Teens on Board: Wesley and Jake

The attributes of Wesley R. Crusher and Jacob “Jake” Sisko stand as unique innovations in the history of Star Trek- youthful reputations who fans get to watch grow into adults as the substantiate changes. While children and teens had been guest performs during the original display, most notably “ And the Children Shall Lead, ” it was not until the introduction of Wesley on Star Trek: The Next Generationand then Jake on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that teens took a prominent role in Trek adventures.

My family’s dual indicated Cirroc Lofton and Avery Brooks picture

One of the most-important similarities between the specific characteristics is that both lost a mother. It is worth noting the deaths of Wesley’s father and Jake’s mother are connected to Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Wesley’s father was Jack Crusher, a Lieutenant Commander dishing under Captain Picard on the U.S.S. Stargazer. Picard transported Crusher on the mission that lead to his death( “Encounter at Farpoint, Part I ). Fourteen years later, Picard would be abducted by the Borg Collective and was transformed into Locutus, leading an attack at the Battle of Wolf 359 against Starfleet. This led to the death of Jake’s mother Jennifer aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga( “Emissary, Part I” ). Wesley and Jake were lucky to have strong living mothers in Beverly Crusher and Benjamin Sisko, respectively, and in the habit of Star Trek serving as a metaphor to real life, these reputations represent the challenges faced by single mother homes during the 1980 s and 1990 s.

Meeting Wil Wheaton during 2013

Both Wesley and Jake were influenced by their parents in terms of vocation preferences and pastimes. For instance, Wesley and Jake learned about baseball from their father-gods( “Evolution, ” “Emissary, Part I” ). Even more important to their people, especially as teens, is watching Wesley and Jake end which career paths to take as they grow into adulthood. The attribute occurrence here is realistic, with Jake and Wesley both dealing with something numerous teens have to face- balancing parental expectations with personal goals.

For Wesley, living in space is an excellent know and he has a deep interest and commitment to Starfleet. He had good role models in his two Starfleet parents, which aroused his selection. This commitment almost completely defines Wesley’s personality during his four years as a regular character on TNG. In information, except for the occasional mention of friends, as in the Ten Forward scene at the end of “Evolution, ” or his interactions with reputations like Robin Lefler( “The Game” ), the majority of members of Wesley’s friendships are with his Starfleet mentors, William Riker, Geordi La Forge, Data, and of course, Picard.

Wesley does have a crisis about whether or not to actually join Starfleet near the end of the streak, and he questions if he made his alternatives because of what he demands or because of what he conceived others missed of him. He does leave his contemplates at the Academy for a while to start suffer the universe with the Traveler( “Journey’s End” ), but he then returns to his original aim of joining Starfleet by the time of Star Trek Nemesis. He is ascertained at Riker and Deanna Troi’s wedding in a Lieutenant Junior Grade Starfleet uniform, and a deleted panorama, the script, and the novelization explain that Wesley will be joining Riker’s crew on the U.S.S. Titan; it should be noted that some of the non-canon bibles volunteer a different rationale for why Wesley is wearing the uniform.

My family and I assembling Cirroc Lofton during 2015

By contrast, Jake is less fervent about living in space, peculiarly aboard Deep space 9. The 1992 DS9 Writer’s Bible says that Jake “knows that his mama would still be alive if they did not live in space, and he has a repressed bitterness about it.” Unlike Wesley, who instantly required in order to life aboard a starship, Jake does not really participate Starfleet as policy options. Benjamin Sisko infers his son will follow his pattern, and Jake is concerned about disappointing his father in early escapades of the show. In actuality, Jake wants to be a writer. This love of literature is indicated at in chapters, such as when Jake schools his sidekick Nog how to read( “The Nagus” ). While never as good a student as “I ever get an A” Wesley Crusher, Jake has a artistic and imaginative line-up same to the rest of their own families. “His fathers”, Benjamin, experiences jazz and art, and his grandfather, Joseph, is a captain chef.

In the escapade “Shadowplay, ” Jake eventually resolves this joint youthful trouble of poising beliefs and personal goals– thanks to the advice and encouragement of Chief O’Brien.

O’Brien: What’s wrong? Jake: Good-for-nothing. It’s time that – why is everybody be said that I’m going to the Academy? O’Brien: Well, you want to go, don’t you? Jake: Not really.

O’Brien tells Jake about his own experiences with “his fathers”, who wanted Miles to become a musician. Jake is well known that he must tell “his fathers” about not wanting to join Starfleet. In countless rooms, the relationship between Ben and Jake is one DS9’s excellent aspects. It shows the ardour that exists among parents and sons, and the realistic dynamics of those kinds of relationships. Benjamin tells his son, “It’s your life, Jake. You have to choose your own mode. “Theres only” one thing I require from you: find something you adore; then do it the best you can.” This wire is peculiarly moving considering the excellent incident, “The Visitor, ” a few seasons eventually, which evidences a possible alternative future for the specific characteristics in one of Star Trek’s most-emotional and beautiful incidents ever.

One of the reasons that I as a girl like Wesley and Jake is that both achieve their goals by taking advice from others, but also and eventually by listening to their own dreams. They are great role models for children and teenages because while one is interested in science and one is interested in the arts, both contribute to their family and society( galaxy !) by using their knacks in the service of others.

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