A Professor's Last Lecture

[Daniel E.]

Dr. Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, doesn't have mental illness, but he is dying of pancreatic cancer.

The video of his last lecture is inspiring a lot of people:

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.

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.

excerpted from The Professor's Manifesto:What It Meant to Readers

A recent interview article:
ABC News: Dying Professor Answers Questions

To see the entire lecture video:
Randy Pausch's Home Page

A transcript of the lecture:
ABC News: Professor's Full Lecture: Part 1

 

[Into The Light]

i always wonder how some people are able to be positive like this professor when they know they are dying.

 

[Cat Dancer]

I wonder too, ladybug. That's really quite amazing.

 

[sunset]

What an inspiration!! GOD bless him.