Everything I Needed To Learn In Life, I Learned From "Star Trek"

by Katy on October 22, 2008 · 2 comments

 

I am a geek.

I am in fact a super geek. Not only do I think that everything related to frugality is fascinating. (Have I told you about my homemade laundry detergent? Really, I already did? Can I tell you again?) I have about zero interest in being cool. Clothing, makeup and even popular music hold little interest for me. (This has been frustrating to my friends, who think I could be so pretty if I “just wore a little bit of makeup.”)

My lack of the cool gene is actually quite freeing.

Because I’m free to pursue interests others wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. For example:

Star Trek.

I rediscovered the different Star Trek TV series through my local library, (The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise and of course, the original series) and have felt great watching these shows with my young sons. I came to realize that the ethics I’m trying to impart to my kids are perfectly mirrored within the various series.

Higher Education: All the officers worked hard to go to Star Fleet Academy. It was hard work, but worth all the studying.

Conflict Resolution: The crews of the various ships are constantly trying to find diplomatic solutions to their various conflicts.

Non-Consumerism: Future Earth has done away with money. The one species obsessed with profit, (the Ferengi) are written as greedy and unattractive.

Tolerance: The main mission of The Federation is to, “Seek out new life and new civilization.” Accepting and embracing one another’s differences is the whole point of the show.

Intellectual Curiosity: The characters are constantly striving to expand their knowledge base.

Environmental Responsibility: The various starship crews are always very aware of environmental concerns. Whether that’s through prevention, or to help a planet reverse environmental damage.

So go ahead and call me a geek, you can even go so far as to call me a Trekkie. Just don’t call me a money grubbing Ferengi. That would simply be going too far.

Live long and prosper.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

esther October 23, 2008 at 6:20 am

that’s too funny! I’m definitly a “trekkie”, but never gave it a thought, of just why I like this series so much…and now you mention it, that’s exectly why I love it! thanx!

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Jill October 27, 2008 at 10:38 pm

Thank you. I was wondering how I could work Star Trek into my homeschool curriculm. This would fall under Social Studies, right?

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