'Last Lecture' Prof Speaks Out On His Cancer

Randy Pausch is a brilliant professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. Last year he gave the "Lecture of a Lifetime," to faculty and staff at his school. I wrote on it shortly afterward, for his was not an exercise in "what you would say if you knew it was your last lecture ever."

Instead, he knew he had terminal cancer and was indeed giving his last lecture . . . for his family.

This week, ABC News has a special on Professor Pausch's presentation some nine months ago, and an interview with Diane Sawyer talking about his disease, his life, and what it means to inspire others.

Details here, plus links to watching his last lecture from 2007.

"I've never understood pity and self-pity as an emotion," Pausch told Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. "We have a finite amount of time.
Whether short or long, it doesn't matter. Life is to be lived."

I concur. And to say his interview and comments are inspirational would be an understatement.