Motivation in October Sky

By Melissa Yonelunas
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 15, 2011

While viewing the film in class today, I took notes on what motivated Homer. These notes are extremely helpful to me because I saw some techniques that worked in the film, that match what I have seen in the research I have started for my research project.

One of the factors that motivated Homer was that the lesson was relevant to his own life. The movie focuses on the launch of Sputnik, the first man-made satellite to enter orbit in space. It is no wonder that Homer’s fascination with rockets stems from the advances that are being made in the world around him. Also, the key factor that motivated Homer was seeing this satellite himself. Hearing a recording of the sound it made did not impress him, but seeing it in the starry night sky immediately blew him away. As he says in the movie, it was the first time he felt that there was more out there outside of Coalwood, and “anywhere in the world, anyone could look up and see what I saw.” It was this realization that encouraged him to do more and achieve more.

Another element of motivation for Homer was his teacher’s support and encouragement. She constantly supported him throughout the film by attending his rocket launch attempts, buying him a book about rockets, telling him about the science fair, and reminding him “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.” She believes in him and gives him hope that he can accomplish much more. What is more is that she supports him no matter what he chooses to do and tells him that she is proud of him. Knowing that someone notices his hard work and congratulates him on it is meaningful. It makes it all seem worth while. This is also inviting to him because he does not want to be stuck in the mine town forever. The fact that he does not want to be a miner also motivates him. He does not want to wind up like his father and the other men in Coalwood. He sees the toll that the coal takes on the people around him, and he wants something better for himself.

The other thing that motivates him is the science fair. Having proved already that he is no good at football, the science fair offers him another chance at winning a scholarship and going to college to become something more than a coal miner. The science fair motivates him even greater, because as his teacher tells him you need to be good at math to do well. While math isn’t his favorite subject, his interest in building the rocket and entering it in the science fair helps him motivate himself to learn the math. He sits down working on the math every chance he gets (breaks in the mine, all night instead of sleep) until he masters the math. He actually uses it to prove his innocence in the forest fire situation.

Overall, the movie has given me a look at some elements that factor into student motivation that I can continue to research for my project.

I was so happy when Homer’s father showed up at his last rocket launch! We were talking in class today about some of the reasons responsible for killing motivation in adolescents. I believe that parents, who are like Homer’s dad, can definitely affect the motivation of their children. Homer’s motivation was deep and intrinsic, so he endured his father’s disapproval, but some other adolescents may not be so bold.

Homer’s father was the type of parent that did not want to take risks. He saw that his son was growing up in a little town and had no promise of getting out on a football scholarship because he was no good at football. Instead of taking Homer’s chance of winning a scholarship at the science fair seriously, Homer’s father decides to take no interest in the matter and condemns Homer for trying. It is as if he does not want to get Homer’s hopes up of being able to accomplish his dream of going into space. Instead, we see Homer’s dad being stern with him when he fools around with the rockets. He is only happy when Homer joins him in the mine. It is only then, when Homer is living out Mr. Hickam’s dream for him, that Mr. Hickam tells his son he is proud. As soon as Homer leaves the mine to continue school and the work on his rockets, Mr. Hickam again expresses his disappointment. While Homer’s chances might not have been great, Mr. Hickam still should have supported his son. If he took an interest in what Homer was doing, then he would see just how advanced Homer’s thinking process and math skills were. It is unfortunate that he does not see this until the end, but at least he does finally realize it.

Also, while Mr. Hickam seems to be against Homer’s dreams, he does in some very small ways show Homer some support. He gives Homer a hard time with using materials, yet he does let him use the “messed up” cement for his launch pad. He also ends the strike and allows the part Homer needs for the science fair to be made. Although, we do not know whether he does this for Homer or for his wife. And, while he makes it extremely difficult for Homer to continue his work, he does not make it impossible.

I think the Mr. Hickam is just worried about his son’s future. He doesn’t want Homer to get his hopes up only to have them crushed. That is why he tries to make the mining life look so good. What Mr. Hickam should have done, however, was support his son in his interests. Luckily, Mr. Hickam’s opinion did not stop Homer from striving for success. The fact that he finally came around in the end was wonderful and made the end of the film, when he places his hand on his son’s shoulder, that much more powerful.