Mark Rober Address to MIT Class of 2023

The popular YouTuber, engineer, and inventor who works to engage young people in science and technology while encouraging curiosity and resilience, gives this years Commencement address to the MIT Class of 2023.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an independent, coeducational, privately endowed university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our mission is to advance knowledge; to educate students in science, engineering, technology, humanities and social sciences; and to tackle the most pressing problems facing the world today. We are a community of hands-on problem-solvers in love with fundamental science and eager to make the world a better place.

The MIT YouTube channel features videos about all types of MIT research, including the robot cheetah, LIGO, gravitational waves, mathematics, and bombardier beetles, as well as videos on origami, time capsules, and other aspects of life and culture on the MIT campus. Our goal is to open the doors of MIT and bring the Institute to the world through video.

[albert_chen]

My favorite part of this speech was just seeing how Mark stumbled at times. Just like all of us, he's putting himself out there in a new and vulnerable position, truly acting out what he preeches.

[Nafeels]

I might not be from MIT, but I’m also about to be a graduating engineer this year. People like Mark Rober, the rest of the Mythbusters crew, Nigel of NileRed, and many TV/Youtube “scitubers” had a lot of permanent impact to many of us young and green students still learning along the way.

He’s right. We might trip on some rocks and fall off a bridge while crossing a river, but as long as we have naive optimism and believe somehow we’d be lifted magically to the river bank, it’s all possible.

Congrats to the MIT graduating class of 2023! Carpe diem!

[Theprofw]

From a 70-something who has lived a full life, this speech speaks volumes of what is ahead. Congrats, graduates!

[mcmac]

I think this is the deepest, most personal thing he's ever done in his life. All respect to you, Mark Rober.

[missyajg]

My husband and I are both engineers but we could never have reached my three preteen boys and connected w them the way Mark Rober just did with this encouragement. This was fantastic. And the hiccups he had just made it so much more relatable for everyone. Don’t stop doing what you are doing, Mark.

[miuhozuki]

I think this is one of the best and most relatable speeches I ever heard, not just for graduating students, but also for any and every one in the society.

[yeah_reee]

i just had a very bad letdown from my first important career step, this video hits in PERFECT TIME.
Thank you Mark and to anyone who reads this... Thank you.

[iamthirdyt]

14:26 It’s so weird to hear Mark talk about relationship/romance advice, but that message of casting people in the best light is so important and powerful! Thanks so much Mark!!

[wayneceallaigh]

This man is an engineer through and through. . .he can slog through solving problems and engineering ways to do good in the world, but like most intellectuals, when put in front of so many others. . .faces a challenge unlike any other: public speaking. While he stumbled, he grew and through it all was exactly who he is. He doesn't write commencement speeches (ChatGPT does), but he does preach the greater good to the best minds. I love this guy.

[earshelhogan]

Watching this video invoked such an interesting feeling for me. I know that Mark is an accomplished engineer, and that he has a thriving YouTube channel, and that he is just generally successful. What caught me off guard, though, is that watching this, I felt proud of him. Watching his videos, I don't explicitly feel that way. He portrays himself in such a way that I feel like I'm hanging out with an old friend, and he's showing me his newest passion project. This video hit me straight in the feels for some reason, and I feel compelled to tell my friend who has never met me, that I'm proud of him, and to congratulate him. Disregarding all of his quantifiable accomplishments, I think that this is the true measure of his success. So, that being said, great job, Mark. Thank you for all that you do, and I'll see you in your next video!

[ITJoe]

I love this speech, it comes from the heart without drama, is peppered with humor without going overboard, and presents you with the realities of life. You just have to go for it and push yourself. There's no other way!

MR is one of my favorite YouTubers, you learn something from him.

[JeffroOng]

I love his message and delivery! It's playful, fun, serious and practical as well! I'm so grateful for the technology we have today that I'm able to see this from where I am!

[MD-gtxw]

Very inspiring. I didn't know who Mark Rober was but showed this to my 11 year old and he knew him and started rattling off all these inventions that Mark created and that he would watch on YT. So the speech was very inspirational for the little guy. Thank You!

[bruce]

Personally gone through some of these ideas since I got fired and started to travel around the world for cultural shock and challenges.
1, naive optimism pushed myself outta my comfort zone so many times and I ended up accumulating so many interesting experience.
2, reframing failures/challenge has given me so much confidence that I can overcome difficulty, and motivated me to keep going.

I would add another idea that: understanding an idea and experiencing an idea are two very different things. Whatever great ideas that you have heard of, make sure to personally go through it. Hearing and understanding an awesome ideas will turn you into an idea-worm, but personally going through those idea will change you.

[felixfromnebraska]

Thanks, Mark. I have not attended MIT, nor do I assume at 70 that I will ever do so, but your speech is not just for them but for everyone living and going through life as we know it today.
Thanks for making a better world.
Felix

[muondude]

Now that's what I'm talking about!! Rober hit it out of the park, I mean court! Seeing it fly up to the great dome was well GREAT! Loved his address to the 2023 graduates and his irreverence for some of the traditions. Thank you Mark for a fun time. SDG Course 18 '77

[Merfolk_]

As a graduating college student, this is by far one of the best advices I could have ever gotten. Props to Mark for an amazing speech!

[macosbyanthony]

Dear Mark, I just cannot stop educating myself with you. Congratulations.

[thrivingthegrind]

He is literally the best engineering personality to give the speech!

For the graduates, it’s an epic round off for full circle to the education they got.😊

[I_hughjo]

His speech makes me want to attend an American University. What a legend!