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Matthew Otterbein

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The Last Lecture

by Randy Pausch

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Matthew Otterbein said: " CHECKPOINT #1:
The novel The Last Lecture is about a college professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The beginning of the novel explains how he has recently found out that he had only months to live due to the cancerous tumors in his liver. During th CHECKPOINT #1:
The novel The Last Lecture is about a college professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The beginning of the novel explains how he has recently found out that he had only months to live due to the cancerous tumors in his liver. During these months he must present a "Last Lecture" on his life and what he has learned through it. Randy Pausch is the main character and he is a man whom I would love to be friends with. He knows how to live it. Due to his children he has made sure that they are having the most fun they can have together in the months he has to live. He has 3 children and a wife and he doesn't loom on the fact that he is going to die in the near future. He makes sure that his family will be fully prepared for his departure even by moving from his hometown of Pittsburgh to Virgina so that Jai(his wife) can be close to her family.

During his journey and lecture he realizes the importance of living your dreams. Randy wanted to be an imagineer at Disney World and he ended up apply for a job. He was originally denied the job but he pull some strings and was able to get a job as a virtual simulation engineer. He made sure that before he died he would fulfill all of his childhood dreams. This enlightened me to start thinking about my childhood dreams on was to be able to cut the lawn by myself and because of this novel I have been able to even though it sounds corny I also believe that it is important to fulfill childhood dreams. He also enlightens me to realize the importance of living life to the fullest because you never know when it will be your last. Make sure you let your love ones know that you love them. I really love this book because it makes people realize the importance of the little things in life.

CHECKPOINT #2:

I know that this is going to sound just like the two paragraphs up top but what I am saying is really making a difference in my life right now. My grandmother has only months to live and I am making sure that I get my fill of her. I have realized that once she is gone she is gone and that there isn't anything that I can do to get her back. This book as also shown me not to get worked up about materialistic things getting hurt/ broken. In the Chapter "Lucy, I'm home" Randy's wife Jai backs her van into his VW coupe convertible. To try and make it up, Jai makes Randy his favorite meal. Since Randy has realized that he only has months to live he doesn't worry about the dent that is in his car now but eats his favorite dinner slowly and spends time with his wife. I really like this because it is showing me that I shouldn't get worked up on little things in life.

Just like in the last paragraph in the 1st checkpoint I bring up the point of the little things. People in society today don't charish the little things that they have in their life already but want the next thing. In the chapter "I'm on My Honeymoon, but if you need me..." Randy realize that since he only has months to live, you should live it a certain way. He says that time must be used just like money, you shouldn't waste it. You can always change your plans, don't get mad if things don't go your way but rather embrace the other way as if it was your original way. Next as the Question: Am I spending my time on the right things? this is just like the metaphor time is like money you don't want to waste it. Lastly take time out of your busy schedule. Make sure the important people in your life know that they are important. Take time to spend time with love ones. The last point was very important to Randy because he will be leaving 3 children and a wife behind.

This book is very moving and I would recommend it to everyone as a book everyone should read at some point in their life. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."-Randy Pausch ...more "

May 08, 2012 02:34PM · see review