'I have no superpowers or cape': the professor whose students each gave him a tie for his birthday

On Wednesday 7 October, in his class at Western Kentucky University (WKU), professor John Yakel was celebrating his birthday. His students knew he loves ties, so one by one they walked up to hand him theirs. There were socks and cards too.

One of his students, Seanna Whitten, filmed it and posted it on TikTok. His reaction, laughing and visibly moved, has travelled the world: the video has more than 30 million views across Instagram and TikTok.

‘I didn’t feel I did anything to deserve such honor’

We wrote to wish him a happy birthday and to ask how it felt. This is what he told us:

“My reaction was one of great surprise because I didn’t feel I did anything to deserve such honor and praise.”

“I simply try to live my faith by being a blessing to others in whatever form that may take. That’s all. If someone wants to tell their story I stop what I am doing and listen… for as long as it takes. Who doesn’t want to tell their story? Especially to a listening ear.”

Listening before correcting

Yakel says he does the same when he helps his students with their work: he makes improvements and corrections, but the conversation often turns to what is going on in their lives. A break-up, a stolen wallet, a flat tyre and no money for new ones, missing their family while away at school.

“I just listen and encourage them, and tell them it will get better, and that they are never alone. Most of the time I can see their confidence start to return.”

His approach to teaching fits in one sentence, the same one he gave NBC News:

“My only teaching philosophy is I treat my students like they are already successful, then I help them become success. That’s all. I have no superpowers or cape.”

Quotes are John Yakel’s own words to Happy News of the Day. The video is shown with the permission of its creator, Seanna Whitten.