At many colleges, professors are asked to give a “last lecture.” In this talk, they ruminate on what matters most to them. As they speak, audiences mull the same question: What wisdom would you impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?
Last year, I agreed to give a last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University, where I’m a professor in the computer science department. A few weeks later, I learned that I had only months to live—I was dying of pancreatic cancer.
I knew I could cancel. I have three young children, I’m married to Jai, the woman of my dreams, and there were so many things to be done. But by speaking, I knew I could put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe. Here’s what I want to share.
Deceptively simple teamwork activity. Form two lines facing each other. Lay a long, thin rod on the group's index fingers. Goal: Lower to ground. Reality: It goes up!
The size of the group ideal would be 8 - 12 but can do it with less or more.
Communication & Relationship-Building Activity - Objects are scattered in an indoor or outdoor place. In pairs, one person verbally guides his/her partner, whose eyes are closed or blindfolded, through the "minefield".
Get a large inflatable beach ball and use a permanent fine or medium point marker to write all of the following questions on it. This will take quite some time, but you can do it some night in front of the television. The resulting tool is an "icebreaker ball" that you can use for years to come. You can use it in a large group and throw it around. The person who catches it has to answer the question touching their left thumb. They then say their name, answer the question and throw it to someone else. You may also choose to use these questions as conversation starters in other types of games.
Participants are given a sheet with various traits on it.The objective is to find a person in the group who fits one of the descriptions and get that person’s autograph next to the trait.
The team is instructed to form a large circle.The facilitator then places a brown grocery bag in the center of the circle.Each member must pick up the bag with his/her teeth while standing on one foot with both hands held behind his/her back.
