target

more vulnerable to advice than a forlorn

ninth grader my father said well you're

just going to have to work harder which

is not what I wanted to hear I could

slam my head against the wall all day

algebra to me it seemed like a code

designed to keep me

out once once math went out of numbers

and into

letters what's that about

I mean x * 2 =

6 well what's X well X is

X if you wanted it to be three say

three anyway it was misery it was misery

it was misery my father said well you

just going to have to work harder my

mother said well go talk to the teacher

and then my uncle Tommy stepped in every

family needs to have an uncle Tommy

Uncle Tommy was Peter Pan Uncle Tommy

was Zoro the Greek he was Henry David

thoro he was unlettered but in his way A

Genius a genius for happiness and he

took me aside he said Davey Davey come

here let me give you a little advice uh

in Massachusetts the word here has two

syllables um here come here

um I should one quick story to

illustrate what the kind of guy Tommy

was uh there are 957 but this is sort of

a quick one we used to my brothers and I

used to go with Tommy and just sort of

skunk around we'd get in his car and we

go try to chase up in trouble we'd go to

the beach and drill build a Driftwood

Fort and we'd make a Driftwood fire and

we'd open a can of beans and we'd spend

the night there things like that all the

time uh on one of our skunking around

Expeditions uh we

all um alerted him to a need to go to

the bathroom and so he said okay fine he

pulled over at the little airport and

parked and we all got out of the car uh

I have two brothers so all four of us

get out of the car and we walking in to

the bathroom and Tommy um was he he was

his feet were always like this and he he

walk like this and so he comes walking

into the men's room like this and he

steps up to the urinal and pulls his

hand out of his pocket to address

Logistics and as the hand came out a

dime went flying and it was like one of

those slow motion moments in a movie

where you go no and you try to dive to

catch the dime before it goes into the

you well the dime went directly into the

Ural there it sat and Tommy stood there

looking at it

and we all watched him and thought now

what is he going to

do he looked at it and then he reached

into his back pocket and he pulled out

his wallet and he took a dollar from the

wallet and dropped that in

too and then he reached in and took them

both

out it it wasn't worth reaching in for a

dime so so when that guy gives a kid

Tommy was he was my parents generation

but he was our age um uh when Tommy

gives advice you listen and Tommy said

to me come here come here I'll give you

some advice get Fs in September I said

what he said get Fs in September that

way in June when you get the d Everybody

celebrates and of all of all the advice

I got about math that made the most

sense to

me so I'm in the back of the class

counting off the minutes and the

inevitable quiz arrives and I got an F

there's my f in September the test

arrived I got another F another quiz F

and I'm thinking oh this is so miserable

this is awful maybe maybe I'll get a D

in June uh and the report card came out

in October and I really didn't want to

look at it too closely but I finally

snuck a look and there was algebra 1 Mr

McCarthy d

d

d i was the beneficiary of a fraud

um this this was awful and I suddenly I

was cast into this terrible moral

quandry I mean what do I do about this

this was fraud but it's to my benefit uh

and so finally I I went to see Mr

McCarthy I'd never spoken to him before

um and I said uh Mr McCarthy uh I'm

David McCulla I'm in your uh 9:30 he

goes I Know Who You Are I said um

there's there's been some mistake and he

said' what's that I saidwell in my

report card it said I have a d and he

said to me you're the first kid in 60

what was it 37 years of teaching who's

come to me to complain about a grade

that was too high I I said well I you

know I failed every quiz you've given he

said you know what you're a good kid

don't worry about

it my daughter tells me today and um

that that the expression I would have

used then is swag on so I'm going swag

on so I thought okay got my D I'm all

right and September FS became in class

October FS which became November FS but

the report cards kept saying D and I

thought

no I may be a good kid I guess but I'm a

horrible math student this isn't right

um but okay I'll live with it

uh until I learned in April that if one

passes Algebra 1 one is then compelled

to go to Algebra

2 and I thought oh no the misery

continues the humiliation it was just

horrifying and I was cast immediately

into yet another horrible funk in which

I was coming to specialize in that

chapter of my life and uh I didn't know

what I was going to do about it and so I

went back to Mr McCarthy and I said Mr

McCarthy

um I appreciate these D's but I'm

fearing what's going to happen to me

next year he said don't worry about it

don't worry about it don't worry about

uh tell you if you pass the test uh the

final exam you'll get your D you'll earn

it you'll be fine okay well final exam

time came and it was a Scantron it was a

fill in the bubble test and uh I looked

at it and I looked at the questions and

it was all to me still after a year of

sitting in the back of the room watching

Mr McCarthy's back as he solved problems

and I wondered what the heck the

hieroglyphics were about um I sat down

and I said okay and I just went b c d d

FB sort of like when I was writing for

my father I just okay didn't matter I

didn't know I

passed I passed and I knew no algebra

whatsoever uh I didn't want to confess

as much to my parents but they read my

mood pretty quickly over the course of

the summer and I said said you know Mom

Pop I'm going to be in algebra too and I

don't know anything about algebra and

there was discussion about maybe buying

me a textbook and that I could teach

myself over the sum yeah that uh and

then mention was made of Mr Mayu down

the street nice Mr Mayu who drives by

and waves at me and I would see him in

the high school from time to time he was

Mr McCarthy my first year teacher was

really old he was probably 60 um Mr Mayu

was merely old he was 50 in there and he

wore baggy corduroys and he would come

down the hall in sort of all business

fashion and I I I knew he recognized me

I didn't think he knew I was one of

those Mulla kids I don't think he knew

who I was particularly so I we called

him up and I said Mr Mayu uh I'm David

McCulla I lived down the street I know

who you are uh and I've been having

trouble with algebra he said yes I know

you

have I thought well how do you know that

um and I was wondering if maybe uh you

might be willing to tutor me this was in

August and he said yeah sure come on

down and I said ' okay uh when would be

a good time he said

ow I thought he was going to say a week

from Thursday so I get on my bike and I

pedal down to Mr mayu's house and he met

me at the kitchen

door and to be I was then 14 to be 14 on

a beautiful August day with

Summer coming quickly to a close the

last thing you want to do is sit with a

math teacher and be tutored and reminded

how ignorant you are and how little you

know and it was embarrassing and

humiliating I come up the steps and he

says hello and shows me through the

kitchen into the living room and uh I

sat down on the couch and he pulled out

a piece of paper and he wrote a problem

on the piece of paper and he said let's

see how you do with that

one and I looked at it and I looked up

at him and in looking up at him I saw on

the far wall a picture of four grumm

Wild cats flying in formation and I

loved World War II airplanes I could

tell you everything about every World

War II airplane a World War II airplane

was the coolest thing only cooler plane

than the grum and Wildcat was of course

the P-51 Mustang which was the coolest

plane of all anyway I look up and I said

grum and Wildcat and he looked at me

said do you know those planes I said

sure and I jumped up and I went over to

look at it closer and he came over and

he picked up his he pointed and he said

that one right there that's me

I went what he said that's me and in

pointing to I also noticed that he was

missing his

fingertips um on one hand all the

fingertips were gone they were shorter

fingers and he said that's me right

there I said Mr May what happened to

your hand he said oh I I got shot I said

you were shot he said yeah that's me

right there I flew ground support at the

Battle of iojima I fought above he said

and he wasn't bragging he was very

modest guy he was I I fought above guad

Canal Mr Mayu nice Mr Mayu flew wild

cats he'd been at iojima he'd been at

guad Canal he was so cool and then he

said to me uh let's sit down it's

important you learn this

stuff and as if a switch was thrown

cliches um as if a switch was thrown

suddenly I thought this guy a World War

II fighter pilot wounded in action

thinks it's important for me to learn

algebra and I thought okay I'm going to

so I sat down and he helped me along and

uh I didn't get very

far uh I tried and I tried and I tried

and we had several sessions but I went

to him two three times a week for the

several weeks before school began and on

the first day of school I uh got my

schedule and I looked down to see

Algebra 2 and the teacher was Mr Mayu

uh I worked very hard that September and

when the first test came along I got a D

and I earned it it was a real D it

wasn't it was a real D and I'd earned it

um Flash Forward decades and I'm now a

teacher and I see dispirited kids all

the time I see kids who are struggling

and I see kids who uh have have given up

and I'm very thankful to Mr Mayu for

engaging me with him showing me that

he's a human being showing me the

respect that it's important that I learn

algebra I didn't care about algebra but

he cared about algebra and he said it's

important for me to know it and it

perked me right up today one sees so

many parents eager for their children to

enjoy all the cultures plums that rather

than

and anxious about it that rather than uh

inspiring them to climb the plum tree

rather than teaching them how to climb

the plum tree they go by a step ladder

or they reach up to a branch and pull it

lower for the kid to get it or they take

him to an easier tree and it's so

frustrating as a teacher to see that

kids today need to struggle they need

sometimes to scrape along the bottom and

then when they succeed and they will

they'll realize that their own doing and

that they got it

themselves that's my talk thank you very

much thank you