edithrouth: Wyclef Serenades His Teacher, On 'When I Was 17'

Monday, September 26, 2011

Wyclef Serenades His Teacher, On 'When I Was 17'

Former Fugees singer recalls trying to get out of summer school on the latest episode, airing Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/PT on MTV.
By Dionne Buxton

Wyclef Jean on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV

Before Wyclef Jean began his quest to conquer hunger in Haiti, he had to get past his first obstacle: Mrs. Serrato.

On this week's episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/PT on MTV, Wyclef speaks candidly about the trials he had to overcome to shape him into the multifaceted man he is today. Graduation time had arrived and Wyclef was ready to get fitted for his gown when his high school guidance counselor told him he was wasting his time.

"So I'm going to get sized up, and they're like, 'Well, it's not necessary for you to get sized up, because there's one class you have to finish in summer school,' " he recalled. "I'm like, 'What?' "

He soon found out that he had earned an F in Algebra 2, and in order for him to walk with his classmates, his teacher had to change his grade. So Wyclef — being the out-of-the-box thinker he is — decided an apple wasn't enough to win his teach over: He had to do what he does best to persuade Mrs. Serrato to give him a better grade.

"At 17, there's a certain confidence that you have," Wyclef said. "So I was like, 'If I sing a song for this woman, she's gonna melt and I'm gonna get a D and I'mma pass the course.' "

Wyclef grabbed his guitar and waltzed into his math class with an original song. "I was like, 'I just wrote a song for you and I would just like to share it with you.' "

Did Wyclef's swoon tactic work? Find out when the former Fugees member appears on Saturday's "When I Was 17."

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Wyclef Jean and "Awkward" star Ashley Rickards — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Related Videos