John Richards, associate professor of history, gave the message to students that losing is what makes them truly win in life Thursday during Student Activities Council’s event, “The Last Lecture.”

“The Last Lecture” idea came from a speech by a Carnegie Mellon University professor named Randy Pausch, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that ultimately claimed his life in 2008.

Sophomore Erin Wilson heard the story of Pausch and wanted SAC to bring the concept of “The Last Lecture” to Baker University.

Richards was selected through a student poll to give the first presentation. He gave the speech Thursday in McKibbin Recital Hall in an effort to convey the message that it’s okay to lose.

“We live in a society in which … the importance of winning is very high. What you find over the course of your life is that you’re going to lose,” Richards said. “The way that you deal with that loss can have adverse effects on you and it can have positive effects on you and (I tried) to show people how to turn them (into) positive effects.”

Although it was far from Richards’ last lecture and under different circumstances than Pausch’s, the opportunity to reflect on life lessons was one Richards was grateful to take advantage of.

“The idea is that you take a moment to reflect on who you are and where you are and how you got here and what you’ve learned along the way,” Richards said.