It’s common in North American universities for a prominent figure on campus to deliver what’s known as ” The Last Lecture, “  in which the speaker addresses the audience as if it were their “last chance” to do so and  communicate the messages about life that they consider most important.  However, in the case of  Randy Pausch , a professor at Carnegie Mellon University,  this “last chance” wasn’t imaginary but real, as  he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and doctors gave him only a few months to live.

Randy’s final lecture, titled  “Really Achieving Your  Childhood Dreams” and intended for his three children, was watched live by over 400 people. Following this lecture, he wrote an autobiographical book titled  ” The Last Lecture . “ After the success of the online lecture and Randy’s death, the book became a   New  York Times bestseller .

Before starting the conference, Pausch showed everyone the eleven tumors that populated his liver with the words  “We cannot change the cards we have been dealt, only decide how to play with them . “

During the conference,  the professor appeared optimistic, displaying a great sense of humor and excellent physical condition,  despite his cancer. In his moving address,  he shared his thoughts on computer science, interdisciplinary collaboration, education, personal interaction, and the meaning of life.