Motivating students by supporting their dreams

By Briana Nussbaum
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
November, 2010

Today in class we started to watch the movie, October Sky. The main character in the movie is a high school boy named Homer. Homer lives in a small town where most boys are expected to grow up to work in the mine. However, Homer has a different dream. After seeing Sputnik, all he wants to do is build rockets. Homer and his friends collect all of the materials needed to create rockets; and build numerous rockets and test them. Homer’s father does not approve of his interest and does not support him, mainly because he wants his son to be a miner like him. Homer becomes a little discouraged without the approval of his father. His teacher on the other hand, supports Homer and his friends one hundred percent. She is proud of the boys for taking interest in something scientific and doing what makes them happy. She stands up for them when higher school authorities question and look down upon the boys’ interest. Without the support of their teacher, these boys would not have been as successful with their rocket building. She gave them the encouragement they needed when no one else would.

It is really important to motivate and support our students. Students of all ages need to be encouraged and challenged. This is especially true when they seek interest in something unique and are so excited in what they are learning. I know that when I become a teacher I will do whatever it takes to encourage my students to do well. Since I am going to be an art teacher it will be interesting to see how far I can push the talent of my art students. Sometimes students do not even know what talent they have, because no one ever challenges them or shows them what they are capable of. I will be sure to let my students know that they can do anything, as long as they never give up.