October Sky

Ever since I was a little girl, my dream has been to attend the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. Both my mother and father graduated from the school, and needless to say, my dad is a huge fan. From birth, I was raised to be a Wolverine. I even knew the U of M fight song by the age of five, and I proudly sung it just about every chance I got. I attended Michigan tailgates and football games every season and was always glad to accompany my dad on a campus tour or to his old and beloved fraternity house. In my life, attending this prestigious university has often seemed like the only and the best option. Though a much different situation, it does parallel Homer's life in October Sky. Homer's dad was very proud of his job as a miner in their small town of Coalwood, and he wanted to pass that legacy onto his children as they grew older. I feel that my dad is like this in many ways. My father is very proud of the school that he received his college degree from, and often feels that this huge accomplishment has proved to be a great advantage in his life. This great pride and achievement is what my dad would like to pass down to me.

Though my Wolverine pride runs deep due to my upbringing, I often fear not being able to attend the University of Michigan for one reason or another. Sometimes I think that my grades are not strong enough and other times that I will not have enough financial resources. This is probably the same fear that Homer felt in October Sky. Though his mom was excited and eager for him to go to college, he was probably exceptionally scared that he somehow would not make it, especially after his arrest for allegedly starting a forest fire with one of his rockets. I have made many mistakes in my life, as everyone has. I often feel that after something goes wrong, that I should just give up and everything is over. I learned while watching this movie that this is far from the case. Homer definitely felt like giving up. He felt like he was destined for a mundane life of mining like his father and everyone else in the town. However, he did not let that stop him. Homer proved the police wrong, showing that his rocket could not have landed anywhere near the forest and started the fire. With this, he was able to continue in his quest to attend college and become a rocket scientist.

Lastly, in my life, I know that through both the good and the bad times, I have friends and family always standing behind me who will support me