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Randy Pausch

As promised yesterday, here are our favorite men from TIME’s 100 Most Influential. 

In September of 2007 Randy Pausch, a Computer Sciences professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, delivered his “Last Lecture”.  This speech was part of a series at the university, where speakers were asked to give a message as if it were they last they would ever deliver.  For Pausch it wasn’t too hard to pretend since doctors had recently told him he had only a few months to live due to the spread of pancreatic cancer in his body. 

In his now famous lecture, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams (see video) Pausch passionately (and quite humorously) spelled out his keys to making the most of your life and helping others do the same.  His message of hope was inspiration to all who were in attendance and now to millions more who have watched it online.  Since the lecture Pausch has continued to use his platform to encourage others.  He released a book called The Last Lecture which expands on the concepts he spelled out in the original, and recently gave a powerful lecture on Time Management at the University of Virginia.  In addition he has become an advocate for pancreatic cancer research and even testified before congress about the disease.  Even in his most trying time Pausch refuses to be depressed and continues inspiring others to “have fun” everyday.

You can keep up with Dr. Pausch’s progress as well as donate to help fund research for pancreatic cancer on his website.   

-JH

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