Randy Pausch and the Last Lecture

"Give yourself permission to dream. Fuel your kids' dreams too. Once in a while, that might even mean letting them stay up past their bedtimes."
                                                  — Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)

Part of my role as a teacher mentor is providing inspiration and motivation for the students entrusted to my care.

Each year I show the sophomores in my Chemistry class "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.

On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

http://www.thelastlecture.com/

This hour and sixteen minutes about the value of living life to the fullest from a guy who is dying does more for my students than I ever could. Randy Pausch's message to his children by way of "The Last Lecture" includes such a wide variety of speaking points for both students and teachers to find inspiration.

Following Your Childhood Dreams

The Importance of Education

Becoming Your Own Self Advocate

Overcoming the Brick Walls

Helping Others to Succeed

Raise the Bar by Not Setting One

These are just some of the most common discussion points my students tend to focus on.  Each time I view the video, I find something new to inspire both my students and myself.

"The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
                                          — Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)

P.S.  I have recieved over a dozen copies of the book as gifts from students in the last three years.

   

"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. "
                                       — Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)



Ready Made Values

When I need to introduce a topic on values, or would like to focus on the development of  a character trait of my students, I visit Values.com from the Foundation for a Better Life. We have all seen the Pass It On billboards located along the freeways or in our neighborhoods.

The Randy Pausch billboard above is one of my favorites, but that is for another blog, another time.

Values.com, provides, video clips, poster downloads, inspirational stories and slew of other motivational information to introduce, begin, continue expand any type of values discussion I would like to incorporate into my classroom.

I have created a PowerPoint in the movie below, that I use periodically as students enter the room or while they are working on an assignment in class. (You are not the only teacher in the room.)  I will close the PowerPoint and pose the following question to my class, "Which slide caught your attention and why?"  The possibilities for class discussion about values and character development are tremendous.