Randy Pausch

When I was a kid, I loved being outside and jumping rope. One day was different, I kept falling and was getting bruised and hurt. However, I stayed optimistic and went back outside. I was failing every time, but I was determined to get it right. Therefore, even though I was in a bad situation and kept getting hurt, I stayed hopeful and positive that I would get it at one point. The book titled, The Last Lecture is the story and knowledge of Randy Pausch. Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given the prognosis of only a couple months to live. He knows his kids won't have a father growing up, so he puts his parenting and life lessons into this book. The purpose was for his kids, that way they would have some kind of understanding

During Randy’s lecture, he tells his audience that since he got his cancer, he learned that the only decision you get in life is how you react to the things it throws at you. He states in his speech, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” (Pausch, 17). It is important because it shows that you have to deal with what happens to you and not just stay in denial on the bad situations, which is exactly what Randy did. That is how Randy stays positive about his cancer. He knows he can’t change what had happened, so he changes how he lives his life. In another chapter where Randy has to make decisions based on his cancer is in chapter 12, titled ‘The Park Is Open Until 8 p.m.’. Randy learns while knowing he has a couple months to live, that he is willing to do anything for his family. Pausch goes to the hospital and states, “I told doctors that I’d be willing to endure anything in their surgical arsenal, and I’d swallow anything in their medicine cabinet, because I had one objective: I wanted to be alive as long as possible for Jai and the kids.” (Pausch, 58). Randy acknowledges and realizes the main effect his terminal cancer has on him. The effect is his willingness to do anything to spend more time with the people he loves. Staying alive for as long as possible becomes his main mission in life,

Pausch knew the time he had left was short and he had to make it last. That is exactly what Randy did. He states, "Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think" (Pausch, 111). He knows how valuable his words are to some people. Some people ignore them because they think that they won't be that person and it won't happen to them. However, that's exactly the type of person who could end up realizing they have five months to live. The whole entire chapter is devoted to time, but to savor and enjoy that time is the most important. When it comes down to it, the real reason Randy wants to do the lecture and write a book is for his kids. As he says at the end of his lecture, "The talk wasn't just for those in the room. It was for my kids" (Pausch, 200). Randy knows the real reason for doing everything. Flying out of state to do a lecture on his wife's birthday and preparing a long presentations and speech. That reason was his kids. He knows as many memories they create together, they still couldn't have his knowledge and love growing up. This is why he created his book, so they could still have him in their lives, even when he's gone. He realizes his kids and wife are the reason he cherishes time, because he spends all of it with them or dedicates it all to them. While talking about his kids he claims, "I know memories of me may be fuzzy. That's why I'm trying to do