In more than an academic exercise, Professor Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon University, offers advice during his last lecture. Professor Pausch has cancer and is expected live only a few months.
He talks about his childhood dreams that he achieved, how setbacks invoke creativity, and how people's goodness will surprise you, if you wait long enough.
The lecture was recorded for his young children. The 4 minute video in the Wall Street Journal article is certainly worth watching.
If you knew you would live only a few months, what would you record for your family, friends, colleagues, students, and clientele? What advice would you give? What would you describe as important? Who would you thank?
The entire lecture can be found Randy Pausch's Last Lecture - UPDATE on ETC Global News.
2 comments:
Thank you, Anne.
I plan to do something with this in my own blog now, dealing with what's really important vs. all the really insignificant things we sometimes focus on.
Lynette, I wish I could have heard his entire lecture. I also wish I had written more about the important things in life, particularly when dealing with children.
He talks about his parents letting him paint mathematical formulas on his bedroom wall.
My 5 year old wore sweat pants everyday. My thought was if I could get by wearing sweat pants everyday, I would. As a 15 year old, he is increasing more concerned about appropriate attire but not overly so. He does not vear to the wild and dark look. He is completely comfortable creating his own look--very much middle-of-the road look. If it mattered what he wore to pre-school, then I would have changed things--but it did not (and still does not) matter.
Let kids explore their own way. Kids need to learn their own way of organizing and cleaning--don't do it for them. Give them enough freedom to learn and to create.
We need to let staff explore their own way, too.
I looking forward to your post. By the way I sent you a del.icio.us bookmark on email communications.
Take care.
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