Posted on 09/21/2007 8:34:53 PM PDT by Salvation
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Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, was about to give a lecture Tuesday afternoon, but before he said a word, he received a standing ovation from 400 students and colleagues.
He motioned to them to sit down. "Make me earn it," he said.
What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, the question isn't rhetorical -- he's dying of cancer. Jeff Zaslow narrates a video on Prof. Pausch's final lecture.
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They had come to see him give what was billed as his "last lecture." This is a common title for talks on college campuses today. Schools such as Stanford and the University of Alabama have mounted "Last Lecture Series," in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and to give hypothetical final talks. For the audience, the question to be mulled is this: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance?
It can be an intriguing hour, watching healthy professors consider their demise and ruminate over subjects dear to them. At the University of Northern Iowa, instructor Penny O'Connor recently titled her lecture "Get Over Yourself." At Cornell, Ellis Hanson, who teaches a course titled "Desire," spoke about sex and technology.
At Carnegie Mellon, however, Dr. Pausch's speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.
He began by showing his CT scans, revealing 10 tumors on his liver. But after that, he talked about living. If anyone expected him to be morose, he said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you." He then dropped to the floor and did one-handed pushups.
Randy Pausch and his three children, ages 5, 2 and 1. |
Clicking through photos of himself as a boy, he talked about his childhood dreams: to win giant stuffed animals at carnivals, to walk in zero gravity, to design Disney rides, to write a World Book entry. By adulthood, he had achieved each goal. As proof, he had students carry out all the huge stuffed animals he'd won in his life, which he gave to audience members. After all, he doesn't need them anymore.
He paid tribute to his techie background. "I've experienced a deathbed conversion," he said, smiling. "I just bought a Macintosh." Flashing his rejection letters on the screen, he talked about setbacks in his career, repeating: "Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things." He encouraged us to be patient with others. "Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you." After showing photos of his childhood bedroom, decorated with mathematical notations he'd drawn on the walls, he said: "If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let 'em do it."
While displaying photos of his bosses and students over the years, he said that helping others fulfill their dreams is even more fun than achieving your own. He talked of requiring his students to create videogames without sex and violence. "You'd be surprised how many 19-year-old boys run out of ideas when you take those possibilities away," he said, but they all rose to the challenge.
He also saluted his parents, who let him make his childhood bedroom his domain, even if his wall etchings hurt the home's resale value. He knew his mom was proud of him when he got his Ph.D, he said, despite how she'd introduce him: "This is my son. He's a doctor, but not the kind who helps people."
He then spoke about his legacy. Considered one of the nation's foremost teachers of videogame and virtual-reality technology, he helped develop "Alice," a Carnegie Mellon software project that allows people to easily create 3-D animations. It had one million downloads in the past year, and usage is expected to soar.
"Like Moses, I get to see the Promised Land, but I don't get to step foot in it," Dr. Pausch said. "That's OK. I will live on in Alice."
Many people have given last speeches without realizing it. The day before he was killed, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke prophetically: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place." He talked of how he had seen the Promised Land, even though "I may not get there with you."
Dr. Pausch's lecture, in the same way, became a call to his colleagues and students to go on without him and do great things. But he was also addressing those closer to his heart.
Near the end of his talk, he had a cake brought out for his wife, whose birthday was the day before. As she cried and they embraced on stage, the audience sang "Happy Birthday," many wiping away their own tears.
Dr. Pausch's speech was taped so his children, ages 5, 2 and 1, can watch it when they're older. His last words in his last lecture were simple: "This was for my kids." Then those of us in the audience rose for one last standing ovation.
Write to Jeffrey Zaslow at jeffrey.zaslow@wsj.com
Link to the video at the source.
That author line should say Jeff Zaslow. Hate those little typos. LOL!
Could you please fix it?
Thanks in advance.
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Lucky and wise people go out early, it’s us unlucky schlemiels that live forever!
Speak for yourself. LOL! I figure God has given me more years to make up for all the ones in which I neglected him.
What a legacy he’s left for his students, peers, and family.
And for children 5 and 2! Brings a lump to my throat.
And for children 5, 2 and 1! Brings a lump to my throat.
Salvation, you’re laughing, and I’m serious. My reaction to this guy was “easy for him to say, lucky guy!” Well, he’s dying, he’s not lucky now, is he. But I’ve been facing brick walls and waiting for people, this year especially, and they (the people) did surprise me and did impress me all in a bad way, Salvation. It’s all easy to say, even when you’re dying.
My apologies. I thought you were half-way joking.
A prayer for you because it sounds as though you have experienced a lot of difficulty during this last year.
Someone told me once, “Out of every adversity comes an equal or greater opportunity.” Don’t know who to credit with the quote.
But when my husband died, that saying and the Serenity Prayer helped me to live five minutes at a time some days. (Had five children, 10-19) when he died.
So maybe I have lived on the other side of your difficult year.
You can click my name to read some of my story.
A very inspiring story!!
**A very inspiring story!!**
Yes!
save
That’s what my Father died of, so I am very familiar with it. Pausch is a shining example to others.
A troop who served under my son was recently killed in Afghanistan. Not from enemy action but an accident involving a vehicle. Its always dangerous work, even when one is far from a combat zone. He left a wife and six children, ages 2 to about 15. I ask you to pray for Sgt. Miller and Anne his wifve and his children. Had a mass said for them today. You above all will understand all this. So I ask your prayers, knowing that they come from a place in your heart that has been broken and healed. Amen.
Indeed, broken and healed. Thanks be to God Almighty.
May the Lord reach down and watch over Sargeant Miller’s wife and children. Help her to deal with this at the present, dear Jesus, and give her the grace to accept your will in the future.
Lord, grant me the serentity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen
Amen. A prayer for all of us.
I always though it was “The more you complain the longer God lets you live”. At least it seems that way.....
Ping!
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