September 20, 2007
An Inspirational Professor's Final Lecture Reflects His Life and Legacy
The final lectures professors deliver before they retire are often moving occasions, but they’re nothing compared with the last lecture this week by Randy Pausch, a computer-science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Pausch, a 46-year-old father of three, is dying of pancreatic cancer. He expects to live only a few months more. As described in a poignant article in today’s Wall Street Journal, Mr. Pausch gave his audience a “rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.” He also exhibited a mordant humor. “I’ve experienced a deathbed conversion,” he said with a smile. “I just bought a Macintosh.”
Mr. Pausch has long been a playful and inspiring figure on the Carnegie Mellon campus. He is someone who grew up wanting to design rides for Disney World, and he ended up doing exactly that in the mid-1990s, when he worked for the company’s “Imagineering” group during a sabbatical. When a Chronicle reporter visited him several years ago for an article, his office was full of toys, and he stayed long after the official interview was over, to demonstrate his favorite digital creations.
He is best known in the IT world for designing a free software system, Alice, that makes it easy for people to design interactive stories and games. Last year he persuaded executives at the video-game company Electronic Arts to let the Alice software use characters from a best-selling game, The Sims.
In 2004 he co-wrote an opinion piece in The Chronicle Review that argued for the use of video games — and a playful approach — in teaching. “Within the next 10 years we believe that the technologies and content developed at our center will allow professors to rethink the entire process of education, just as the introduction of the mass-produced textbook changed how earlier academics developed and presented information.” He has worked to make that vision a reality.
During his lecture this week, an excerpt of which is available online, he showed pictures of his childhood bedroom, which he decorated with equations and creative scrawlings, and said: “If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let ‘em do it.” —Jeffrey R. Young and Andrew Mytelka
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There’s a link of Professor Pausch’s full lecture here http://cmu.edu/uls/journeys/ — just click on the Sept. 18, Randy Pausch link.
— Jay Brown Sep 21, 07:01 AM #
Wow. This guy’s enthusiasm for learning is why I got into this racket.
— James G Carroll Sep 21, 10:28 AM #
Dear Dr. Pausch: I viewed your story on ABC News this evening, and found you to be wise and inspiring. Although nominally not Catholic, I find this prayer to St. Joseph to be of help in difficult times. I hope you will too. “..O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Jospeh, do assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spirituall blessings through Jesus Christ our Lord; so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thy arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joeseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us, Amen.
This prayer dates back to 50 AD. Prayer cards carrying it state that those who reait, carry it, or hear will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them, nor shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, burned by fire or overpowered in battle. A you are someone who could use a miracle now, I send this with all my best intentions. Godspeed, Professor.— Deborah Earle Sep 21, 10:49 PM #
Please allow me to selfishly say Thank you. I was worried, anxious and very unclear as to a path my life would take….then I read about you and saw your lecture.
All I can say is Thank you!
No other words because I know of none that could keep you here…..if I did, I would magically use them.
Thank you!
Hope
— Hope Sep 22, 11:17 PM #
I was Randy’s colleague for several years at U.Va. Although I did not get to know him well personally, I enjoyed his “time management” talk for young faculty, one of the topics for which he is well-known outside of his own discipline. I am sorry to see you become justly famous again, Randy, this time for an unjust reason. I still hope and pray for a miracle for you, but failing that, for the best several months you could possibly have with your family and friends. Most people do not accomplish what you have in twice the time. Your children will feel your presence often.
— Liz Scarlett Sep 23, 04:02 PM #
thank you for your inspiring courage and God bless and sustain you and your family.
— alice maclean Sep 24, 07:07 PM #
I would like to hear/see/read the ‘time management’ talk mentioned here. Does anyone have video/transcript from this talk he used to give?
— Vancouver, Canada Sep 27, 03:14 AM #
I ‘ve got good news for you! I know someone who dearly wants to keep you alive. He is the greatest Doctor, the Master of life. His name is Jesus. Matthew 19: 26 says: “for mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible”. I am certain that God wants to grorify his name in your situation that seems impossible. I am praying earnestly about it. But to receive your healing, you will have to believe it with all your heart. You are not going to die unless you accept it. Faith in Jesus is the altimate answer.
Receive your healing now in the Powerful name of JESUS CHRIST! AMEN!
— Pawendtare Kombassere Sep 29, 12:16 PM #