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October Sky Analysis

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October Sky Analysis
“How about I believe in the unlucky ones?” this could arguably be the most important line in the entire film, October Sky. This teacher, Miss Riley, recognizes the potential in every student, not only the ones with visible ability. This should be the goal of every teacher. Miss Riley not only provides the boys with hope, but also with endless supports as they proceed in their rocket building. Teachers have the greatest gift in the world—the ability to help shape a student’s life. They can use that to present a world of opportunities to those who may not have had any. This was true in October Sky; when the “Rocket Boys”, a group of high school students from a small failing mining community, were given an amazing opportunity to be more than they …show more content…
She asks a student what he thinks of the subject, Homer Hickam had no answer. It was not until he witnesses Sputnik with his own eyes that had began to have an interest in rockets and space. Thus this began the journey that would get him and his friends into college. The “Rocket Boys” set off to build a working rocket, one that would go up high in the air. As life would have it the “Rocket Boys” did not go without hardship. In their journey the first rocket, AUK I, blows up a section of the Hickam home fence. They get right back to work on AUK I with the help of a company worker they have a functioning rocket. The boys go to launch it from a hill top near the mine and unknowingly the rocket heads straight toward the mines. Landing in front of Hickam’s father’s office Homer and the boys are faced with their first setback. Hickam’s father lets him know, “Don’t you ever let me catch you with these fool things on company property again,” which meant they would have to get about eight miles out of Coalwood, West Virginia. This gets O’Dell and Roy Lee to doubt in themselves because they cannot see a future where they win a science fair. “A million to one, O’Dell,” are the chances that a bunch of kids from Coalwood actually winning the National Science Fair (October

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