Inspiration: Terminally Ill Professor Faces Death Without Fear

September 21st, 2007 by John Wesley Print This Post

“If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.”

That was the opening line from Professor Randy Pausch’s final lecture to the student’s at Carnegie Mellon University. Despite suffering from pancreatic cancer and having only a few months to live, Paush is in the best shape of his life. He even dropped to the stage to do a set of push ups, challenging students to do the same before pitying him.

Refusing to discuss his illness, Paush spoke about fulfilling childhood dreams and the lessons he’s learned over the course of his life. He also said that he hopes his wife remarries. See here for the Post-Gazette coverage or watch the video embedded below. (image)

Update: Check out the full lecture videos on YouTube (thanks Marty). Very funny as well as inspiring.

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9 Comments

1. Marty (Reply)

   I can’t believe I’m the first person to comment but he seems very inpiring I need to see more.

2. Phaedon (Reply)

   I have nothing but admiration!

3. Marty (Reply)

   I have researched him a bit more if you put his name in you tube you can get the full lecture. I’m up to part 4 so far and it is very interesting. So far each part is just under 10 mins long but worth the watching.

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   […] Wesley at Pick the Brain posted Inspiration: Terminally Ill Professor Faces Death Without Fear, a summary of the final lecture of a professor with a few week to live with a You Tube video […]

5. Phoenix Rose (Reply)

   I admire him for speaking about himself as I know the way of death and you must look back at your life and what you have done not forward and what you will loose. Life Not Death! Bless You!

6. John Wesley (Reply)

   Marty,

   Thanks for digging deeper. I’ll have to check out YouTube myself. Just from the brief clips in that video he seems like a great speaker.

7. Marty (Reply)

   He is, really funny aswell. Well worth the watch. Once I started I couldn’t stop watching.

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