I'm STILL Pissed About This

Summary

In this heartfelt video, the speaker reflects on his academic struggles during high school, where a poor SAT score and low GPA made him feel doomed to failure. Despite being told by his guidance counselor that college was out of reach, he pursued his passion for music, persevering through setbacks and rejections. Through hard work and determination, he ultimately earned degrees in music and jazz guitar. The story highlights the importance of resilience, self-belief, and the support of loved ones, showing that with enough determination, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on a conversation with their son and his friends about college and the SATs.
• 😀 The speaker recalls their own SAT score of 880, which was considered low by their son’s friends.
• 😀 The speaker shares their personal experience of being a bad student in high school with a GPA of 1.8.
• 😀 Despite low academic performance, the speaker was determined to pursue something meaningful, particularly in music.
• 😀 In 1979, the speaker faced discouragement from a guidance counselor who told them they wouldn’t get into college with such low grades and SAT scores.
• 😀 The speaker was deflated but still looked into music schools and decided to audition for guitar programs.
• 😀 The speaker's first auditions for music schools were unsuccessful, but they didn't give up and kept working towards their goal.
• 😀 After failing to get into two music schools, the speaker was encouraged by a coach to join a sports team, offering an opportunity to attend college under a different major.
• 😀 The speaker re-auditioned at Ithaca College and got accepted after learning the required techniques and pieces from a fellow student.
• 😀 The speaker went on to earn a degree in music education with a focus on bass and later a Master's in jazz guitar.
• 😀 A key turning point in the speaker’s journey was running into their old guidance counselor at Fairport High School while substitute teaching, where they could proudly share their academic achievements.

Q & A

Why did the narrator mention his SAT score of 880?

The narrator shared his SAT score of 880 to highlight his struggles as a student and show how he didn't conform to the typical expectations of academic success, setting the stage for his story of overcoming challenges.

What was the narrator's GPA in high school?

The narrator's GPA was 1.8, which he describes as 'really bad,' reflecting his poor performance as a student in high school.

How did the guidance counselor, Mr. Croll, react to the narrator’s academic situation?

Mr. Croll told the narrator that with such a low GPA and SAT score, it was unlikely that he would be accepted into any colleges, which left the narrator feeling deflated and uncertain about his future.

What decision did the narrator make regarding college auditions?

Despite being unsure of his academic path, the narrator decided to audition for music programs at various colleges, such as Fredonia State and Ithaca College, aiming for a career in music.

How did the narrator prepare for his music auditions?

The narrator prepared by learning classical guitar pieces from different musical periods, although he lacked formal classical guitar training. His teacher, Glenn, helped him by teaching him some basic pieces but wasn't familiar with advanced classical techniques like the Scovia scales.

What happened after the narrator’s auditions at Fredonia State and Ithaca College?

The narrator was rejected by both Fredonia State and Ithaca College but later received an offer from the Fredonia track coach, who suggested that he could attend if he ran for the track team, though he would have to change his major.

Why did the narrator want to re-audition at Ithaca College?

After gaining more knowledge about the audition requirements and improving his skills, the narrator wanted to re-audition at Ithaca College, where he had previously been rejected, with hopes of being accepted this time.

How did the narrator ultimately gain admission to Ithaca College?

The narrator re-auditioned at Ithaca College after improving his skills, particularly learning the Scovia scales, and was accepted by the same professor, Steve Brown, who had previously rejected him.

What did the narrator pursue after transferring to Ithaca College?

After transferring to Ithaca College, the narrator switched his major to music education and bass performance, influenced by his bass teacher, Henry Newbert, who encouraged him to pursue a music Ed degree.

What was the narrator’s academic path after completing his undergraduate degree?

After completing his undergraduate degree in music education and bass, the narrator pursued a master's degree in jazz guitar at the New England Conservatory.

What significant encounter did the narrator have while substitute teaching at Fairport High School?

While substitute teaching at Fairport High School, the narrator ran into his former guidance counselor, Mr. Croll, who was surprised to learn that the narrator had not only succeeded in getting into college but was finishing his master’s degree.

What lesson did the narrator convey to his son and his friends?

The narrator emphasized the importance of determination and hard work. Despite his early academic struggles, he shared that with perseverance, it's possible to overcome setbacks and achieve one’s goals.

How did the narrator's mother influence his outlook on education?

The narrator’s mother repeatedly encouraged him by saying that the teachers did not understand him, but that he was smarter than they thought. This belief helped the narrator maintain confidence, even in the face of academic challenges.