Mike Watt and I had the same teacher. Mr. Tanaka.

Hear the words of Krist Novoselic, the keeper of rhythm in Nirvana, who once declared: “Mike Watt and I had the same teacher. Mr. Tanaka.” At first, these words appear simple, almost casual, yet beneath them lies a profound truth about the hidden threads that bind lives together. For in speaking of a teacher, he recalls not merely an instructor, but a shaper of destiny, one whose influence flowed into two souls who would help guide the currents of music in their generation.

The heart of the statement is not in the names of Krist or Mike, but in the name of Mr. Tanaka. Here we are reminded that behind every artist, behind every leader, behind every voice that stirs the world, there often stands a teacher, often unseen, who planted the seed. Mr. Tanaka’s work did not remain in the classroom—it echoed outward in the chords, lyrics, and spirits of his students. His teaching was not lost; it multiplied, passed on through those who went on to leave their own mark upon the earth.

This truth is ancient. Alexander the Great once said that he owed his life to his father, but his wisdom to Aristotle, his teacher. In those words, he acknowledged that empires may be conquered with armies, but destinies are shaped in the quiet moments of instruction. So too did Novoselic, whether knowingly or not, reveal that greatness is never solitary—it flows from a chain of learning, a lineage of wisdom stretching back through time.

The mention of Mike Watt in this story reveals another truth: that a teacher’s influence can weave invisible bonds between souls. Two musicians, two paths, yet their roots touched the same soil of instruction. It is as if they drank from the same well, and though their rivers flowed in different directions, the water bore the same clarity. Teachers, then, are not only guides of individuals, but builders of communities, connecting those who may never have met otherwise through the common inheritance of their lessons.

There is also humility in Novoselic’s words. He does not boast of Nirvana’s fame, nor claim his own genius. Instead, he honors his teacher, as if to say: I did not rise alone; the music you heard from me began in the lessons of another. In this humility is wisdom. For what student truly creates without first receiving? To acknowledge the teacher is to remember one’s roots, and to give thanks for the hands that once guided ours.

The lesson for us is clear: never forget the teachers who shaped you. Their names may not appear in the histories, their faces may fade with time, yet their influence lives on in every action you take, in every word you speak, in every creation you bring into the world. To honor them is to honor yourself, for their light shines through you. And if you are a teacher, remember this: your work may seem small, but you may be shaping futures greater than you can imagine.

Practical wisdom follows: seek out those who have taught you, and thank them. Reflect on the roots of your own gifts, and recognize where they came from. And in your own life, strive to pass on what you have learned, so that others may one day say of you, “We shared the same teacher.” For in teaching, the flame is not diminished, but multiplied, and through it the world is forever changed.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, remember the words of Krist Novoselic: he and Mike Watt shared the same teacher. So too do we all share in the lineage of those who came before us. Cherish those connections, honor those who planted the seeds, and know that in teaching and learning alike, we weave the fabric of eternity.