Last fall, I joined millions of people in watching “The Last Lecture,” delivered by Professor Randy Pausch of Carneige Mellon University. Staring down a death sentence, Dr. Pausch did something he had been doing for years in the classroom: He educated the audience. Randy said there are little victories in our lives, and big ones, too. He talked in earnest about fulfilling one’s dreams, of the power of imagination and our ability to strive for the best while looking to the future. At the end of his discussion, he told the audience the talk was really meant for his three small children. The audience didn’t seem to mind.
This teaching moment, delivered before friends, family and colleagues, became an internet smash. I showed it to students last fall for the first time and their overall reaction was amazement over the fact that Professor Pausch didn’t act like someone near the end of the plank.
Today, we got to hear from Jeff Zaslow, “Wall Street Journal” columnist and driving wheel for the book form of Professor Pausch’s last lecture. Zaslow, father of three, said Randy often told him to get off the internet and hug his kids. Pausch called Zaslow while riding his bike in order to offer up content for the book. It’s a companion piece to works like “When Good Things Happen to Bad People” and “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Professor Pausch could have offered profound advice to our politicos. “Tell the Truth” is the title of one chapter, and Pausch was quick to follow it up with “all the time.”
I feel for Dr. Pausch’s widow and their children. Life without Dad is something I know fairly well. For the past nine years, I couldn’t pick up the phone and ask my Dad to fix something, solve something or find someone who could. You grow up really fast, even when you’re an adult, when a parent dies.
I also think back to some of the lessons my father taught me. “Things happen for a reason” was particularly reassuring when I struggled with my career during my Dad’s life. I was rejected for many jobs I sought, and his words were pretty prophetic. Maybe if I had gotten one of them, I never would have the one I like.
“Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it’s due” was another one of his favorites. He was right, but didn’t follow this one very well himself.
Besides the sayings, there was the doing. My father was a huge fan of problem solving, although expediency was not always part of the plan.
Then, there was the work ethic that had him tending bar at night and teaching school by day in order to make a go of things.
I was sad to hear Randy Pausch passed away in July. I feel terrible for his wife and those adorable little children. I am glad he left them a written road map to their future and a video companion that will make them aware of how their dad showed others the path.
Corbett
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