It Is Never Too Late To Leave A Legacy

Each year in the United State over 47,400 people are diagnosed with pancreas cancer each year. To those affected by this we are well aware of who these individuals are. However, we seldom read about them in the newspaper, hear anything on TV or get a tweet about it unless it is someone famous. This like any form of cancer is something that we all want to find a cure for.  When faced with the news that someone you love has been diagnosed the response varies. However, in September of 2007, Randy Pausch changed the way this disease was viewed and redefined how to respond when faced with this type of news.

He was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. One day that September he stepped in front of an audience of 400 people to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

On July 25th of 2008 he lost the battle with the disease but not before inspiring millions with his lectures and book "The Last Lecture." Faced with the news that his time here was brief he wanted to make an impact to affect those of us he was leaving behind. He is the perfect example that it is never to late to leave an amazing Legacy. His quote "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" demonstrates who he was.

Find inspiration in others, become who you want to be, leave a Legacy that matters.