Nowhere's Man

Do you remember Randy Pausch? Yes, the computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon who became very famous because of his witty and inspiring Last Lecture. Although he died in July 2008, his legacy continues to inspire many.

"The best gift an educator can give is to get somebody to become self reflective." "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." - Randy Pausch

During my final lecture for RE4802 Real Estate Development, I entitled the revision lecture "The Last Lecture". I name it such because it was my last lecture for the semester. Also, for some students, it will truly be their last lecture in the university as they are graduating this semester.

I also shared with the students my posting on the Last Lecture (http://happyvalley-prof.blogspot.com/2008/11/last-lecture.html) in the discussion forum. At the end of that posting, if you recall, there was a reflection question: Consider what would be your last lecture. What wisdom would you impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance? If you had to vanish tomorrow, what would you want as your legacy?

Several students, to my surprise, responded and I was truly encouraged by their deep and insightful reflection. One in particular caught my attention and I have obtained permission to share it here:

I agree that education is indeed one of the most life-transforming careers (for ourselves and the people whom we impart to) and yet its value has often been undermined. Of course, not everyone would have the call and passion to teaching as a career, but I believe that in our life, we would have many opportunities to impact and influence the people whom we meet, and that itself is a chance to educate, to deposit something into someone and make a difference, no matter how direct or significant.

.

If I were to share something for my last lecture, I would encourage people to have a single passion to live by, not to waste our life. There's this song by John Lennon, 'Nowhere's Man':

He's a real nowhere man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans

For nobody

Doesn't have a point of view

Knows not where he's going to

Isn't he a bit like you and me?

We only get one pass at life, and it would be a tragedy to see ourselves wandering aimlessly without knowing the essence or purpose for our lives.

.

I hope that we won't be a nowhere's man and will live our lives with passion and purpose, not to have a minimal life but to live it to the full (well.. I can't and wouldn't want to define it here for you, it's for you to discover for yourself how would you not want to waste your life). Have that kind of single-minded commitment to your purpose and be prepared to take paths of risk and sacrifice. Live a life that counts, with passion and purpose!
And with regards to what I would like to be remembered for, I hope that I would have made a difference in as many people's lives as possible. It's about the lives I've touched and how much value I've added to them, through believing in them and giving them opportunities to grow in character and understanding and building them up. I believe that relationships are one of the key reasons why we are on earth. At our deathbed, no one would recall how much profits I've made for my company but it will be the people around who really matter.

So, I hope that my legacy would be one that people can remember me for the difference I've made in their lives. There is nothing more satisfying than that to me :)