Some people are simply destined for greatness. When all the cards are stacked up against them and overcoming seems to be a matter of impossibility, they somehow manage to make it through to the end, completely unscathed. They are those people whom we can only dream of meeting, but hold far too much weight on their shoulders for us to emulate. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson is no different from one of these few people. Growing up in downtown Detroit, Carson was raised by his single mother, along with his younger brother in an environment that mapped out only a path of failure. It wasn’t until his mother, who only had a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence by setting study times each day and keeping their television time to a minimum. After graduating from an ivy league college and becoming a leader and innovator in science and medicine, Dr. Carson not only met, but far surpassed his mother’s challenge. Some of his career highlights include the first separation of craniopagus twins joined at the back of the head in 1987. In 1997, he also laid claim to the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in South Africa. In 2001, he was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as one of the nation’s twenty foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of the eighty-nine “Living Legends” on the occasion of its 200th anniversary. Even Hollywood took the chance to capitalize on his lifelong achievements by creating a movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr. in his place, called “Gifted Hands.” In addition to his perennial list of accolades, Dr. Carson went on to create his foundation, the Carson Scholars Fund in 1994, which awards students who have embraced high levels of academic excellence and community service with $1,000 college scholarships. Today, over 800 Carson Scholars have been named and have received over $800,000 in scholarship funds to help finance their ongoing education. Dr. Carson is helping heal people on a multitude of levels. When he’s not in the classroom enlightening inquisitive minds, he’s in the ER granting second chances in life. When he’s not traveling around the world learning from his past failures, he is gifting money to a youth in need, paving a way for them to be a success. At Brushfire, we hold people like Dr. Carson in our highest respects. Have YOU helped save the world today? For more information, visit: carsonsholars.orgWant to become a Social Firestarter? “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @ BrushfireMG
