Sept. 28, 2007
A Dying Professor's Words To Live By
Last Lecture Is A Lesson In Living
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Play CBS Video Video Last Lecture A computer science professor with pancreatic cancer's last lesson to students inspires a wider audience with words to live by. Steve Hartman reports.
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For most professors giving a last lecture is nothing more than a gimmick, but for Dr. Randy Pausch, it was all too literal. (CBS)
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Blog The "Last Lecture" Steve Hartman blogs on one professor's enduring legacy
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Photo Essay Assignment America Steve Hartman On Assignment. More Photos
Randy Pausch, 46, is a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University -- a nerd from the get-go.
His mom, Virginia, says in Randy's room, Farrah Fawcett posters were shunned in favor of the fuller-figured quadratic formula. Every wall shows what a bright, quirky mind he had. Later, her son became one of the nation's foremost authorities on virtual reality.
"It's beyond me,” Virginia says, “I’m an English major."
Obviously, this last lecture had nothing to do with virtual reality. His last lecture included singing Happy Birthday to his wife and showing pictures of his kids. In fact, his last lecture was just that.
"After I got my Ph.D, my mother took great relish in introducing me as, 'He's a doctor, but not the kind that helps people.'"
"There’s been a tradition for years and years around college campuses of the last lecture," Randy explains. "If you had one last lecture to give before you died, what would you tell your students?"
For most professors it's nothing more than a gimmick, but for Dr. Randy Pausch, the title "last lecture" was all too literal.To watch Randy Pausch's speech, click here
Just over a year ago, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And, although it is spreading, it has yet to reach his sense of humor.
"But let me be clear,” says Randy. “I'm not happy about what's going to happen. Leaving three little kids... that stinks.”
"I will tell you I experienced a deathbed conversion ... I just bought a Macintosh ... I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun and I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there's no other way to play it.”
Randy says it’s a 50/50 chance that he will be here for Christmas. And of Father's Day he says, “I wouldn't buy me anything.”
Since Randy gave this talk a couple weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded it off the Internet.
"If you lead your life the right way, the Karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you. And anybody who is out there who's a parent - if your kids want to paint the bedroom - as a favor to me, let them do it. It will be OK. Don't worry about the resale value of the house."
"I think there's going to be a whole new generation of kids who are allowed to paint on their bedroom walls," he joked of the response to the speech.
He's also had dozens of media inquiries.
“Why do we all want to hear from you now that we don't have much time to hear from you?” Hartman asked.
“It's sort of like the Disney movies that only come out once every seven years: scarcity creates value,” says Randy. “It really is quite interesting: A year-and-a-half ago, I could have given that same speech. There are two things that were different. One, I wouldn't have had the moral authority to speak on how to lead your life. And two, I wouldn't have given myself the permission to say it."
The irony is, although thousands have seen the speech, it was written for just three. Randy hopes Dylan, Logan and Chloe will watch this someday and know their dad just a little bit more.
"Do you have to go?" asks Hartman.
"Man, I don't like having to go," he says. "I don't want to go. I like living."
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Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
- ice Guy, but if he''''s not a Christian it was all a waste. Get right with God, there are tons of "nice" people in HELL.
Posted by sblake63 at 08:02 PM : Sep 28, 2007
Not again man, get a life, who are you the God police? - Reply to this comment
- Posted by whispyseas at 02:58 PM : Sep 29, 2007
Man, do you ever get out? get out of that room NOW - Reply to this comment
- Nice Guy, but if he''''''''s not a Christian it was all a waste. Get right with God, there are tons of "nice" people in HELL.
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Poste
d by sblake63 at 08:02 PM : Sep 28, 200
Man, you are hopeless. St. Peter is at the golden gate and I think he is going to make you wait. - Reply to this comment
- epicureanism, hedonism? sexual taboos have been
in the society of **** sapiens for eons.
fun, fun, fun till daddy takes the electricity away.
its the last day of the rest of your life.
live each day like its your last. obey the taboos.
you might live longer that way. and be kind to
each other. for we will not pass this way again.
world peace isn''t a bad goal. - Reply to this comment
- Nice Guy, but if he''''s not a Christian it was all a waste. Get right with God, there are tons of "nice" people in HELL.
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Posted by sblake63 at 08:02 PM : Sep 28, 2007
I''d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun . . .
sblake63, can''t tell you how glad I am to know you''re going to heaven -- you''d be a real downer in hell, always telling the rest of us to stop having fun -- LOL! - Reply to this comment
- Blessed irreverence - what a beautiful mind!
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- hmmmmmmm i would just like to add my comments to the so called christians that are doing so well in commending others on this blog... doesnt the Bible say Judge not least you be judged? why dont you all think about that for a minute before you all just handing down judgements to everyone?...
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- Thank you Randy for shinging some wonderful laughter in the news that is usually filled w/nothing but war and politics.You made me smile and cry. Please keep your wonderful laughter and sense of humor..and CBS thank you for bringing America such a wonderful story ...it was such a nice change from the war and other terrible things that are going on in our world. Randy, just know that I, like im sure, a million other American who saw your story will be praying for you and your wonderful family... just keep laughing. And just to let you know I will be thinking of you at Christmas and Fathers Day.Thank your for your "Last Lecture".
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- Hi Randy, I just want to tell you that many peopel with cancer live for many years, and I hope your with your family for many fathersd ays to come.
Your such a great guy with such a beautiful family, when i saw your story i cried all night and prayed for you, it was heartbreaking but have faith in the lord and he can heal all your diseases..
also remember that god never gives us more than we can bear.... if you do pass away he will give yoru family strength to go on and will take care of them, please pray alot and ask god to perform a miracle!
he is a miraculous God..he saved my life and he can save yours! GOD BLESS YOU RANDY! - Reply to this comment
- Oleander8 Right On and well said and concise very good. Nice to see others who understand that Organized Religion and their doctrines are full of crapola. I left Organized religion over 25 years ago. I did not leave God or Jesus Just the Man made clubs who divide us from one another in the Lords Name.
God Bless you. - Reply to this comment
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