Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, has pancreatic cancer.
He gave a farewell lecture Sept. 18, 2007, to 400 people at McConomy Auditorium on the Carnegie Mellon campus.
A couple notes from the lecture:
– The inspiration and the permission to dream is huge.
– Your critics are your ones telling you they still love you and care.
– Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.
– The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out — the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. … The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't what it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people.
– Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you.
– Hip is short term. Earnest is long term.
– Brick walls let us show our dedication.
– Don't bail: The best of the gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.
– Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.
– It's not about how to achieve your dreams; it's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself — the dreams will come to you.
To watch: http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=mSrYhRi5WNI
To read: http://www.etc.cmu.edu/global_news/?q=node/42