College 101 | David McCoullough Jr. | TEDxYale
Summary
TLDRIn 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
🎤 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.
📚 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.
👨👦 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.
✈️ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Commencement Speech
💡Father
💡Algebra
💡Uncle Tommy
💡Mr. Mayu
💡Moral Quandary
💡Struggle
💡Encouragement
💡Mentorship
💡Perseverance
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
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