Personal Reflection

	Randy Pausch was able to give a college professor who was able to give a final lecture, intended to be heard by his children. He wrote this lecture to tell his children how they should live their lives. As is often the case, the relative closeness Randy has to death allows for him to better understand the most important things in life. Many of the points of his lecture tell how to better live your life, while other points tell how you can improve your interpersonal relationships.
	In one of his stories, Randy tells of how his coach kept telling him that he was doing things wrong, and his assistant coach told him that he was only in trouble when people stop telling you that you are failing, because that means that they have stopped believing in you. As I heard this, I began to remember all of the people who have told me what I have done wrong, and realized just how many people actually care about me. I remember not only my parents, but my teachers, and some of my supervisors telling me when I was doing something wrong, and then reminding me how I should go about doing it right. I am grateful to see that so many people, even some people who are insignificant in my view, care about me.
	Randy also relates how to make a good apology, stating " An apology has three parts: I'm sorry, what I did was wrong. How can I make it better?" After he said that, I began to think of some of the apologies I have made, and I have realized just how many were bad. I began to feel regretful that some of the apologies I have made were improper, but I soon after thought that I could not change the past. I am grateful however that I may now make proper apologies when necessary, though I should hope not to need to make one for a decent while.
	Randy said that one of the best pieces of advice came from a flight attendant, and I interpreted it to mean that when things get tough, help yourself, and then proceed to help others. I found this very relatable because of the current struggle I am now in. I began in my struggle by trying to help the people around me, however, it has become much easier to get through since I have began to help myself, and let everyone else handle the problem their way. Since I have began to pursue my own interests, I feel that my life has markedly improved, and it has made facing my problems much easier. I have gained insight into various aspects of the social experience, and have thus began to understand my peers on a more personal level. My mind has been opened to things that I previously saw as senseless and without merit. And though I did find it selfish at first to help myself before others, I have now seen that by helping myself, I make it easier for me to help others. by improving my self-image I have been able to exert positive influence on my friends and acquaintances. I have been able to achieve the best of both worlds, and I could only have seen the reasoning behind it through Randy Pausch's lecture.
	 Randy Pausch's lecture was truly inspiring. To fall on hard times, and realize that your life would be much shorter than expected, and still maintain a positive outlook has amazed me. What truly drives him though is the idea that it is bad to live life in sorrow, and so he has began living his life to the fullest. Nothing could be more inspiring than to see someone who will not give up.