I signed up for a current event class so that I could talk about NASA at my school. The teacher loves that I keep up with NASA and lets me tell the class what is going on. The students on the other hand don't seem to care. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
On Thursday the teacher was out but put in the sub plans for me to tell the class about NASA. I found an article about the STS-128 mission that I was going to read. I only read two and a half senates because one of my class mates kept asking questions about the Moon. Such as “Did we really go to the Moon? How does the flag move if there is no wind? If that guy was the first to step on the Moon how did they film it?" I didn't mind answering the questions, even though I didn't know how to explain the flag movement. As I was answering the questions the substitute kept asking if I was done even though I had just started. The sub said that I had to let another student do what they had prepared for the class and could finish when he was done. Of course when the other student finished they never got back to me. Instead they talked about sports. I pulled up NASA TV on the computer and a few kids came over wondering what I was doing. I'm glad that they had some interest in space, but they joke about the NASA stuff before class
I understand that not everyone is into space. If I have to sit in class and hear what they have to say, they can sit there and listen to me. I'm just sick and tired of them not caring when space plays a part in our lives every day.
I agree with Hal completely!
It sounds like you're doing a great job of keeping the class informed (by force of will at least) of what is going on at NASA. Also, it sounds like you are in middle school or high school, but it seems almost worse in college, where in a controls class, when asked, half the students want to work on space technology, but our only "space" club on campus, SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) is always almost dead for lack of members.
It seems like it has been ingrained into students that they need to "keep their eyes on the prize", the prize being solely money. Even awesome people who are super-involved go flying through school to start working for whatever company will hire them with no thought to maybe smell the roses once in a while.
Anyways, I encourage you to keep studying, maybe start a SEDS group at school as a science group (where you can at least have more air time to explain how NASA is awesome) or maybe try your hand to get students interested in problem-solving by helping with or participating in a FIRST program (highly recommended). But, whatever you do, persistence is key. They may be agnostic young students right now, but deep down, hopefully some are really listening to you.
If you feel all alone in school now, don't worry. Just try to get in to a cool college environment where there WILL be people who feel like you do who you can connect with and work with. Not sure where you're from, but recommended schools from my experience for space geeks include Purdue, Texas A&M, University of Arizona, George Washington University, University of Alabama - Huntsville, or University of Central Florida.
- Rick H. (Director of Expansion for SEDS-USA, full disclosure)