Motivation for life: Reflection on movie October Sky

By James Caliendo
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
November, 2010

The reasons that high school students are not motivated today is I think drugs/alcohol, the peer pressure and the reflection of the parents. I think these reasons are why high school students are not motivated because when you get in high school drugs come into play and along with the peer pressure and just the effects of drugs can screw up a high school students life. Also what I mentioned was parents. I feel some parents just do not care and do not encourage their kids when they do something good and just do not show appreciation sometimes. The effect on the kid could be bad because the kid would feel not appreciated and as if they have no purpose, ruining their motivation.

I think Homers father in the movie October Sky means well. Since I have seen the movie before I know at the end he learns to appreciate Homer and his accomplishments, but for the beginning of the movie I think Homers father acts stubborn, but he seems to warm up to Homer. I think having goals are very important. By having goals you are always working towards something, and have constant motivation. It is a healthy way to live your life. Parents/teachers should always be there for students because as a student if you know that you have people who are important to you behind you and supporting you along the way, it keeps you motivated to do well by them. I think that facing challenges and difficulties when looking to achieve something plays a huge factor because that could bring someone down and make them stop working at that goal, but when or if you overcome those challenges the feeling is great and you feel like you can overcome whatever is thrown your way.

So far Dr. Van Braun has motivated Homer the most because Homer has seen what Dr. Van Braun has accomplished and was inspired by it and looks to accomplish the same things. Miss Riley has been there for Homer, supporting him, lets him know that shes there and that keeps Homer working toward his goal. Homers father motivates Homer in a different way then the rest. Homers father does not support him really and that is what motivates Homer more because Homer is looking to prove his father wrong that he can get a scholarship to college by not playing football and does not have to work in the mine. The people who motivate students are the teachers, parents, and role models.

For students parents, teachers and role models are people for students to look up to and may be even want to prove wrong. Low SES affects students' learning because they feel they have no purpose. They just follow what the other people of their same SES do with their lives. Homers situation is that everyone in their town, if they do not get a scholarship, they work in the mine. Rocketry motivates Homer because he does not want to work in the mine and knows that his life does not have to be what the rest of the boys his age do. I think to be a motivator you have to have a positive attitude amongst students or whoever. By having a positive attitude you leave a positive reflection on the students and that is what could help keep students motivated.