By Sophie Tuan
Oh Mr. McWilliams, what a character! You never quite know where your conversation will go with this interesting math teacher. With his funny and original ideas about the world, one second you could be talking about linear equations, the next how gravity doesn’t exist. As a math teacher and an obsessed surfer dude, McWilliam’s room is decorated with posters of bears shredding waves and tessellations (art pieces derived from math). Room 43 is a projection of the amazing teacher within it. When the worlds of surfing and math collide you get Hugh McWilliams, hilariously grumpy, and by far one of the most interesting people on campus.
Quote of the Day
“There’s fools who are rad people.”
- Mr. McWilliams
Can you tell us more about your interesting outlook on life?
I was never brainwashed, unlike everybody else. Everything I’ve done has always made sense. If someone tells me to do something that doesn’t make sense I won’t do it. (Conversation ensues about how there is no such thing as gravity, sports are not real, the moon landing is not real and how “NASA is the biggest corrupt government agency in the world, dude.”) Once again I’ve never been brainwashed. I don’t believe anything that the news tells me.
Tips for people who want to become unbrainwashed
- Don’t be a fool
- Don’t listen to fools
- Don’t believe the media
- Documentation isn’t real
Where did you go to high school?
San Diego HS
What was your school’s mascot?
No idea. I don’t remember.
When did you graduate?
1996
What was your favorite novel in high school?
*Loud laughing and guffawing. I never read any of the books. What’s a good novel that makes someone sound intelligent?
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
I didn’t have any favorites they were all the same. I just wanted to surf. I pissed all my teachers off, so none of them really liked me.
What was your most challenging class and why?
It was in English because my wife (ex highschool girlfriend at the time) almost knocked me out during that class. She shoved me over some desks and the English teacher told my wife “I wish you would have knocked her out.” The teacher sucked.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
Surfing that’s it.
What was your favorite extracurricular activity?
Surfing.
Who were your favorite bands/artists/songs while in high school?
It was all punk music.
What was your favorite TV show while in high school?
I didn’t watch TV. Before phones and computers all the kids were always outside. When I wasn’t surfing I was skating around my neighborhood.
What was your favorite movie while in high school?
I didn’t watch TV.
What was your favorite memory from high school?
I really enjoyed high school but I don’t have a favorite memory. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends.
What is your least favorite memory of high school?
I have one bad memory. I was dating this one chick that was nuts, and I broke up with her but she stalked me. For two or three weeks she wouldn’t let me break up with her. She was nuts. That was probably my worst memory.
What time did school start and end?
I have no idea.
What was your GPA?
Good. close to 4.0. School always came naturally to me.
Did you receive any awards?
Nope. None of the teachers liked me.
Did you drive to school? What car?
I had a toyota truck.
Did you ever get called into the Principal’s office?
Frequently…I got in trouble because I was so bored in class, so I would decide to mess around.
