In terms of the word Appalachia there are both positive and negative connotations. There have been many stereotypes made about the Appalachian region. The positive ones are uplifting and speak about the culture. While the negative one talk about stereotypes that can be seen as offensive today. One stereotype that hurt the Appalachian region is that of how the area lacks education. Outsiders of the Appalachian region tend to believe these stereotypes, and the life of an Appalachian tends to revolve around coal mining. The Film, October Sky, was directed by Joe Johnston in 1999, portraying the life of Homer Hickam. The movie takes place in Coalwood, West Virginia revolving about the main character Homer Hickam, played by Jake Gyllenhaal,
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Hmm? I have to, Mister Turner, I'd go out of my mind (October Sky).”
This exchange tells us that not a lot of hope was put into the boys because no one expected them to make it as far, and do as well as they did. People in the region could look to what the group of friends, referred to as “Rocket Boys”, accomplished and see that there is more to life that just working in the mines. There are more opportunities in life if they work hard towards their goals. This holds true even to today in the region. Most people are still assumed that after high school they are not going to amount to anything, and that still only a few will do anything with themselves. As a person in Appalachia, it is hard to always be told that you are only going to make it so far. Until I was a junior in High School I lived in Louisville Kentucky, and at first I hated the idea of moving away to the region. When we moved to Eastern Kentucky I was reluctant to accept positive things about the region, I wanted to hold true to all the stereotypes. The more I became comfortable in the area and started to look around, I began to see that those stereotypes were nothing more than an exaggeration of about a small percent of people who lived here. Yes it may be true that a small amount of us actually go on to accomplish great things, but I believe most of it is because people do not put faith and time into the regions education because of this stereotype put onto
Hmm? I have to, Mister Turner, I'd go out of my mind (October Sky).”
This exchange tells us that not a lot of hope was put into the boys because no one expected them to make it as far, and do as well as they did. People in the region could look to what the group of friends, referred to as “Rocket Boys”, accomplished and see that there is more to life that just working in the mines. There are more opportunities in life if they work hard towards their goals. This holds true even to today in the region. Most people are still assumed that after high school they are not going to amount to anything, and that still only a few will do anything with themselves. As a person in Appalachia, it is hard to always be told that you are only going to make it so far. Until I was a junior in High School I lived in Louisville Kentucky, and at first I hated the idea of moving away to the region. When we moved to Eastern Kentucky I was reluctant to accept positive things about the region, I wanted to hold true to all the stereotypes. The more I became comfortable in the area and started to look around, I began to see that those stereotypes were nothing more than an exaggeration of about a small percent of people who lived here. Yes it may be true that a small amount of us actually go on to accomplish great things, but I believe most of it is because people do not put faith and time into the regions education because of this stereotype put onto