MIT Commencement Address by Mark Rober

Introduction

• Speaker: Mark Rober, former Apple and NASA mechanical engineer, now a YouTuber.
• Context: MIT Commencement Address for the 2023 graduating class.
• Theme: Trying new things and overcoming fears.

Opening Remarks

• Acknowledged the challenges and uniqueness of the current graduating class.
• Humorous reference to wearing graduation robes in hot weather.

Life Advice for Graduates

1. Embrace Naive Optimism

• Definition: Easier to be optimistic about the future when unaware of challenges.
• Examples:
  • Reflect on the naivety during the first week at MIT.
  • Approach big life decisions with the confidence of a child or beginner.
• Metaphor: Life as crossing a river with rocks; take leaps of faith.
• Advice: Let curiosity guide initial steps and dominate each step you take.

2. Frame Your Failures

• Experiment: Conducted a puzzle game with YouTube followers.
  • Different framing of success and failure influenced persistence and success rates.
• Example: Video games teach perseverance through failure (e.g., "Super Mario Bros.").
• Concept: Gamify life; focus on beating challenges, not on failures.

3. Foster Relationships

• Importance: Humans are hardwired for social interaction and cooperation.
• Life Hack: Use confirmation bias positively in relationships.
  • Assume good intentions in others to foster positive relationships.
• Personal Story: Influence of Mark’s mother on his life; importance of relationships.

4. Engage in Playful Anarchy

• Purpose: Challenge norms and engage in playful, harmless rebellion.
• Example: Use of technology to literally make a graduation cap fly.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to graduates to impact the world positively and fulfill their potential.
• Reminder that the journey is about the relationships and experiences collected along the way.
• Ends with a call to action for the graduates to change the world for the better.