Ever since March of this year, our eighth grade class has been reading an inspiring novel about perseverance, friendship, and belief in oneself. Written by an enriching author, Rocket Boys teaches the readers about working hard to achieve one’s goals. Mr. Hickam had to push through many boundaries and challenges for him to become the person he is today. He has set an example for the students in this room and for students all across the country. His perseverance helped him achieve his goal of becoming a NASA engineer. If the students in this room, including myself, use that as an exemplar to shape our lives, we could become amazing and important people.

A major theme in Rocket Boys was perseverance. Throughout the entirety of the book …show more content…
Hickam could challenge his adversities and obstacles, he could not do it himself. He had to have the support of his friends. Without the support that he had received, he could not even dream about building rockets. Mr. Hickam had received support from people you wouldn't necessarily call his friends. For example, the men in the mechanic's shop had supported Mr. Hickam by creating the nozzles and casements for the rockets that he and the rest of the BCMA used. The community members of Coalwood, and members of other communities, had come to view the rocket launches. A quote from Basil Oglethorpe, "If you have any hope of understanding what the grand and glorious future holds for all who dare seize it, you must come to see the rocket boys of Coalwood." This support, albeit emotional, boosts the morale of the group.

This exemplar is true in all of our lives. Even now, as students, if you don't understand a lesson or topic during class, most of the students in this room would ask their friends for a better understanding or grasp of the idea. This still stays true as we become adults. If we do not have the support of our friends as we advance into the odyssey, an adventure that our parents and teachers already live in, we will not succeed in the tasks that will be set forth in front of us. Whether now or in the future, we need the support of our friends. We need our friends if we want to be successful in the