Blog Post 10

The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science and human computer-interactions and designs at Carneige Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In September of 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreas cancer. Almost a year later, he received news that his cancer has become terminal. Pausch decided that he want to be an inspiration to others. He gave a lecture that was so inspiration; it captivated the hearts of many and became an internet sensation on YouTube. The title of Pausch’s lecture is called “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Childhood Dreams" (wiki)

In his last lecture, Pausch explained how people could achieve their dreams and enables the dreams of others. He explained as a child he had a big imagination. Some of his experiences taught him something important about life. One of Pausch’s dreams was to become a NFL football player. When he was a child, he went out for the football team. He had a coach that never got off his case about the mistakes he had made. One of the coaches pulled Pausch’s aside and explained to him that “When you screw up and no one say anything anymore, that means they stop caring” (Pausch). That was something that Pausch made a part of him.

Pausch mentioned that situations occur to try to stop people from achieving their dreams. He referred to those situations as “brick walls”. Brick walls have two purposes: (1) To keep people who really don’t want it out and (2) so that people can prove how badly they want it. Some brick walls are even made of flesh. However, that shouldn’t stop anyone from working hard for what they want to accomplish.

Pausch also explained how he enables the dreams of others. Before stepping down from his position at Carneige Mellon University, he began a course that allowed students from different departments experience the virtual world. Pausch assigned projects, which lasted for two weeks. He randomly put students in a group of four and allowed them to explore and be creative. Teachers and students from all over campus came to see the students finishing products. All of Pausch’s students got to see the excitement from other teachers and students around the university.

Randy Pausch was very inspirational. Sometimes, you have to continue to dream the wildest dreams in order for them to come true. In addition, the video made me think about the things I have accomplished and want to accomplish. It made me think about if I had only a little time here what I would do to make a difference in someone’s life. Pausch has proved that it doesn’t matter about the situation; it’s about what you accomplished and what you can do for others.