THE LAST LECTURE ESSAY RESPONSE

1. A) The Last Lecture was written for whom? B) Why?

The Last Lecture was written by Randy Pausch as a way to eventually pass on his ideas, story, and beliefs to his young children via video recording after his death due to pancreatic cancer. Pausch hoped to illustrate his life's trajectory coming full circle and to wrap up his academic career as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

2. Select and apply a developmental theorist with a theory that is applicable to Randy Pausch’s last year of his life? Please provide examples to support this theory.

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of needs best supports Randy Pausch's last year. Pausch already met his physiological needs that were necessary for survival including air, food, water, and sleep. Despite his sickness it sounded as if he was otherwise physiologically well when he said, “While for the most part I’m in terrific physical shape, I have ten tumors in my liver and I have only a few months left to live” (Pausch, 1). Pausch's job as a professor provided a steady income and most likely benefits, as well as the fact that he was a homeowner took care of his safety needs. Pausch's belonging and social needs were met through a successful marriage, family, and close friends mentioned in his book. His esteem needs were met through following his dreams and he spoke many times about his successes academically and as a disney imagineer and later a consultant. Pausch said, ...'I truly believed I was a lucky man because I had lived out these dreams. And I had lived out my dreams, in great measure, because of things I was taught by all sorts of extraordinary people along the way” (5). Pausch's impending death lead him toward self actualization by forcing him to take inventory of his...

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...m aware of people coming together to be with him toward the end of his life.

10. If you were going to give your own “last lecture,” what would you say?

I see transformation as possible for everyone regardless of life phase, ability, or experience. I ground my idealism in the concrete values of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Even a single positive experience can give someone a much needed life-affirming push that can inspire change. Add in the support necessary to put that inspiration into action and progress occurs. I believe life is about creating a series of positive experiences for ourselves- finding out what we're good at doing and learning to do it in the most deeply fulfilling way. I hope to create these experiences for myself and others and inspire change.

BONUS – 2 points

What date did Randy Pausch die?

Randy Pausch died July 25, 2008.