Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch's first strong statement in this video was within the first 3 minutes of the lecture. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." This is true for anyone's life. In public education, nearly every educator will cross paths with a child who has been dealt a bad hand. I believe that it is the responsibility of an educator, or any person with influence, to show the student that life is what you make it. Overcoming obstacles and fears makes a person stronger and every student should be shown that there are many paths to achieving your goals.
Another point that Pausch made was, "When you're screwing up and nobody is saying anything to you anymore, that means they gave up." Pausch used this to make the point that our critics are the ones who care. I found another point in this; If teachers are not saying anything to students who are falling behind, we are giving up. If we as educators critique with the love and concern each human deserves, there may be one less child that gives up because no one cared enough to push them. He points out that brick walls are not there to keep us out, they are there to show us how badly we want something. Each student should know this before graduating high school, really before ever entering high school. Another point in Randy Pausch's lecture was to respect authority while questioning it. I LOVE THIS STATEMENT. I never put the two together as a child. I simply questioned authority but questions get answered more readily when they are asked with respect.
Overall, Randy Pausch's lecture could be educational for any walk of life.