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Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor, human computer interaction and design,  co-founded Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center and was the creator of the Alice interactive computing program, who died on July 25, 2008(age of 47) at his home in Virginia, was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer.

Randy Pausch was included in TIME Magazine’s 2008 list of the world’s 100 most influential people.

His book, “The Last Lecture,” co-written by Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal and based on Pausch’s now-famous talk “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” is a New York Times #1 bestseller.

His last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.”, part of a series at Carnegie Mellon University, was delivered in September 18, 2007 and viewed by over six millions on the Internet.

The “last lecture” is a type of presentation professors give from a viewpoint as if it is the last lecture they could ever give. What would they say? what would you say?

It talk about talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

What a Moving Presentation and it is Very Inspiring!

Immediately the lecture he gave became a top viral video sensation known as the last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” and become a World phenomenon.

The “Last Lecture”

I am flattered and embarrassed by all the recent attention to my “Last Lecture.” I am told that, including abridged versions, over six million people have viewed the lecture online.

The lecture really was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful.

But rest assured; I’m hardly unique.

Send your kids to Carnegie Mellon and the other professors here will teach them valuable life lessons long after I’m gone. — Randy

The lecture include slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and he believed he had less than six months to live.

On the stage that day, Randy was  energetic, youthful and handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed to be invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

At the introduction, Pausch  joked with the audience. “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand,” he said. “If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.”

Lessons from The Last Lecture

• Don’t get upset when people are criticizing you.  When you are screwing up and no one is saying anything to you, it means that everyone has given up on you.

• Brick walls are there to give us a chance to show us how badly we want something.  The brick walls are there to stop people who don’t want it badly enough.

• It’s very important to know when you are in a pissing match and to get out quickly.

• Decide if you are a Tigger or an Eyore.

• Loyalty is a two-way street.

• Don’t complain.  Jackie Robinson signed a contract that said he wasn’t allowed to complain, even when people spit on him.

• Have something to bring to the table.

• Do something young enough and train for it, then it becomes a part of you.  This includes success.

• Wait long enough, sometimes a very long time, and people will surprise and impress you.

• Be of service to others.

Randy Pausch Inspires Graduates

On March 13, 2008, Dr. Randy Pausch provided testimony to the Labor, Health & Human Services Subcommittee on behalf of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. This is his personal story about his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and his fight to survive.