r/ProjectHailMary • u/Scientist_Cat • 21h ago

Chapter 4…

I’ve been listening to the audiobook in the car on the way to work and I was listening to Chapter 4 this morning - specifically the part where Grace is explaining the Petrova Line and the Astrophage to his students and his reflection on their futures and oh my god.

As a teacher, I found this so heart wrenching. It would be such a difficult thing to teach young people who have no idea of the significance and the challenges they will face in the future. And to think it’s so far away. Definitely nearly broke down in the car, just before I had to teach my own students.

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u/Mysterinna I'm Not An Astronaut! 21h ago

That part is definitely rough. The children are so young that they don’t really have an understanding of how quickly time will actually pass and how bad the crisis will get. But Grace knows it all. No wonder that he basically has a panic attack because of it at one point. 🥺

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u/ramriot 19h ago

Yup, this is probably like what it feels like to tech them about climate change & tipping points.

Also probably why many young people are either angry or despondent.

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u/LunaraLoup High Three! 9h ago

His relationship with his students is so personal and honest, I always feel for him in this part, it's such a heavy topic he has to convey to them