October
Sky
By:
Faye Lee
College Now Course - SCI 1
Personal
and social issues are presented in every day life. Society is fixated
on building dreams to succeed and building upon passion that gives
life newly fulfilled meaning. Some people have discovered the importance
of science in this world. They've advanced science to contemporary
society because of the belief that it is destiny to discover what
is beyond the boundaries of Earth. In October Sky, the leading
character, Homer, is a mediocre seventeen year old who proves to society
that even the average teenager can create grand dreams and make them
come true. All that was needed in the recipe of producing his dream
was his devotion, heart, endeavor, and faith. Without these ingredients,
he would've never made it far beyond society's close minded perceptions,
and he would've never come to realize that space exploration was always
his destiny. This film took the audience on Homer's journey where
the directions to succeed were always instilled inside him.
Homer's dream began when he first saw Sputnik, a Russian satellite,
go by across the sky. After he witnessed the launch of the Sputnik
seen in the sky, he discovered his passion in life. He realized that
he wanted to become a rocket scientist and explore space. Homer decided
to build a small rocket and try to get it to fly high into space.
He wanted to win the national science fair contest with the rocket
that he planned to build. No one really gave him a chance and had
faith that he could achieve this because he wasn't exactly the most
intellectual person in school. He was just an average teenager, no
one really special nor out of the ordinary. Homer attempted to destroy
society's stereotype. He didn't want to be patronized and he had complete
faith in himself that if he was devoted enough and work hard enough,
he can succeed. He never believed that he couldn't do it. His mother
and teacher supported him. All he needed was some faith to let him
go on working on the fulfillment of his dream. He came upon challenges
in his high road to succeed. His father was unsupportive because he
wanted him to work as a coal miner like him. Without his father's
support, it was harder to endure. He was unsuccessful in his first
attempts at rocket building. He gathered a few friends to help him
work on his project. They worked on it every day with such dedication
and devotion. As the days went on, Homer's passion to become a rocket
scientist grew. He had faith in his dream to be what ever he wanted
to be.
One day, he built a rocket that worked successfully. It shot up into
the sky at a tremendous rate, and all his classmates came to watch
it. He became well supported because people realized that he had the
potential to achieve. He was no longer perceived as a mediocre kid.
He had something special in him, a strong heart of confidence and
determination, which got him first place in the national science fair
contest. His father realized that he wasn't the one to decide who
his son should be. His job was to support all his son's endeavors
and help him reach the dreams that gave meaning to his life. In the
end, Homer's father did support him. Homer's journey proved that every
cloud has a silver lining. He experienced failure and condescension,
but from these experiences, he achieved his dream. He learned that
he could make it as long as he kept going.
In the film, Homer also discovers the importance of science. He immediately
became inspired after watching Sputnik go by across the night sky.
Sputnik was the first satellite launched into space and started the
space age and space race. The space race was between the U.S. and
the Russians. Homer knew, that from the time he saw his miracle in
the sky, his life was changed. He built rocket after rocket with his
friends, trying to get them to reach high into space. He studied math
and incorporated math in his rocket building by learning the precision
of numbers needed to measure time and velocity for the rocket to work.
His success in the national science fair led to the expansion of his
dream. In the end of the film, it was that Homer grew up becoming
an engineer for NASA. Space exploration was important to him because
it showed him what there was beyond earth's limits. He uncovered the
universe. He reached his destiny and found his meaning in life. Even
though he was just an average boy, he made it so far. There is no
impossibility. As shown through Homer, anything is possible when a
dream is motivated inside a heart's passion.
The personal and social issues raised in October Sky are also
significant in the American experience. In contemporary America, these
issues still exist. Kids have their own dreams, and they constantly
develop them out of passion. Some kids have been exposed to true inspiration
at a young age that have led them to work years to accomplish their
dreams. Others, such as adults, have been pursuing the wrong dreams
all their lives. Sometimes epiphanies arrive late in life and when
they do arrive, it gives life so much more meaning and life becomes
worthy living for. This is the same experience that Homer went through
in the film. He didn't discover what he wanted until he was seventeen.
His passion to build a rocket and explore space gave his life newly
found meaning and hope for his future. These personal issues are found
in every individual all around the world. People act on their dreams
by being devoted and hardworking like Homer. Without passion and heart,
there really isn't a dream worthwhile to achieve.
Social issues from the film can also be related to the American experience.
Support from peers and loves ones is needed for motivation to reach
beyond limits. As in the film, Homer found support from his mother,
teacher, and peers. He eventually won the support of his father, which
motivated him and gave him a lot more faith. American society is becoming
more supportive and accepting of science to the world. In the film,
Homer became intrigued with space exploration and everything involved
with it. In American society today, science still plays a large role.
Astronomers are attempting to find life on other planets, and they're
constantly tracking down the movements going on in space with the
help of satellites.
October Sky is a very empowering film. It depicted important
issues that demonstrated the efforts to reach dreams with the help
of society. In the film, Homer destroys the stereotypical idea that
the average person isn't able to achieve something so grand like building
a successful rocket and winning the national science fair. Homer demonstrated
the strength of his passion. He is truly devoted to become someone
he was inspired to be from the view of Sputnik across the night sky.
Space exploration became a main importance to him. American society
relates to the same issues. Americans strive for their dreams every
day. Dreams are gifts that give meaning to lives. Americans wouldn't
be able to succeed without faith. Support and faith from society are
the sources of motivation. Today, astronomy still plays a large role
in people's lives. Space will always be an interest to many people
because of the mystery of its natural wonders.
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