Sep 21 2007
Professor Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
What would you say in your “last lecture”?
Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university on September 18, 2007. In his moving talk, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.
Randy, a professor of computer science, human computer interaction and design, is a co-founder of Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center and the creator of the Alice interactive computing program, which is being used by students worldwide.
Randy is still very upbeat and relatively healthy - which he demonstrated by doing several push-ups on stage. His talk focused on the following topics:
- My childhood dreams
- Enabling the dreams of others
- How you can achieve your dreams or enable others the dreams of others
Randy’s lecture is a true inspiration and worth watching. It will also make you think about you would say in your ‘last lecture’ too.
If you’re pressed for time, you should definitely read Jeff Zaslow’s article in the Wall Street Journal and watch the 4-minute video excerpt of the lecture below. If you have more time, the entire lecture is also provided available below courtesy of Google Video.
The 4-minute excerpt of the Randy Pausch’s last lecture from the Wall Street Journal website:
The entire 1 hour 45 minute lecture from Google Video is below:
[this blog was originally posted to the Catalyze Current Wisdom blog on September 21, 2007]
Professor Pausch:
I found your last lecture to be extremely inspirational and moving. Your children will definitely be proud of you when they hear how you lived your life and the way you look at living. Thank you for sharing this with all of the public. You will continue to help others with your wonderful outlook.
My father had pancreatic cancer and passed January 2001. He was also a wonderful man and a super father.
Thank you and Bless you and your family. You will all be in my prayers and thoughts.
Sincerely,
Ruth Kitterman