Week Two Reflection: Creating a Life of Meaning

Randy Pausch's success in achieving most of his childhood dreams was because of his resilient optimism, preparation, and his ability to interpret brick walls as learning experiences. He did not dream but worked instead, utilizing mentorship, tenacity, and adaptability. His famous lecture is a reminder that brick walls are there to show us how much we want something. Dreams are needed as they provide direction, inspiration, and purpose. Life is dull and hollow without them. Dreams rekindle resilience, pushing individuals to continue living despite adversity and become wiser and more cunning in the process. We grow when we fail, according to one of the reading,s we can only grow when we fail forward. 

Something I always wanted to do as a kid was to be a doctor, but I ended up confronting the reality that I had lost my interest in medicine. I also realized my passion was gone, and my fire was unlit. While I did not take up that particular profession, what I have come to realize is that abandoning one dream can give birth to others that are more suited to the person we are evolving into. I still want to work with people and help others, just not in a medical setting. I have set my sights on working with the rising generation and providing service by teaching them. 

The videos and readings for this week reaffirmed the importance of persistence, flexibility, and a growth mindset to success. Randy Pausch's message also reinforced the principles of living on purpose, embracing challenges, and serving others in the process. We can always work towards our goals without sacrificing others. I look forward to ongoing learning about how personal vision and deliberate action equal a productive life, and I am also looking forward to ongoing investigation of the entrepreneurial mind, leadership, and faith-based decision making in the weeks to come.