The importance of family
One of the most important themes in the novel is the idea that family is important when it comes to succeeding in life. In fact, Randy attributes his success to his parents who were supportive of his dreams and who encouraged him to do good things with his life. His parents were a positive example for him and Randy admitted that sever times when he was on stage giving his last lecture. Even his sister points out that Randy was so influenced by their parents that at some times during the lecture, she felt as if she was seeing their father on stage. This proves just how much children are influenced by their parents and the role they play in their children’s education.
Education
Another theme in the novel is the idea of education and how important it is to have an education. Randy’s parents were both aware of the power of education, on being a teacher and the other opening up schools for children in underdeveloped countries to help them receive a minimum education. Randy as well knows the importance of education, giving frequently lectures and talks and being a professor of computer science. He stresses the importance of education and he frequently links it with the idea of happiness. For him, one cannot exist without the other and he tries to transmit this idea during his lecture.
Positive attitude
Another important theme is the idea that a positive attitude is crucial in a person’s life and that without a positive attitude, it is almost impossible to succeed. Randy points out that no matter who a person is, they will reach a point when they will have to face certain difficulties and will have to struggle to keep moving on. In these conditions, it is important that a person has a positive attitude and that they do not give up on life and on their dreams. Thus, this shows just how important a positive attitude is and how much a person’s success in life depends on it.
