Mitch Albom inspires CMU students

Last Tuesday, Mitch Albom touched many people’s lives at the Public Relations Student Society of America conference in Detroit.

Approximately 30 CMU students were present on Tuesday, Oct. 28, for a very moving speech.

Albom’s inspirational speech focused on the idea that one event will always influence another and that life is just a series of people and influences.

“Mitch Albom was the most moving speaker I have ever listened to,” said CMU
student Jackie Heiss. “He was very inspirational.”

Albom spoke to the audience of Public Relations students and professional about the influences in his life which are described in his novels.

Albom began his speech with his first influence Morrie Schwartz. Morrie was one of Albom’s professors who he enjoyed very much during his college years. Albom had sworn that he would keep in touch, but didn’t and the next time he saw Morrie was on a television special 16 years later.

The special was about Morrie and how he was planning to die. During the
speech, Albom explained that people don’t intend to loose touch, but it happens, and we can forget the people who make us who we are.

Albom then began visiting Morrie on a regular basis and followed with a published book of Morrie’s memoirs. After explaining Albom’s relationship with Morrie, he described one of his last conversations with Morrie.

Morrie asked that Albom visit his grave and talk to him from time to time. At first Albom joked with Morrie, but Morrie went on to tell him to talk and he will listen just as they have for the months before Morrie’s death.

“Mitch Albom truly knows how to touch an audience by making them laugh and cry all in an hour,” said Heiss.

That is exactly what the audience was doing throughout Albom’s speech.

After discussing Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom went on to describe two other relationships with his uncle and mother which triggered his other novels.

“Follow your heart and follow your dreams, they are never wrong,” said Albom throughout and at the close of his speech.

He wanted to get across the idea to follow your instincts and go with your gut.

“He helped me see that as long as I can touch someone’s life, I will have made a difference in this world,” said Heiss.




*Mitch Albom and Jackie Heiss