Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is the last bit of wisdom that the engineer Pausch wants to leave for the world to see. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and sometimes professors would give "last lectures" and talk about what kind of wisdom they would impart upon the world if it was their last day. When Randy, father of three and faithful husband, learned he had terminal cancer, he decided he would do a real last lecture. He actually knows that his days are numbered and it makes the Last Lecture all the more intruiging. He starts with talking about childhood dreams. As a kid he said he always had very specific things he wanted to accomplish before he died. He accomplished all of the things on his list and he wanted to tell the world that people should really try to achieve their childhood dreams, because they make life all the more wonderful. He then talks a little about his life, and how living as a staunch optimist really helped him through the years. A good piece of advice he gives is that obstacles are only put in our way so we can show how much we want it. the book goes into a section about how it is as important to help others achieve their childhood dreams as is it to achieve your own, and little will feel as good. He later discusses all these tactics for living your life to the fullest and getting what you want from it. At the end he reveals that the reason he gave this lecture and went so in detail about his life was to give his kids a decent understanding of him after he passes away.
1. If you knew you only had a few months to live, what would you do?
2.What do you feel is more important, achieve your own dreams or helping others do the same?

27 comments:

Sarah N. 7-8 said...

1. I think that if I knew I only had a few months to live I would live parts of my life differently. I would try and achieve some of my long time goals, and see everyone that is important to me.

2. I think that both are important. I think that helping others achieve their dreams would give you satisfaction, because it is better to help others than solely focus on yourself. However, I think at the same time it is important to still try and make yourself happy, by reaching your own dreams to.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

1). If I only had a short time to live, I would spend it with the people who are important to me, and try and visit places I've always wished to go. I would also take chances and not be as reserved. I would live my life to the fullest in other words.

Madi Y 7-8 said...

If I only had a short time to live, I believe I would spend all my time with my friends and family. Life is not all about the things you do or don't do. It's about the people that share those memories with you.

Jacob C. 1-2 said...

1. I would probably live my life normally until the end.

2. I think it's important for someone to focus on their own dreams and work towards achieving them before helping others.

Nathan S. 7-8 said...

1) I'd stop coming to school and immediately make a bucket list. Most likely, this bucket list would do me in faster than my sickness ever could.

jessica b 1/2 said...

1. If I knew I only had a few months to live, I would quit school and spend time with my family and friends and do everything I've always wanted to do.

jessica b 1/2 said...

2. I feel it is more important to help another achieve their dreams because one always recieves more satisfaction more helping others.

Hannah K. 1-2 said...

1. I would probably focus on doing things I've always wanted to do, and spending time with the people I love.
2. I think that both are equally important. Helping others can bring satisfaction, and everyone should do that. However, sometimes you need to focus on yourself and make yourself happy.

Josie D 7/8 said...

1. I would do stuff I have never done. I would hope to be able to do stuff I had always wanted to do. I would also try to change any mistakes I've made and go out on a high note. Life would literally be short, so might as well make amends.

Ashlyn W. 7-8 said...

2.) I feel it is important to achieve your own dreams and also help others achieve their dreams. A person shouldn't be selfish and only want to achieve their own dreams. People should strive to achieve their own dreams while also helping others try and reach theirs.

Megan M 1-2 said...

1. I would do whatever I wanted to do, without hesitating at all. I would travel, go skydiving, and do whatever I wanted because I would only have a little time to live anyway.

Kyle N.1-2 said...

1. If I only had a few months to live, I'd probably try to help others as much as I could when I'm alive. Why do things for myself when I won't be around much longer?

2. Helping others is way more important than helping yourself, at least that's the way I feel.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

1. If I knew I only had a short time to live, I would live life to the fullest. I would spend time with my family and friends and do risky things I usually wouldn't do.
2. I think they're both equally important. You can't achieve your own dreams without the help of others, so why not help others with their own dreams.

Laura P 7-8 said...

1.) I think if I only had a few months to live I would probably do a lot of things I probably wouldn't do otherwise.

Spencer P. 1-2 said...

1. Honestly I would break stuff. I would do all the things that I would not have to face to consequences for.
2.I think before you can help others, you have to help yourself. Unless to help yourself you have to help others.

Monica J. 1-2 said...

1. I would chance my life significantly for i would surround myself with people i truly love and not care abobut a lot of stupid things but have fun with loved ones.
2.Its is prabaly more important to help others to achice there goals for it'll give you self accompilishment too.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I would do things that I've always wanted to do (like skydiving!) and surround myself with the people I love. However, I would also try to help others as much as I can. Like Kyle said, why do things for myself when I'm about to die?

2. Again, I would help others achieve their own dreams. Helping others is more important.

Lindsay S. 7-8 said...

If I knew I only had a short amount of time I would live it up. I would live the last few weeks of my life to the fullest sharing time with the people who matter the most to me.

Leah K. 7-8 said...

1. I would travel to somewhere I've always wanted to go. I would probably go with my family to make it enjoyable and also spend my last days with them.
2. I think that it is important to do both things. You can't always think about yourself and do what you want but you also can't always put others before you and do what you want to do first.

Heather B. 1-2 said...

1.) I would try to spend as much time as possible with my family because I would be scared of imminent death without them.

2.) I think they are both equally important, however by helping others achieve their dreams it might be possible to accomplish both.

Kaitlyn K 7-8 said...

1) If I only had a few months to live I would want to spend time with my family and try to achieve the goals that I have set for my life in the time I have left.
2) I would have to say that they are both equally important but when it comes to your future you should try to put yourself first.

Sevgim A.1-2 said...

2. I would focus on my dreams first before helping someone with theirs because I will have more experience in achieving a dream and that could come in handy when trying to help someone with their dream.

Garret Edward Patrick Graehling 1/2 said...

I would go nuts and try everything. And if I was dying I would help myself even though I should help others

Garret Edward Patrick Graehling 1/2 said...

I would go nuts and try everything. And if I was dying I would help myself even though I should help others

Sarah H 1-2 said...

If I knew only had a few months to live, I would spend it with the ones I love the most. I would get myself on good terms with everyone so that I was happy and then I would travel with my loved ones and go places and do things that I have always wanted.

AnaleeL7-8 said...

1) If I knew I only had a few months to live I would spend all my time with family and love ones. I would also try to mend any poor relationships.

Hannah J. 7-8 said...

1. I would spend as much time as i could with friends and family, or separate myself and do my bucket list.
2. helping others do the same.