A few weeks ago, my friend Martha Daniels recommended the movie A Million Miles Away on Prime Video. It’s the story of Jose Hernandez who was a mission specialist on a Discovery shuttle mission. This evening, Susan and I finally watched it.
This is the story of a child who was the son of Mexican migrant workers who picked the fields of foods that Americans ate at their tables. Inspired by his teachers, news stories of astronauts, and the innate curiosity with which all children are endowed, he aspired to become an astronaut. After a life-long pursuit of his dream and facing all the hardships that we and our parents and theirs have also faced, he made it to space.
The story reminds me of the movie Hidden Figures. It is about dreams. It is about potential. It is about aspirations and inspirations. It is about the importance of teachers whose inspiration often blooms in their students only after decades. It is about endurance and having the courage and resolve to face failure repeatedly until success is within reach.
Michael Pena plays the role of Jose, and the supporting actors do a superb job as well. I recommend this movie to you.