The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, had many themes throughout the book that were very important in my own life. Three of these themes are hard work, loyalty, and having a positive attitude. All of these ideas are virtues that I try to follow every day at school, work, home, and anywhere else I may be, like Pausch had done in his life. His life, however, was coming to a certain end by terminal cancer, when he gave his final lecture so he was able to reflect on what was important for him to say to those present at his speech and also his kids. Hopefully, I won’t have to die as young as he did, but the themes he expressed in his lecture are key to living a good life as I want to do. Hard work was a theme that was present throughout the lecture …show more content…
For instance, one his favorite clichés is, “Dance with the one who brung you. That's a cliché my parents always told me, and it applies far beyond prom night. It should be a mantra in the business world, in academia, and at home. It's a reminder about loyalty and appreciation” (Pausch 146). Pausch’s loyalty to those around him has helped him immensely during his years as a professor, and he cites one example in The Last Lecture. He had a student who was very smart, but was failing some classes due to his attitude and the dean was threatening to expel him. Pausch stood up for the student, whose name was Dennis, because he believed in him and was willing to put his career on the line. Dennis ultimately returned the favor to Pausch and is now taking over the Alice Project that Pausch entrusted him with. Loyalty is important to me not only because it is one of our school’s core values, but it is something needed in all good relationships. My friends and I stay loyal to one another and I try to help out my friends if they don’t understand an assignment or just want someone who they can trust. I also will repay my friends for helping me out as well, and be there for them in their time of