I think some common themes in class this week were living passionately, having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, and being tenaciously persistant in pursuing your goals. With all the pressures we are under on a daily basis (academic, social, familial), it is so easy to become disconnected from ourselves...we stop listening to the voice of our spirit...we don't have time to reflect on who we are, and what we want to do with the precious, relatively short time we have in this world. To look outside (or BE outside) and see the beautiful blue sky, the vibrant colors of the trees, and to think about how very lucky we are to have this momemt, to breathe this breath, and to have the opportunity to do something useful with our lives.
I hope that the Jane Elliot program allowed us to pause and reflect on what it means to take a stand...to believe so strongly in an idea that you risk alienation and isolation because you know what you are doing is right. I think that ties in with the theme of October Sky...officially my favorite movie...dreams are so fragile, we have to be strong enough to protect them! Finally, I think the commentary assignment is the perfect opportunity to start thinking about dedication to an issue, idea, or stance. Molly, Lexie, Ashley, Dylan, and Will did a great job starting us off...I hope that passion and creativity stays strong over the next two weeks.
To learn more about Homer Hickam and the Rocket Boys, visit his website at Homer Hickam, and to hear a very recent interview with Homer, go to Planetary Radio.