“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do” (Pele qtd. In Soccerlens). Many people gain a respect for their achievements when they had to have perseverance. Sonny was one of many average boys in a small mining town not known for any accomplishments. Despite his lack of learning opportunities, he learned a very valuable life lesson. The theme, when you persevere, you can do anything, is prominent in the memoir October Sky, and is emphasized by specific events such as Sonny’s relationship with his father, rockets, and pursuit of education.
Sonny’s relationship with his father is a great example of how perseverance can improve relationships. At the beginning of the book, their relationship is isolated. When his father invites Sonny to return to Coalwood after college, Sonny brutally refuses with a stinging remark. He says, “‘When I get out of this stinking hole, wild horses couldn't drag me back.’ My words were meant to hurt him…show more content… They persevered through methods by their errors and learned from them, they soon developed more effective rocket design and fuel. This sort of impressive determination is evident throughout Sonny’s rocket building exploits. Here’s another phrase from a section of the book that displays determination and perseverance, “I believe you can build a rocket, he doesn’t. I want you to show him I’m right and he’s wrong,” (Homer 51). This discussion occurs between Sonny and his mom, just after his first, makeshift rocket blows up his mother’s garden fence. In that moment, Sonny is spurred on to continue developing his rockets, and continue to make them better and better. Sonny then decides to go above and beyond the expectations that everyone had for him and his rockets. Thus we see that through consistently persevering, dreams can become
