He listens, he's paying attention, closer to the Jim Kirk that just a few days ago was acing every subject thrown his way. His ma told him things, even though she was mostly on deep space science missions.

Jim never had a chance to meet his father, and he's found something of a surrogate dad in Captain Pike.

"I think---I think if I can manage to be half of the captain you are and my father was---then that'd be enough."

Maybe it's not much coming from a cadet that pretty much told you off for dragging him out of the dorms, but it's what he's got. He means it.