Introduction: The Most Important Line
As you read the introduction to The Last Lecture, think about everything that he is saying right now. In a brief two pages, he's previewed the purpose for what he is doing. Look through these pages and decide which sentence you believe is THE MOST important. In a good paragraph, type in that sentence (use quotation marks & cite the page number) and discuss why it is important. Then begin to discuss how that connects to your life or the world around you.
Brooklyn Brandenburg: "I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I apperciated life, even with so little of my own" (x). Randy Pausch knew he had so little of his own life to live , but he still every single day he lived his life with no regret. He was happy , he enjoyed life. He knew exactly what he wanted in life , and who he wanted to enjoy it with. He wasn't going to let the fact that he had an illiness ruin his life for him. A lot of people now a day's take what they have for granit. They don't apperciate life. They talk it down so bad , when it all reailty , we all know that their life is not that bad. Most people have just about a perfect life , I guess can't call it perfect but pretty close compaired to some other people. Some people are messed up and they don't understand that they are going to have to value life. Because your not gonna live for the rest of your life , your not going to go back and do all the things you wish you would have just because you feel like you messed up when you were younger or you took what you shouldn't for granit. Live lif with no regret's and just enjoy it while you can it may end sooner then you think.
ReplyDelete"While I still can, I embrace every moment with them, and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me." (page ix). This sentence is what I found to be the most powerful to me in the introduction. There were a few other sentences I found to be inspiring and also powerful, but the reason I chose this one is because I can relate to it when I really understand it's meaning. When Randy was saying this, he was explaining the fact that he has little time left in this world, which also meant that he would have to leave his family. He is trying to spend as much time with them as humanly possible, but also trying to think of ways to prepare them for his disappearance which would later come. The reason I found this so powerful is because I know what it's like to lose someone suddenly, with no signs whatsoever. This was the case with my great uncle. He lived on his own and we had seen him a few months ago, where he looked fine. Then we got a call saying he was gone. There was no warning, and I've heard many stories where someone has passed away, but there was no warning, no signs showing that this would have happened. Randy was right in thinking of ways he could help prepare his family to live a life without him.
ReplyDelete-Emily O'Connell
"I lectured about the joys of life, about how much I appreciate life, even with so little of my own left (page x)" I think that this sentence is important but not only is he leaving something for his kids to remember him by but also teaching a lesson to others around him. Many people do take their life for granted and don't realize how good they have it until it's either gone or something that is close to them passes away. Randy is at least able to know that he is dying and he is able to say his last goodbyes. A couple months ago I had a very close uncle pass away very suddenly. No one knew that it was coming until it just happened. He didn't have time to say his final goodbyes or tell him family he loved him one last time. Within a couple hours he was gone. After this happened it made me realize that I take a lot things in my life for granted. I have done better at telling my family I love them and spending time with them because you never know when the last time you will get to say, I love you, is.
ReplyDeleteIn the introduction Randy Pausch stated, "I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I appreciated life, even with so little of my own left." (X). I believe this line is the most important because even though life is throwing him a curveball, he's still showing people that he's optimist and that he's going to take the curveball and make the best of it. He is a very selfless person because he's trying to make things better for everyone around him instead of focusing on the negative things that are happening to him. The line is important because it shows Randy's character. He wants the best for everyone and would do anything to make sure that the people around him are happy. Randy wanted to teach people important lessons about life that would better their futures. This quote connects to my life because a family friend was diagnosed with cancer and lost her battle about four years ago. She didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her so instead of making the situation worse, she made it better and wanted everyone to live their lives with a positive attitude. She taught me that life was short and that we should take each day and live life like we're never going to get another day. That is why that line is the most important.
ReplyDelete-Savannah
One page IX he states,"While I still can,I embrace every moment with them,and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me." To me this is very important because he talks through out the rest of the introduction about how he wants to be able to continue teaching his kids about life even when he is not around. He wants to be with them, tell them about his childhood and help them look forward to things that are still to come. He is preparing them for when he is gone. To me I have had a close call with losing a loved one, he was the one I went to for help when I needed it, so just picturing my life without him was hard. He didn't know what was going to happen, yet he tried his hardest to prepare us for it. Just like Randy Pausch talks about how he wanted to be there to teach his kids about life, my dad wanted to be there for us. My dad lived and is still teaching me about life, and Randy is still here with his kids.
ReplyDeletePausch states on (IX), This book will help he's children get along with a few things in life but maybe not all of the questions that they have for him. This may be just for his kids but he also changed the life of some very different changes. This lecture may have been very hard for him in the last few months he had lift in his life but he encouraged many people to change the path that they were once on and to get on to a better path that may just save their life because of one very important person. He is one of the very few who have made something of life endangering to help others and his family. Michael Mast
ReplyDeleteOn page ix it says, "So how to spend my very limited time?" How would you spend your time if you didn't have much left? I don't know how I would feel if I knew that there was a sort of countdown until my life expires. This is very important because since Randy doesn't have much time left, he knows he needs to make the best of it and spend it in the best way possible. He wants to spend his time his way, and that's with his kids and teaching them all that he can before he dies. My grandpa died not too long ago. He spent the ticking hours of his life in a hospital. Not the best way to spend it but, he had his family there with him. Even though it wasn't the best of times, he was very funny and cracking jokes. Only my grandpa would crack jokes during a time like that. I got to see him one last time, which is something I will never forget. He taught his sons, daughters, and grandkids many things. He taught them to be strong. He is a huge role model for me.
ReplyDeleteDerek
I believe the sentence, "But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited sources," (X) is the most important sentence in the introduction. Randy knows that he has a scarce amount of time left to be on Earth with his friends and family. He wants to make the best of it right now but also for his kids' futures. He wants to be present in their lives when they grow older and have to face adversity. He wants to be their teacher, father, and friend who helps them get through tough times. He knows that his book and the The Last Lecture that he gave at the University will help guide them through life. He knows it isn't a perfect solution. If things were perfect, he wouldn't have ten tumors and only a few months to live. However, considering the circumstances, this is as close to perfect as Randy could get. This sentence can be applied to my own life. It may not be as extreme, but we all go through times when there is no perfect solution and we have to settle for something else.
ReplyDelete-Heather
x. I had two good sentences but I narrowed down to the this one, "I lectured about the joy of lie, about how much I appreciated life, even with so little of my own left". That sentence right there is a good one to remember. Why? The reason is that in today's society we don't try to live everyday to the fullest or even stop and take a look at the little things. We are too worried about if someone posted something on facebook, or some funny tweet, or even just waiting for your boyfriend/girlfriend to call. I can't say I haven't done one of those things and sometimes I do feel like I waste good valuable time to spend with my friends and family. I regret everyday I get mad at someone and have set a goal to have fun with my brothers so they can remember me as a fun brother and not an evil one. So, the sentence I chose should relate to everyone to spend more time and enjoy the little things in life no matter how much time you have left
ReplyDelete~Z. Smith
"I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children." (Page 10)
ReplyDeleteI like this sentence because its saying that he was trying to teach his kids and lecture them about how life is going to be later in life. When he says the part about washing up on the beach, it means since he wont be there he's hoping his life lectures will still be, and his children will still follow them. This story kind of connects to my life because I also have a father who likes to lecture. My dad is always lecturing me. He lectures me on baseball, life lessons, and making the right choices. So I guess that is how this summary is connected to my life.
"The less obvious part is how to teach my children what I would have taught them over the next twenty years" (pg. ix)
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't have my dad around to teach me the right things, I would be so out of it. It rages from stuff as small as how to tie my shoes, all the way up to how to run and maintain our farm. A lot of thought has to go into farming, for me I started out young. I drove my first tractor by myself when I was six years old. If I didn't have my dad there teaching me and showing me what to do and how to handle it I could have crashed and would have had to make my dad pay a lot of money to fix it. My dad has also taught me a lot of life lessons that you need to be sucessful in life. -Ryan Parmely
Tyler K.
ReplyDelete"All parents want to teach their children right from wrong, what we think is important, and how to deal with the challenges life will bring." (P. ix) I believe that this is the most important sentence in the introduction to this book.I believe it is the most important line in the introduction because it can apply to any parent with teens. To the parents with teens, the teenagers will almost always decide to go against their parents judgement. Even when they give teens their advice, as well as examples. I have my own experiences of not wanting to listen to my parents, in the end, the are mostly right.
Bailey Lubben
ReplyDelete"We knew right from the start: None of this is a replacement for a living parent." (pg. x) I believe that this is the most important sentence. It wraps up the introduction perfectly by making us realize that he will die, and this is all his children will have left. It makes me think about how sad it would be to lose my dad and all I would have is a book that he wrote for me. It would be really tough living without a parent, but when I needed guidance I would look at the book and hopefully find something that would help me out. This shows how sentimental he is and how he feels bad for leaving his kids. This shows that he is doing all of this for his family, so even when he's not there, they'll still have a piece of him.
"While I still can, I embrace every moment with them, and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me." (Pg. ix) I feel that this is the most important sentence in the introduction because it is the sentence that states the true meaning of why he is writing this book. He is writing so that he will still be able to teach his kids when he is gone. Growing up as a child I couldn't imagine not having a father around to teach me the things that I need to know. Not having my dad would be one of the hardest things that could ever happen to me. It shows that he truly cares that much about his children and his wife that he wants to teach them everything he possibly can even though he isn't around. Everyone wants to have both parents around. I couldn't imagine it any other way.- Zach Salow
ReplyDeleteCassie McIntyre
ReplyDelete"While I still can, I embrace every moment with them, and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me." (page ix)
I think this sentence is the most important because it is so powerful. It just shows that the things his family is going to have to endure are going to be so painful. This sentence shows that the purpose for this book is to try and make things a little easier on his family, the people that he cares about most in life. The sentence itself has so much meaning. Anyone child could relate to losing a father figure, and how it would be one of the hardest things that someone may ever have to experience. I feel that this sentence is just so important because he truly has a big heart, and wants to make things easier for his family, and it shows that making things a little bit easier is the whole purpose of this book. If I were to have to go through losing a father, I would want him to leave me a little piece of him that I could learn from and cherish forever, like Randy is doing for his children.
"While I could easily feel sorry for myself, that wouldn't do them, or me, any good." (P. ix) I believe that this is the most important sentence in the introduction. This sentence seems so simple but has so many different meanings. Randy states this to show that by mourning over what you don't have gets you no where in life. He shows that when you mourn over what you don't have you forget about what is really important in life and what you do have in life to enjoy. If Randy would chose to mourn over his life and that he will pass away soon he is hurting himself and his family. They then have to see him suffer and that only hurts them more, so instead he choses to live and fulfill his life and enjoy the great things and time he was given on earth. This makes you realize that we are all put here on earth to accomplish something or show the way for others. He is a prime example of a leader and has changed the views of many. He chose to live and that has assisted in the lives of others, so enjoy what you have and forget about what you don't. M. Lansing
ReplyDelete"None of this is a replacement for a living parent." (x). Randy is writing this book, giving the lecture, because he knows he won't be able to be a part of this children's lives. He wants to make sure his children know that he will always love them and wants to always be a part of them. Randy knows that his lecture or book can't take the place of a parent but he wants to express his emotion. Because he is a professor, he writes and lectures. His children will grow up and need someone to go to. Randy wants them to be able to remember him. He knows his children will always be able to go back and read the book that he wrote them. They will always be able to read his words to them. Randy wants to spend what he has left with his children, enjoying the moment. He doesn't want to mope around and worry about his health. He wants his children to remember him as a fun parent who they love. If my father had only a few months to live, I would be devastated. Although I couldn't control the outcome, I know I would want to spend as much time with him as I could. Then when he was gone, I would want a way to spend time with him again. Randy's children will be able to do this by reading his book or listening to his lecture. I have a feeling that this book will change the way I look at life and will probably strike my emotions, but I'm excited to read it and learn what he has to say about life. -Ashley Holtz
ReplyDeletePausch stated a phrase that made me think, "If I were a painter, I would have painted for them. If I were a musician, I would have composed music. But I am a lecturer. So I lectured." (x) This statement shows that people will do anything just to make their children's lives a lot easier for them. Paush wanted the best for his children. He wanted them to see the bright side of things and not give up on their dreams. I think this is the most important thing in the introduction because it is the most important thing to a parent with children.
ReplyDeleteJordan S.
"While I still can, I embrace every moment with them, and do the logistical things necessary to ease their path into a life without me."(page ix) This sentence stood out to me the most in the entire introduction. Randy is talking about how he embraced every moment he had with his family because he didn't know when the last one would be. This quote related to me when my aunt was diagnosed with cancer. Once she found out she wanted to spend as much time with her family that she possibly could. Whenever I would talk to her over the phone she would always tell me to embrace life. I knew since she was the one saying it to listen to her. She knew that her time was limited and she didn't want to leave this world without telling people to embrace life. She new first hand what it was like to find out that your time left is limited. The best message I received from her was to embrace life. It fits in with this quote because they both discuss how to embrace life. In the introduction Randy didn't focus on the fact that he had cancer but on the fact that he embraced life to make it easier for his children. Everything about this sentence is perfect and is a great thing or people to live by.
ReplyDelete-Abby
"But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources" (x). I believe this sentence really sums up the whole introduction. He says things don't have to be perfect in the end. You just have to do the best you can with what you have and be satisfied. Many of us now days are not satisfied with things we get. We always have to have the newest or the coolest. We take those things for granted and keep on wanting. Sometimes it's ok to be satisfied with what you already have. We don't always need the best. I have fallen guilty to this myself and never put much thought into it. When I look at it now it looks like I was being a bit selfish and didn't care. I need to be satisfied with what I have. We may not have everything we want but we can still be happy and live life with a meaning. ~Dylan
ReplyDelete"I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I appreciated life, even with so little of my own left." (x) I thought that this quote was a very important piece to his introduction because it tells you that even though if life is dwindling down, he still has his head held high. With him being able to still go out talk to all of these people and tell them about life and how you should always have a happy mood on each day. Even though his day doesn't look like it will be this way for much longer, he just tries to make it seem like that for how ever much time he has left. Also how he puts on an act to make the audience think that he is directing this to them, when who he is really directing it to is his children.
ReplyDeleteThrough out this intro I strongly believe that this sentence on page ix " While I could easily feel sorry for myself, that wouldn't do them, or me any good." That sentence to me really shows that instead of worrying on himself he would rather be doing something esle instead of feeling bad forr myself and making it even harder on him and his family. This is a true man right here. Ask yourself this how wuld you live your last four months of your life? What would you do or say?
ReplyDelete"Under the ruse of giving an academic lecture, I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children" (x)
ReplyDeleteThis statement is the most important because Randy connects to the people around him while his lecture is meant for the future. His lecture was watched by thousands of people yet meant for only three. His children are to one day "discover" his lecture and understand the people their father wants them to be. Randy knew he didn't hav much time left on Earth, but through his lecture and book he could take his knowledge into the future. I connect to this because my father is always attempting to give me life lessons. Without him I may not have the guidance I have in my life. I would not be the person or man I am today. (Steve)
I believe that the sentence stating, "But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources." (x) is the most important sentence in the introduction. I think this sentence is so important because it shows that he has come to terms with his cancer. He knows that he can't beat it, so he's going to do the best he can to make up for the time he has left. He wants the best for his wife and children, so he's going to prepare them for the future as best as he can. He wants to be there for them when they get older and experience life, but he knows he can't, so he's trying to make up for that. He still wants to be their father and help them through difficult situations. He wants to teach them right from wrong. In this sentence, he states that he knows this solution isn't perfect, but it's the best he can do with limited resources. This can connect to my life, although not as severe, because we all have to go through tough times and have to make the best of them. This is how it can apply to the world around me also. We always have to make the best of what we have in life, because no situation is ever perfect.
ReplyDelete"I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I appreciated life, even with so little of my own left" (p. x). This is the most important because he is still being positive about his life, even though its going to end. He's saying how he enjoyed living life and has no regrets with his life being so short. I believe that you should live you life to the fullest because there is no going back. Once its over, its over.
ReplyDelete-Kody Orcutt
"But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources" (x). I find this statement sticking in my brain for some reason unknown to me. I believe that, perhaps, this is what writing is for me. Whenever I start feeling absolutely horrible, sometimes all I have to do is write it out. My little rant scribbles are far from Shakespeare or Thoreau, but they are the best that I can give with heightened levels of emotion. In other words, it's not perfect, but it's the best that I can do. Just like this book and his lecture were the best things Randy Pausch could think to do for his young children that he knew he'd be leaving all too soon. He couldn't stop the terminal cancer. He couldn't keep himself from dying. However, he still did the best he could with his limited time.
ReplyDelete"But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources." (x) Pausch stated in his book "The Last Lecture. This is important because he is saying that he isn't going to be perfect, and he is not saying he is perfect. Instead he is doing all he can do with all he has. This is important for his kids watching his dad knowing he gave it his all and did everything he could to help them grow up. This applies to every ones life because even if you don't have everything you can still achieve large goals, and if it isn't perfect you know you tried your best. If some one with 10 tumors in his liver and be healthy, fit , and continue to raise his kids, with the little amount of life. People can live there life to the fullest even if they don't have everything.
ReplyDelete"But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources"(x). This is a great quote. Today many people do not fulfill their dreams. Some are fortunate enough to be able to because they have the resources to do so. But there are the less fortunate that aren't able to complete those dreams. These people have a choice, they can give up an go down the easy path, or they can work with what they have and get the most out of it. I believe this is what this quote is saying. I always try to make the most out of everything and not give up.
ReplyDeletePg x (10)
ReplyDelete“I was trying to put myself in a bottle that one day would wash up on the beach for my children.”
He wanted to make sure that his children will discover what he did in the past by putting it in this book. He found out by making this book, he not only will help out his children, but help out other families too. He had gotten many responses from parents and teens saying that he helped them out. He stopped some from thinking about suicide, and made other teens think about what they put their parents through day to day. I will probably even think about what I put my parents through day to day. The choices you make not only affect you, but other people as well.
Morgan Manternach
ReplyDeletepg (IX)
"The obvious part is being with, and taking care of, my family."
I can relate to this sentence in the book because I went through the exact same thing that Randy's family did. My grandma also had cancer and only had one thing on her mind and that was to take care of her family as well. Reading a story like this is both good and bad. It is bad because it will bring all of the bad memories that were left behind. It is a good thing because you are able to relate to the story and understand it that much better. This sentence shows how something bad can come out as a positive. We all know that loosing someone that you love is never a positive, but it helps you see the real person inside. Randy was so strong that he did not feel sorry for himself one bit he still wanted to do everything that he could for his family, just like my grandma did. It means a lot to e that there are more people out there like my grandma and it makes me feel like she is still here. Always remember that nothing is ever more important than your family.
"I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I apperciated life, even with so little of my own" (x). I feel that this sentence is the most important out of these two pages of introduction because it can apply to almost everyone's life. In just these two pages of writing, Pausch does and incredible job of summing up his life story. To write a sentence stating that you have a limited life ahead of you is something not just anyone could do. If I was dying and I was aware of my life ending, I wouldn't be able to come out and say it, and better yet, be able to talk about the importance and joy of life. He has such a positive look on life when in his own, negativism is strong. Pausch informs us that he wants to teach his kids all they will need to know in their future when he can't be there for them. I can connect this on my life, because to see someone write this when their life is worse than mine, I can't even imagine how he can be so positive. I definitely take a second look at my life, and realize I have been taking each and every day for granted, not thanking God for every day that I wake up.
ReplyDeleteMary Feldmann
ReplyDeleteThe quote I found most important in Pausch's last lecture one I found on page X, "Under the ruse of giving an academic lecture, I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children." Pausch wrote this speech specifically for his children. He wants them to someday when they're old enough, be able to realize their fathers talent for giving lectures and speaking out to people. He taught his students, and many others a number of lessons that he won't be able to teach his own children. The quote is saying that he hopes later on down the road his lecture will be there for his children to learn and read from. He wants the lecture to help his children throughout their life journey. He's putting himself in the lecture so that he will be with his children always in some way. He loves his children and wouldn't want his last lecture to go any other way than it had. Children all over lose their parents and they express their emotions through what they're good at, and that's what Pausch did. He is a lecturer, so he lectured.
"While I could easily feel sorry for myself, that wouldn't do them, or me, any good." (IX)
ReplyDeleteI feel that this is a good quote because he looks at it in a positive way. He knows whats ahead and wants to live the rest of his life to the fullest.
This is connects to my life and the world around me a lot. I know people who are having problems and may not have long to live, they feel bad and don't want to go and see things. If it was me in that situation I would want to go out and see things that you will never ever see again. It would be rough to know that you would be leaving your family and friends but I would want to be out and active like the man in The Last Lecture, because once your gone, your gone forever.
Ben Thompson
ReplyDelete"I lectured about the joy of life, about how much I appreciated life, even with so little of my own left." (x)
I believe this is the most important quote of the introduction, because Pausch is turning a negative situation into a positive. He is continuing to make memories, raise his children, and love life, even though there isn't much time for him left. I think Pausch is setting a great example for everyone. It makes me realize that I need to accomplish all of my goals, and value the time I have left as well. I am happily healthy so there should be nothing holding me back.
Pausch states, "The less obvious part is how to teach my children what I would have taught them over the next twenty years" (IX).
ReplyDeleteI think this is a quote that I could easily relate to my life. Looking back in my life I don't know what I would be doing if I wouldn't have had my dad there to help me. There are so many skills that I would lack without him being around. He has taught me everything from riding a bike to repairing equipment. Growing up on a farm I have spent a lot of time learning from my dad. Its not like people in town where your dad has a job away from home. All summer long I am around my dad learning anything and everything. I would much rather have my life the way it is being raised on the farm, and if my dad wasn't there we wouldn't be in the home we are now.