In Last Lecture
Which character from Winnie the Pooh does Pausch choose to be like?
The two choices everyone has can be seen most obviously in two characters in A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. The first choice is the fun-loving, overly enthusiastic
Tigger
; the other option is the sad-sack Eeyore. Pausch has clearly made his choice: he is a Tigger.
What special gesture does Randy do for Jai at the end of his lecture?
Randy has
the habit of leaving his clothing all over the floor
, and, rather than argue like they used to, Jai will just kick Randy’s clothes to the corner.
What was one key point of the last lecture?
The last lecture encompasses
lessons on life and achieving one’s childhood dreams
. So here are the lessons from the last lecture: 1) We cannot change the cards we are given, however we can control and change how we play the hand.
What is the one thing Randy wants for Jai after he dies?
Most of all, Randy wants Jai
to be happy in the future
, whether she finds happiness by remarrying or staying single.
What did Zeh call Pausch?
Dr. Zeh calls Pausch
the poster boy
for “the healthy balance between optimism and realism.” He hopes to become the guy who beats the odds but even if he doesn’t, believing that perhaps he could helps him get through each day.
What does Randy mean by head fake?
Randy learns the head fake—
a situation in which someone believes that they are learning about one thing, but are really learning about something different
—from his old-school youth football coach, Coach Graham.
What advice does Randy have for his daughter about relationships?
The advice Randy Pausch leaves for his daughter in The Last Lecture about her future relationships is that
when she finds a man who is romantically interested in her, she should ignore everything he says and pay attention to what he does
. This will reveal the true nature of a man’s heart toward her.
What was Jai concerned about in the last lecture?
Jai argues that
Randy’s a workaholic and doing the lecture will take up all of his time
, and, on top of that, he would have to fly to Pittsburgh on the day of Jai’s birthday, which is probably the last one they’ll get to spend together.
What is the theme of Chapter 1 of last lecture?
Chapter 1:
An Injured Lion Still Wants to Roar
After examining his internal motivations for wanting to give the lecture, Pausch notes that, although pride and dignity are among the motivating factors, so too is the desire to leave a tangible memory for his three young children.
What life lesson did Randy learn from coach Graham?
Coach Graham specialized in teaching life lessons to the boys on Randy’s football team. He stressed
“fundamentals,” hard work, and dedication
. What we really want them to learn is far more important: teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, the value of hard work, an ability to deal with adversity.
When was the last lecture given?
Pausch delivered his “Last Lecture”, titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”, at Carnegie Mellon on
September 18, 2007
.
What is Randy’s plan for the rest of his life?
Randy says he
wants Jai to know just how much he’s enjoying being with her
. And right then Randy knows—living like he’s enjoying every day, like in the water park, is exactly how he must live the rest of his life.
What was Pausch’s attitude toward his older sister when he was 7 and she was 9?
What was Pausch’s attitude toward his older sister when he was 7 and she was 9? He was the know-
it-all little brother
.
What is the best caregiving advice according to Jai and Randy What does it mean to them?
Randy tries to remind Jai that some of the best caregiver advice comes from
flight attendants
, in that people have to put on their own oxygen masks before they can help anyone else. So, Randy reminds Jai that giving herself permission to recharge will be even more important after he’s gone.
What does Randy say was his biggest brick wall?
What does Randy consider to be the biggest brick wall he ever encountered, and who helped him overcome it? Brick wall
was Jai. She wouldn’t run away with him.
