[Music] hello like yogi said I am Liam and I
hello like yogi said I am Liam and I
hello like yogi said I am Liam and I love working on long-term projects today
love working on long-term projects today
love working on long-term projects today I get to design myself sometimes it’s
I get to design myself sometimes it’s
I get to design myself sometimes it’s hard to find classmates or just didn’t
hard to find classmates or just didn’t
hard to find classmates or just didn’t the same thing that I am for example I’m
the same thing that I am for example I’m
the same thing that I am for example I’m really curious about why e ^ I use the
really curious about why e ^ I use the
really curious about why e ^ I use the cosine of X plus I times the sine of X I
cosine of X plus I times the sine of X I
cosine of X plus I times the sine of X I mean that’s fascinating stuff
things like paradoxes and logic puzzles
things like paradoxes and logic puzzles and all sorts of brain twisters that
and all sorts of brain twisters that
and all sorts of brain twisters that leave me thinking but other people’s
leave me thinking but other people’s
leave me thinking but other people’s heads like my mom’s think it was nice
heads like my mom’s think it was nice
heads like my mom’s think it was nice interest yogi who could read me some of
interest yogi who could read me some of
interest yogi who could read me some of the complicated stuff has been very
the complicated stuff has been very
the complicated stuff has been very interesting and fun and definitely a lot
interesting and fun and definitely a lot
interesting and fun and definitely a lot better than class I mean who would
better than class I mean who would
better than class I mean who would choose adding fractions over crazy world
choose adding fractions over crazy world
choose adding fractions over crazy world poems that barely make any sense
poems that barely make any sense
poems that barely make any sense working with liam has been an absolutely
working with liam has been an absolutely
working with liam has been an absolutely extraordinary opportunity for me I’ve
extraordinary opportunity for me I’ve
extraordinary opportunity for me I’ve learned so much that I don’t even know
learned so much that I don’t even know
learned so much that I don’t even know where to begin and I’m guessing some of
where to begin and I’m guessing some of
where to begin and I’m guessing some of you might be a bit skeptical and you
you might be a bit skeptical and you
you might be a bit skeptical and you might be thinking okay all you did was
might be thinking okay all you did was
might be thinking okay all you did was teach a fifth grader a bunch of math and
teach a fifth grader a bunch of math and
teach a fifth grader a bunch of math and stuff right well I also taught him how
stuff right well I also taught him how
stuff right well I also taught him how to browse naughty stuff on the internet
to browse naughty stuff on the internet
to browse naughty stuff on the internet without his parents finding out jokes
without his parents finding out jokes
without his parents finding out jokes I’d teaching is learning twice over
I’d teaching is learning twice over
I’d teaching is learning twice over Joseph do bird of his famous French
Joseph do bird of his famous French
Joseph do bird of his famous French moralist said that this quote has gained
moralist said that this quote has gained
moralist said that this quote has gained a very new meaning for me ever since
a very new meaning for me ever since
a very new meaning for me ever since I’ve worked with Liam there’s always
I’ve worked with Liam there’s always
I’ve worked with Liam there’s always been the literal meaning that a teacher
been the literal meaning that a teacher
been the literal meaning that a teacher must know the material he was teaching
must know the material he was teaching
must know the material he was teaching twice over once for his own sake and
twice over once for his own sake and
twice over once for his own sake and understanding and a second time over so
understanding and a second time over so
understanding and a second time over so he can effectively communicate it to his
he can effectively communicate it to his
he can effectively communicate it to his students but the meaning I’ve the right
students but the meaning I’ve the right
students but the meaning I’ve the right from this is that teaching is learning
from this is that teaching is learning
from this is that teaching is learning to know yourself and learning to know
to know yourself and learning to know
to know yourself and learning to know your students yes that is my name and my
your students yes that is my name and my
your students yes that is my name and my title up on the screen now what I mean
title up on the screen now what I mean
title up on the screen now what I mean by this is that we all experience
by this is that we all experience
by this is that we all experience reality differently and teaching is
reality differently and teaching is
reality differently and teaching is essentially showing a little part of
essentially showing a little part of
essentially showing a little part of your reality to someone else essentially
your reality to someone else essentially
your reality to someone else essentially you have to make someone see what you
you have to make someone see what you
you have to make someone see what you see and I believe you can’t really do
see and I believe you can’t really do
see and I believe you can’t really do that unless you first see what he sees
that unless you first see what he sees
that unless you first see what he sees and in case this is getting too
and in case this is getting too
and in case this is getting too complicated what I mean is that I
complicated what I mean is that I
complicated what I mean is that I believe effective mentorship and
believe effective mentorship and
believe effective mentorship and teaching are almost exclusively based on
teaching are almost exclusively based on
teaching are almost exclusively based on empathy and understanding and really
empathy and understanding and really
empathy and understanding and really it’s in that short moment when you try
it’s in that short moment when you try
it’s in that short moment when you try to empathize with someone to teach them
to empathize with someone to teach them
to empathize with someone to teach them something you actually get a glimpse of
something you actually get a glimpse of
something you actually get a glimpse of your own character with a different
your own character with a different
your own character with a different perspective added on to it for example
perspective added on to it for example
perspective added on to it for example me and Liam would solve word problems in
me and Liam would solve word problems in
me and Liam would solve word problems in logic puzzles and whenever I would come
logic puzzles and whenever I would come
logic puzzles and whenever I would come across one that took me more than five
across one that took me more than five
across one that took me more than five to ten minutes to understand I would say
to ten minutes to understand I would say
to ten minutes to understand I would say okay let’s move on and my reasoning
okay let’s move on and my reasoning
okay let’s move on and my reasoning behind this was okay I’m a higher level
behind this was okay I’m a higher level
behind this was okay I’m a higher level math student if it takes me this long to
math student if it takes me this long to
math student if it takes me this long to understand something it would take ages
understand something it would take ages
understand something it would take ages to explain which would be valuable time
to explain which would be valuable time
to explain which would be valuable time lost which we could better spend maybe
lost which we could better spend maybe
lost which we could better spend maybe learning more stuff and I do realize it
learning more stuff and I do realize it
learning more stuff and I do realize it is quite arrogant now but whenever I
is quite arrogant now but whenever I
is quite arrogant now but whenever I would do this all the sudden I would
would do this all the sudden I would
would do this all the sudden I would feel disconnected from Liam because he
feel disconnected from Liam because he
feel disconnected from Liam because he wouldn’t move on to the next problem he
wouldn’t move on to the next problem he
wouldn’t move on to the next problem he would still struggle with the previous
would still struggle with the previous
would still struggle with the previous one and I would realize I could be of so
one and I would realize I could be of so
one and I would realize I could be of so much more help to him if I just learned
much more help to him if I just learned
much more help to him if I just learned to struggle and persevere with him and
to struggle and persevere with him and
to struggle and persevere with him and that’s how I knew maybe I was being a
that’s how I knew maybe I was being a
that’s how I knew maybe I was being a bit too impatient what I’m getting at is
bit too impatient what I’m getting at is
bit too impatient what I’m getting at is that mentoring or teaching someone
that mentoring or teaching someone
that mentoring or teaching someone something is an amazing tool for
something is an amazing tool for
something is an amazing tool for self-development and hence I believe
self-development and hence I believe
self-development and hence I believe that if you all sat down and explained
that if you all sat down and explained
that if you all sat down and explained some brain twisters to a fifth grader we
some brain twisters to a fifth grader we
some brain twisters to a fifth grader we could all be a bit better and maybe the
could all be a bit better and maybe the
could all be a bit better and maybe the world a better place
world a better place
world a better place they’d say thank you because I have a
they’d say thank you because I have a
they’d say thank you because I have a tendency to get frustrated with problems
tendency to get frustrated with problems
tendency to get frustrated with problems I can’t solve immediately and I thought
I can’t solve immediately and I thought
I can’t solve immediately and I thought I was learning from you not to give up
I was learning from you not to give up
I was learning from you not to give up yes sure you learning from each other
yes sure you learning from each other
yes sure you learning from each other wait this makes my head hurt who would
wait this makes my head hurt who would
wait this makes my head hurt who would teaching who and who is on Camus well
teaching who and who is on Camus well
teaching who and who is on Camus well who cares it’s a lot of whose anyway a
who cares it’s a lot of whose anyway a
who cares it’s a lot of whose anyway a pretty cooler that can happen Andy it is
pretty cooler that can happen Andy it is
pretty cooler that can happen Andy it is now I have a brother who was 12 years
now I have a brother who was 12 years
now I have a brother who was 12 years old which would make him a bit older
old which would make him a bit older
old which would make him a bit older than Liam and I have to admit I’ve never
than Liam and I have to admit I’ve never
than Liam and I have to admit I’ve never been too good at communicating with him
been too good at communicating with him
been too good at communicating with him as most instances of us communicating
as most instances of us communicating
as most instances of us communicating would end up like this for him and like
would end up like this for him and like
would end up like this for him and like this for me and I think this situation
this for me and I think this situation
this for me and I think this situation we can all agree is not particularly
we can all agree is not particularly
we can all agree is not particularly fair or nice well this is one of my
fair or nice well this is one of my
fair or nice well this is one of my biggest worries when I found out that I
biggest worries when I found out that I
biggest worries when I found out that I was working with Liam and I don’t mean
was working with Liam and I don’t mean
was working with Liam and I don’t mean this situation in particular but rather
this situation in particular but rather
this situation in particular but rather this really embodies which is the
this really embodies which is the
this really embodies which is the difficulty in
difficulty in
difficulty in finding an appropriate way of
finding an appropriate way of
finding an appropriate way of communication where the age difference
communication where the age difference
communication where the age difference is so big I remember the first meeting
is so big I remember the first meeting
is so big I remember the first meeting we had I was just very nervous thinking
we had I was just very nervous thinking
we had I was just very nervous thinking okay how should I treat him do I treat
okay how should I treat him do I treat
okay how should I treat him do I treat him like a peer or do I treat him like a
him like a peer or do I treat him like a
him like a peer or do I treat him like a baby what if a bad word slips my mouth
baby what if a bad word slips my mouth
baby what if a bad word slips my mouth all these various questions were racing
all these various questions were racing
all these various questions were racing through my mind first true meanings were
through my mind first true meanings were
through my mind first true meanings were pretty awkward for me too
pretty awkward for me too
pretty awkward for me too I mean meeting with someone who’s almost
I mean meeting with someone who’s almost
I mean meeting with someone who’s almost twice your age you can complicate a mask
twice your age you can complicate a mask
twice your age you can complicate a mask that barely makes sense I enjoyed your
that barely makes sense I enjoyed your
that barely makes sense I enjoyed your name class but I didn’t really know
name class but I didn’t really know
name class but I didn’t really know georgette I’m not sure that even I
georgette I’m not sure that even I
georgette I’m not sure that even I really knew what we what we were gonna
really knew what we what we were gonna
really knew what we what we were gonna do the first few times you just play
do the first few times you just play
do the first few times you just play with Legos and talked only a bit but in
with Legos and talked only a bit but in
with Legos and talked only a bit but in that time I remember thinking okay it’s
that time I remember thinking okay it’s
that time I remember thinking okay it’s kind of cool it I think so play a flavor
kind of cool it I think so play a flavor
kind of cool it I think so play a flavor sort of 17 and if be thinking about
sort of 17 and if be thinking about
sort of 17 and if be thinking about having an opportunity like this you have
having an opportunity like this you have
having an opportunity like this you have to remember that it takes time it
to remember that it takes time it
to remember that it takes time it certainly does take time even to this
certainly does take time even to this
certainly does take time even to this day sometimes it’s kind of hard to know
day sometimes it’s kind of hard to know
day sometimes it’s kind of hard to know that if something that’s interesting for
that if something that’s interesting for
that if something that’s interesting for me is also interesting for Liam for
me is also interesting for Liam for
me is also interesting for Liam for example in a relatively recent meeting
example in a relatively recent meeting
example in a relatively recent meeting we had we we were looking at TED Talks
we had we we were looking at TED Talks
we had we we were looking at TED Talks and I found this TED talk about the
and I found this TED talk about the
and I found this TED talk about the economic recession of 2008 and being
economic recession of 2008 and being
economic recession of 2008 and being interested in the subject I just
interested in the subject I just
interested in the subject I just immediately jumped on it but halfway
immediately jumped on it but halfway
immediately jumped on it but halfway through the talk I know that Liam was
through the talk I know that Liam was
through the talk I know that Liam was falling asleep and I realized okay maybe
falling asleep and I realized okay maybe
falling asleep and I realized okay maybe socioeconomic interactions aren’t as
socioeconomic interactions aren’t as
socioeconomic interactions aren’t as interesting to a fifth grader as I might
interesting to a fifth grader as I might
interesting to a fifth grader as I might have thought yeah George what were you
have thought yeah George what were you
have thought yeah George what were you thinking but doesn’t know is that what I
thinking but doesn’t know is that what I
thinking but doesn’t know is that what I loved watching TED talks and to even
loved watching TED talks and to even
loved watching TED talks and to even they watch them that I don’t fully
they watch them that I don’t fully
they watch them that I don’t fully understand I’m able to walk away
understand I’m able to walk away
understand I’m able to walk away thinking about it I ask a lot of
thinking about it I ask a lot of
thinking about it I ask a lot of questions at home also a lot of the time
questions at home also a lot of the time
questions at home also a lot of the time and that’s wondering how I could help or
and that’s wondering how I could help or
and that’s wondering how I could help or how I can do whatever that talk was
how I can do whatever that talk was
how I can do whatever that talk was saying there is no Universal answer to
saying there is no Universal answer to
saying there is no Universal answer to the age-old question of effective
the age-old question of effective
the age-old question of effective communication sometimes figuring out
communication sometimes figuring out
communication sometimes figuring out what interests others is a trial and
what interests others is a trial and
what interests others is a trial and error process but as such it is an
error process but as such it is an
error process but as such it is an extremely rewarding one because you
extremely rewarding one because you
extremely rewarding one because you learn some very important things you
learn some very important things you
learn some very important things you learn how to communicate you learn how
learn how to communicate you learn how
learn how to communicate you learn how to deal with an awkward situation you
to deal with an awkward situation you
to deal with an awkward situation you learn how to listen to the other person
learn how to listen to the other person
learn how to listen to the other person and how to understand him you learn
and how to understand him you learn
and how to understand him you learn empathy yes why don’t we understand
empathy yes why don’t we understand
empathy yes why don’t we understand to socialize I am only ten I didn’t find
to socialize I am only ten I didn’t find
to socialize I am only ten I didn’t find that I could emphasize your school
that I could emphasize your school
that I could emphasize your school workload and common interests like math
workload and common interests like math
workload and common interests like math and riddles I learned I have a lot more
and riddles I learned I have a lot more
and riddles I learned I have a lot more in common with all the people that I saw
in common with all the people that I saw
in common with all the people that I saw it
it
it well shrinks I think that maybe we all
well shrinks I think that maybe we all
well shrinks I think that maybe we all have a lot more in common that we notice
have a lot more in common that we notice
have a lot more in common that we notice absolutely and if you’re wondering why
absolutely and if you’re wondering why
absolutely and if you’re wondering why is all this important here’s why I think
is all this important here’s why I think
is all this important here’s why I think it is important in this day and age we
it is important in this day and age we
it is important in this day and age we have so many channels and means of
have so many channels and means of
have so many channels and means of communication we have facebook we have
communication we have facebook we have
communication we have facebook we have messengers snapchat Instagram all these
messengers snapchat Instagram all these
messengers snapchat Instagram all these things and it’s kind of ironic because
things and it’s kind of ironic because
things and it’s kind of ironic because although we have all these different
although we have all these different
although we have all these different means of communication we’ve actually
means of communication we’ve actually
means of communication we’ve actually lost some of our ability of
lost some of our ability of
lost some of our ability of self-expression nowadays no one walks
self-expression nowadays no one walks
self-expression nowadays no one walks off to a girl and asks her out in person
off to a girl and asks her out in person
off to a girl and asks her out in person it’s all done through messenger nowadays
it’s all done through messenger nowadays
it’s all done through messenger nowadays we don’t go up to the person we love
we don’t go up to the person we love
we don’t go up to the person we love look them in the eyes and say I love you
look them in the eyes and say I love you
look them in the eyes and say I love you and feel the awesome wave of adrenaline
and feel the awesome wave of adrenaline
and feel the awesome wave of adrenaline excitement wash over us we send card
excitement wash over us we send card
excitement wash over us we send card emojis and the bigger they are the more
emojis and the bigger they are the more
emojis and the bigger they are the more love I guess and I can safely say the
love I guess and I can safely say the
love I guess and I can safely say the tutoring of fifth grader or mentoring
tutoring of fifth grader or mentoring
tutoring of fifth grader or mentoring him is the first step to regaining that
him is the first step to regaining that
him is the first step to regaining that lost paradise of communication on this
lost paradise of communication on this
lost paradise of communication on this note I think it’s important to say how
note I think it’s important to say how
note I think it’s important to say how much Liam has actually schooled me now I
much Liam has actually schooled me now I
much Liam has actually schooled me now I hope all of you have read the little
hope all of you have read the little
hope all of you have read the little prince
prince
prince and if not I guess you should be
and if not I guess you should be
and if not I guess you should be wondering what you’re doing with your
wondering what you’re doing with your
wondering what you’re doing with your lives I just read that book even though
lives I just read that book even though
lives I just read that book even though it’s hard to comprehend it was very deep
it’s hard to comprehend it was very deep
it’s hard to comprehend it was very deep and philosophical did I say that right I
and philosophical did I say that right I
and philosophical did I say that right I think the meaning is that we all
think the meaning is that we all
think the meaning is that we all imagined the news our imaginations but
imagined the news our imaginations but
imagined the news our imaginations but it all simply deny it absolutely and if
it all simply deny it absolutely and if
it all simply deny it absolutely and if you remember one of the most iconic
you remember one of the most iconic
you remember one of the most iconic moments of the little prince is when the
moments of the little prince is when the
moments of the little prince is when the narrator is talking about how all the
narrator is talking about how all the
narrator is talking about how all the grown-ups misinterpret his drawing of a
grown-ups misinterpret his drawing of a
grown-ups misinterpret his drawing of a boa constrictor that has devoured an
boa constrictor that has devoured an
boa constrictor that has devoured an elephant there’s a cat and this is of
elephant there’s a cat and this is of
elephant there’s a cat and this is of course the image I’m referring to well
course the image I’m referring to well
course the image I’m referring to well what I want to say is that Liam has
what I want to say is that Liam has
what I want to say is that Liam has taught me how to see the boa constrictor
taught me how to see the boa constrictor
taught me how to see the boa constrictor in the elephant time over and time over
in the elephant time over and time over
in the elephant time over and time over again opposed to the hat it’s amazing
again opposed to the hat it’s amazing
again opposed to the hat it’s amazing how much perspective we lose when we
how much perspective we lose when we
how much perspective we lose when we grow up under the pretext that the views
grow up under the pretext that the views
grow up under the pretext that the views we hold are naive or childish and really
we hold are naive or childish and really
we hold are naive or childish and really that’s why I think one of the best
that’s why I think one of the best
that’s why I think one of the best things for someone my age or even older
things for someone my age or even older
things for someone my age or even older is to sit down and immerse yourself in
is to sit down and immerse yourself in
is to sit down and immerse yourself in one of Liam’s drawings or a children’s
one of Liam’s drawings or a children’s
one of Liam’s drawings or a children’s books because when you do that you
books because when you do that you
books because when you do that you thinking for a brief moment like a child
thinking for a brief moment like a child
thinking for a brief moment like a child again when you think like a child you
again when you think like a child you
again when you think like a child you believe like a child and that means you
believe like a child and that means you
believe like a child and that means you believe you can be Superman you believe
believe you can be Superman you believe
believe you can be Superman you believe you can be a Jedi when you grow up you
you can be a Jedi when you grow up you
you can be a Jedi when you grow up you believe that kindness brings two happy
believe that kindness brings two happy
believe that kindness brings two happy endings like in fairy tales you believe
endings like in fairy tales you believe
endings like in fairy tales you believe in yourself which i think is very
in yourself which i think is very
in yourself which i think is very crucial when it comes to transforming
crucial when it comes to transforming
crucial when it comes to transforming communities because as Steve Jobs once
communities because as Steve Jobs once
communities because as Steve Jobs once rightfully said the people who are crazy
rightfully said the people who are crazy
rightfully said the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the
enough to think they can change the
enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do hey George are
world are the ones who do hey George are
world are the ones who do hey George are you telling me I can’t be a Jedi when I
you telling me I can’t be a Jedi when I
you telling me I can’t be a Jedi when I go up anyway even though scheduling this
go up anyway even though scheduling this
go up anyway even though scheduling this was sometimes hard and sometimes George
was sometimes hard and sometimes George
was sometimes hard and sometimes George just had to join me in class I think it
just had to join me in class I think it
just had to join me in class I think it paid off and I think it’s something
paid off and I think it’s something
paid off and I think it’s something other it’s good to put some effort into
other it’s good to put some effort into
other it’s good to put some effort into because it would because it’s worth it
because it would because it’s worth it
because it would because it’s worth it and in international schools you already
and in international schools you already
and in international schools you already have all his age was working in the same
have all his age was working in the same
have all his age was working in the same space so why don’t you make this part of
space so why don’t you make this part of
space so why don’t you make this part of their daily routine absolutely and I
their daily routine absolutely and I
their daily routine absolutely and I would like to take this opportunity to
would like to take this opportunity to
would like to take this opportunity to make a call to action through our school
make a call to action through our school
make a call to action through our school and all the other schools around the
and all the other schools around the
and all the other schools around the world that will ever see this plant
world that will ever see this plant
world that will ever see this plant cross-age collaborations are form of
cross-age collaborations are form of
cross-age collaborations are form of Education like no other and like most
Education like no other and like most
Education like no other and like most other things in life they shouldn’t be
other things in life they shouldn’t be
other things in life they shouldn’t be forced upon people but I deeply believe
forced upon people but I deeply believe
forced upon people but I deeply believe they should be encouraged and supported
they should be encouraged and supported
they should be encouraged and supported by for because believe me they are worth
by for because believe me they are worth
by for because believe me they are worth it thank you very much
it thank you very much
it thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment