October Sky

Michelle Thompson
October Sky
September 30, 2012
Professor Bejtlich

The movie October Sky is about Homer Hickam who was inspired to build a rocket and never gave up until his dreams became a reality . Entrepreneurship is a career path that doesn't always prove to be an instant success. Entrepreneurship is a field that involves determination, passion, vision, and the power to succeed. If there were anyone who can relate to these qualities, it would be Homer Hickam. Growing up in a small mining town called Coal wood, West Virginia. Homer is a teenage boy with only one future in sight; to work in the local coalmine like his father which he blatantly refused. However in October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. With that event, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. Unfortunately, most of the town and especially Homer's father felt that they were indeed wasting their time on trying to build a rocket. Only one teacher in the high school understood their Intention and their potential for growth and lets them know that they could become contenders in the national science fair with college scholarships being the prize. Using the qualities needed in an entrepreneur such as innovativeness, Homer displays them all and does it splendidly.
Homer Hickam was a teenage boy from a mining town in West Virginia called Coal wood. He inspired to build rockets when he seen the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, streak across the stars. With his friends and the local nerd, Homer sets out to do just that but with many errors and trials his Creation was borne. Along with the town, Homer's father thought they were wasting their time with their rockets. He wanted Homer to be a coal miner just like everyone else but Homer knew he didn't belong there. As time went on, some people from town became interested in seeing the homemade missiles launch into the sky. The boys became popular and were known as the "Rocket boys" around town.
Homer Hickam had to overcome many obstacles to get to where he wanted to be. He had to work around his father’s expectations for him to work in the mines. He had to push past his brother’s shadow to create his own legacy. Finally he had to overcome the expectations of growing up and working in the mines of Coal wood West Virginia. John is the manger so to speak of the Coal wood mine. He is a hard man with expectations for Homer to work in the mines and to grow up the same way as he did. He doesn’t like the fact that Homer is an exception to the other people in Coal wood. Homer doesn’t really think that his father cares about him or what he does with his rockets. There is a scene in the movie when John throws out all of his son’s rocket books and tools because he thinks it is a worthless “hobby “as he calls it. He finds his father does care about him and what he does by two things that happened. First, when Homer and his friends are building the launch pad, he asks his dad for some cement to use for the base. At first his father says no and then tells him there is some cement left over from a new driveway the company just built. Second, his father comes to watch Homer and the Rocket Boy’s last rocket, Homer lets his dad push the button to launch the last rocket.
An Entrepreneur, according to Merriam-Webster, is one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. Though Homer Hickam doesn't start to build his own company or firm, he does organize and manage his dream to build a successful rocket. Going through numerous metal tubes, fuses, rocket models, and launching sites, Homer and his friends worked together, despite the criticism and doubt from Homer's father and the rest of the town. Homer and his friends began building a rocket for the science fair, and like entrepreneurs, went into the idea of taking a risk. None of the teens were guaranteed success, however; everyone still put forth so much effort. That in itself is admirable in any individual, especially entrepreneurs. Every person has a desire to be successful. However, many people do not possess the attributes that are required in order to be successful in their lives. Success is not something that is given to just anyone. Instead, success must be earned. Success does not come easy. Success requires a person to have determination in order to be successful. In the movie, October Sky, Homer was determined to reach his goals. Everyone and everything seemed to go against Homer, like any entrepreneur, Homer and his friends not only tackled the topic of risk, but also the idea of teamwork. When starting any new business, venture or idea that isn't solo by taking this course in entrepreneurship I am increasing my chances for success by learning all the different ways of building and running a business by