MemCast
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Bob Sabella’s personal sacrifice (teaching calculus during lunch) was pivotal for academic success
  • Sabella gave up his only lunch hour to run a one‑on‑one BC calculus class for Fei‑Fei.
  • This extra instruction filled a curriculum gap at her high school, enabling her to meet Princeton’s admission standards.
  • The gesture exemplifies how a single teacher’s dedication can open doors for under‑represented students.
  • Fei‑Fei later recognized this as a “gift” that she only fully appreciated after becoming a teacher herself.
  • The story underscores the outsized impact of small, targeted acts of mentorship.
Dr. Fei‑Fei LiTim Ferriss Show00:15:08

Supporting quotes

He sacrificed his lunch hour to teach me calculus BC. So it was a one‑to‑one class. Dr. Fei‑Fei Li
I am sure that contributed to me, an immigrant kid, getting into Princeton eventually. Dr. Fei‑Fei Li

From this concept

Mentorship & The Power of Teachers

Bob Sabella's self-sacrificial teaching and the broader role of public educators illustrate how mentorship can change the trajectory of immigrant talent and fuel breakthroughs in AI.

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