Ben Carson and Gifted Hands Gifted Hands is the story of the world famous Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Ben Carson. The book tells of Carson’s journey from the bottom of his fifth grade class to his current position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In his autobiography Carson explains how a strong faith in god, and the help of an extremely strong mother, he was able to overcome not only the doubts of his classmates and teachers but also the doubts of his own intelligence, and turn his life around. Carson’s story begins in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of eight with the departure of his father, leaving young Ben, his brother Curtis, and his mother to fend for themselves. Young Benjamin immediately began to notice changes in what once had been a financially stable family, and that his family would now be forced to struggle to get by. With only a third grade education Carson’s mother was forced to take on two, sometimes three jobs to provide for her two boys. Benjamin and his brother fell farther and farther behind in school; in fifth grade, Carson was at the bottom of his class. His classmates called him "dummy" and he developed a violent, uncontrollable temper. When Mrs. Carson saw Benjamin's failing grades, she determined to turn her sons' lives around. She sharply limited the boys' television watching and refused to let them outside to play until they had finished their homework each day. She required them to read two library books a week and to give her written reports on their reading even though, with her own poor education, she could barely read what they had written. A turning point in his life was when Carson astonished his classmates by identifying rock samples his teacher had brought to class. He recognized them from one of the books he had read. "It was at that moment that I realized I wasn't stupid," he recalled later. After he found this new source of confidence Ben developed a love for reading and a hunger for knowledge, he began to read voraciously on all subjects. Carson continued to amaze his classmates with his newfound knowledge and within a year he was at the top of his class.
Baldwin’s story presents the heart breaking portrayal of two brothers who have become disconnected through respective life choices. The narrator is the older brother who has grown past the depravity of his childhood poverty. The narrator’s profession as an algebra teacher reflects his need for a “black” and “white,” orderly outlook on life. The narrator believes he has escaped life’s sufferings until the death of his daughter and the troubling news about his brother being taken in for drug possession broadside him to the reality of life’s inevitable suffering. In contrast, his brother, Sonny has been unable to escape his childhood hardships and has ended up on the wrong side of the law. While their lives have taken ...
Kathy Harrison starts her personal story happily married to her childhood sweet heart Bruce. Kathy was living a simple life in her rural Massachusetts community home as the loving mother of three smart, kind, well-adjusted boys Bruce Jr., Nathan, and Ben. With the natural transitions of family life and the changes that come with career and moving, she went back to work as a Head Start teacher. Her life up until the acceptance of that job had been sheltered an idyllic. Interacting in a world of potluck suppers, cocktail parties, and traditional families had nothing in common with the life she would choose after she became a Head Start teacher.
Abigail came from one of the most educated and prosperous families, but she never went to school or even had a tutor like most other families. Instead, her mother taught her to sew and cook as well as do house chores. Abigail learned much social grace and etiquette from her mother and grandmother. Mr. Kem Sawyer stated, “ Abigail would inherit her grandmother’s lively, cheerful disposition…”. She read any and every book available to her. Her father taught her that respecting God was VERY important. Abigail even kn...
With this earned admiration he was able to open not only a town store, but a hospital and a school as well. He pleaded for the clan to send their children and all others who wanted to, to attend his school. At first everyone was reluctant to explore this new option for education. Those that chose to attend Mr. Brown’s school would not only learn how to read and write, but they would also learn how to fight back against th...
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she stated. Her passion for helping children with special needs was developed at a later age. The reason why Chris decided to be a special education teacher was because of two twin boys in her grade who had special needs. Chris was only in kindergarten at the time, but she recalls that one of these boys did not get to go to school. The other boy, Jimmy, could come to school, but he would have to leave halfway through the school day. Chris was confused and upset about how Jimmy could not be at school and asked her mom about this. The reason why Jimmy and his brother were not at school was because there was no special education program. This moment, even though she was in kindergarten, shaped Chris’s plan for her
“The Sanctuary of School”, an essay by Lynda Barry, shows the troubles that she goes through as a child in elementary school and how she finds an escape. The author catches the reader’s attention by saying “I was 7 years old the first time I snuck out of the house in the dark” (Barry 721). It makes us want to keep reading to find out why she did it and where she will go. The story matters because she is telling about how she was neglected and unhappy in her home but finds a place of relief. “They were short on money and long on relatives” (Barry 721). Barry’s parents cared more about their finances than their children, forcing Barry and her brother give up their room to sleep on the couch. Barry writes about leaving early one morning to go
Benjamin went to New York looking for work but could not find anything. He also went to New Jersey but didn’t find work unti...
In Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, some of the recurring themes include learning to appreciate what you have and that having money does not guarantee happiness-- family and love are just as important for the well being of oneself. These themes are taught to the five girls of the March family- Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy- by their thoughtful, affectionate mother. The mother’s wisdom is gradually passed down to her four daughters, teaching them the importance of love, gratefulness, and selflessness.
Born in Boston on January 17th, 1706, Ben had 16 siblings (10 which were full siblings). He attended Boston Latin School and had a very successful education there. Despite how well he was doing, Ben was removed to work with his father in making candles at 10 years old. When Ben turned 12 he was apprenticed to his brother, James, who owned a printing shop. Their father did this because he was afraid Ben would go out to sea like one of the other brothers. Ben saw this as a fitting opportunity and did well, despite his brother’s harsh treatment.
In the short story Hands the main character, Wing Biddlebaum, is forced into isolation due to a traumatic event earlier in his life.1 William L. Phillips states, “The story was one called “Hands.” It was about a poor little man, beaten, pounded,...
Ben is one of the main characters in the movie. It all started with the class going to a
Benjamin Franklin and Christopher McCandless both demonstrate that determination often leads to greater skills and intelligence. Throughout Ben Franklin’s life he gains a lot of intelligence through his determination to do new things and his strive to do better. Chris McCandless gains a lot of life skills through his determination to go and live in the wild. Determination played a key role in their intelligence and success.
After his request,she read the whole letter in loud voice to her son, “Your son is a genius. This school it too small for him and we don’t have enough resources and good teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself at home".
During her extended travels, Mrs. White kept in close communication with her children through letters. These letters, written in context of a missionary and as a parent, conveyed her constant care for and guidance of her children. In a letter to her at the time teenage son, Edison, Mrs. White admonishes him for wearin...
That boy was me. Ever since an even younger age, I have had a love of knowledge. Every chance I got, I did what I could to learn more. My hunger for knowledge was trumped only by my hunger for pizza. When I started a book, I could not put it down. The scenario described earlier was a very common one. I had my first all-nighter before most of my peers because I would just be so absorbed in a book that I would forget to go to sleep. This love of knowledge has not died as I have aged. I still wish to know as much as I can. Knowledge has been the one constant in my life.