Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

     I found Randy Pausch's Last Lecture very stimulating.  He really talked about some valuable life lessons that we as educators can use.   He said that brick walls are not obstacles but rather opportunities.  He advised not to bail out but rather to keep going because the best is often at the last of your efforts.  He underscored the importance of getting feedback and using it.  He said that we should show gratitude, and not to complain but work harder and to be good at something in order to make yourself valuable.  He challenged us to find the best in everyone, and to always be prepared.
There was much in Randy Pausch's lectue that I could glean. First of all, I believe that the brick walls in life test who we truly are. A lot of times we do not know our own abilities until we are forced to look deep within ourselves and find strength. My mother faced many challedges in her life, and she always would confide in me that she overcame because she found strength from somewhere. We should all take pause and reflect on situations that are holdeing us back and figure ways to overcome by finding ways to climb the brick walls. Often in looking for our overcoming strength, we often find the best at the bottom. Like Randy said, if we do not bail, we can find the best at the bottom, deep inside where the strength truly lies.
He suggested that we find a feedback loop and listen to it. I have always believed in the old adage that "iron sharpens iron." We all need mentors, people who have been where we are going and can show us the way. These people can take our ideas and look at thenm through their 20/20 vision of experience and give us the feedback that we need to improe on what we are doing. This feedback is a valuable tool in getting us from the dream to the reality a lot of times.
Mr. Pausch advised us to be good at something in order to increase our own value. We should look at ourselves as a commodity and be daily improving ourselves to ihncrease our marketability. Anyone can stand in front of a class and rread from a book, but how many really good teachers are there out there. My father was a physics and math teacher. He could teach a physics lesson without opening a book yet make each student understand it. He was valuable to the Bishop State Community College. His knowledge was his commodity. His example taught me a lot about how to truly teach from the spirit.
In conclusion, we should strive as eduactors to not prejudje our students, but come into class with an open mind and strive to find the best in everyone. Be prepared in your lessons but also in the way that you want to reach your class. Remember not to complain when things get rough, and show gratitude at each milestone that you have been able to implant in their fertile minds. If you can do this, then you will be a successful educator.