The Last Lecture

Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," sh... (more)

Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," shortly after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying. (less)

The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has lear... (more)

The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family. (less)

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." -- Randy Pausch. A lot of professors give talks ti... (more)

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." -- Randy Pausch. A lot of professors give talks titled "The last lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave -- "Really achieving your childhood dreams" -- wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have ... and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. (less)

"A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." While they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same que... (more)

"A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." While they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment. It was about living"--Container. (less)