Gifted Hands

1. From "Class Dummy" to Renowned Neurosurgeon: Ben Carson's Inspiring Journey

"Ben had made a giant discovery. But he couldn't yet imagine how much reading would change his life. The truth was he had found the key that would unlock his future and someday enable his greatest dreams to come true."

Early struggles: Ben Carson's journey from struggling student to world-renowned neurosurgeon is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief. In his early years, Ben was labeled the "class dummy" and struggled academically, particularly after moving from Boston to Detroit.

Turning point: The turning point came when his mother, Sonya, implemented strict rules on television watching and required her sons to read books and write reports. This initiative, coupled with Ben's newfound love for reading, dramatically improved his academic performance. By seventh grade, he had gone from the bottom of his class to the top.

Achievements:

• Graduated with honors from Yale University
• Became the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33
• Performed groundbreaking surgeries, including the separation of conjoined twins
• Received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom

2. The Power of Reading: How Books Transformed Ben's Life and Future

"Ben had always learned best by reading. He needed to find a way to use that strength."

Reading as a catalyst: Reading played a pivotal role in Ben Carson's transformation from a struggling student to a brilliant surgeon. His mother's insistence on reading and limiting television time was the catalyst for this change.

Impact on education and career:

• Improved vocabulary and comprehension skills
• Enhanced critical thinking abilities
• Broadened knowledge across various subjects
• Developed a lifelong love for learning

Carson Reading Rooms: Recognizing the impact of reading on his own life, Ben and his wife Candy established the Carson Reading Project. This initiative creates special reading spaces in schools across the country, encouraging children to develop a love for reading and learning.

3. THINK BIG: Carson's Philosophy for Success and Personal Growth

"We can complain about the problems we face in life, we can try to ignore them, we can allow ourselves to be paralyzed by the obstacles we see. Or we can ask ourselves my mother's question: Do we each have a brain? Then let's use this incredible tool God has given us!"

THINK BIG breakdown:

• T: Talent
• H: Honesty
• I: Insight
• N: Nice
• K: Knowledge
• B: Books
• I: In-depth learning
• G: God

Application: Carson's THINK BIG philosophy emphasizes the importance of recognizing and developing one's talents, maintaining integrity, seeking wisdom from others, treating people with kindness, pursuing knowledge, reading extensively, engaging in deep learning, and relying on faith.

Impact: This philosophy has not only guided Carson's personal and professional life but has also inspired countless others to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles.

4. Overcoming Racial Prejudice and Economic Hardship Through Education

"Education is the great equalizer. For example, to become a licensed physician he needed one thing — the required education. It didn't matter that his family was poor. Education and determination were all he needed to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor."

Facing prejudice: Throughout his life, Ben Carson encountered racial prejudice, from childhood experiences to professional challenges. However, he refused to let these experiences define or limit him.

Education as a tool: Carson recognized education as the key to overcoming both racial and economic barriers. His academic achievements opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed.

Breaking barriers:

• Excelled academically despite initial struggles
• Gained admission to Yale University
• Became a renowned neurosurgeon at a prestigious hospital
• Proved that talent and hard work could overcome prejudice and poverty

5. Faith, Prayer, and Perseverance: The Spiritual Foundation of Carson's Success

"Lord, Ben prayed, you've got to help me. Please take this temper away!"

Role of faith: Throughout his life, Ben Carson's faith played a crucial role in shaping his character, guiding his decisions, and providing strength during challenging times.

Key spiritual moments:

• Overcoming his violent temper through prayer at age 14
• Relying on faith during difficult surgeries
• Finding peace and purpose during his cancer diagnosis

Impact on career: Carson's faith not only helped him personally but also influenced his approach to medicine. He often prayed before surgeries and saw his work as a way to serve God and humanity.

6. Pioneering Surgical Breakthroughs: Separating Conjoined Twins

"Ben spent a few minutes answering reporters' questions, then the other doctors took a turn. Hospital officials made official statements. Even the boys' mother, now a very happy woman, made an appearance."

Groundbreaking surgeries: Ben Carson became renowned for his work in separating conjoined twins, a rare and extremely complex procedure.

Notable cases:

• Patrick and Benjamin Binder (1987): First successful separation of occipital craniopagus twins
• Joseph and Luka Banda (1997): Successful separation using advanced computer modeling
• Bijani twins (2003): Attempted separation of adult craniopagus twins

Impact: These surgeries not only changed the lives of the patients and their families but also advanced the field of neurosurgery and brought international recognition to Carson's work.

7. Giving Back: Carson Scholars Fund and Reading Rooms

"Hopefully I will live to see a nationwide network of at least 100,000 alumni — Carson Scholars all over America maturing into young adults who continue to develop and use their intellectual prowess while still demonstrating compassion and care for others. What a powerful leadership base that could provide for our nation!"

Carson Scholars Fund: Established by Ben and Candy Carson to recognize and promote academic excellence and community service among students.

Key features:

• Provides $1,000 college scholarships to students as young as fourth grade
• Recognizes scholars at regional banquets and in their schools
• Aims to create a network of future leaders across America

Reading Rooms: An extension of the Carson Scholars Fund, this initiative creates special reading spaces in schools to promote literacy and a love for learning.

Impact:

• Awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships totaling $6 million
• Established 85 Reading Rooms in 12 states
• Logged over 15 million minutes of independent reading in 2012

8. A Mother's Influence: Sonya Carson's Role in Shaping Ben's Character

"Sonya Carson, Ben's mother, had been born into a large and extremely poor rural Tennessee family. She was the next to the youngest of twenty-four children. Yet she only knew thirteen of her siblings because she spent most of her lonely and unhappy childhood moving from one foster home to another."

Sonya's background: Despite her limited education and challenging upbringing, Sonya Carson played a crucial role in shaping Ben's character and future success.

Key influences:

• Implemented strict rules on television watching and reading
• Encouraged Ben to believe in his abilities and pursue his dreams
• Instilled the value of education and hard work
• Taught Ben to rely on faith and prayer

Long-term impact: Sonya's unwavering belief in her sons' potential and her emphasis on education laid the foundation for Ben's future achievements in medicine and beyond.

9. Facing Challenges: Anger Management and Cancer Diagnosis

"When Ben got the bad news. Not only did he have prostate cancer, but the biopsy showed it was a very aggressive form. It would be a tough fight for survival. Somehow Ben put that out of his mind and successfully completed his operation."

Overcoming anger: As a teenager, Ben struggled with a violent temper that threatened to derail his future. Through prayer and self-reflection, he managed to overcome this challenge.

Cancer battle:

• Diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2002
• Initially feared the worst based on preliminary test results
• Ultimately received successful treatment
• Used the experience to deepen his faith and empathy for patients

Lessons learned: These challenges taught Carson the importance of self-control, faith, and perseverance in the face of adversity. They also enhanced his ability to relate to and care for his patients.

10. America's Future: Carson's Call for Educational Excellence and Civic Engagement

"You don't have to wait to be old and gray to get involved as a citizen, to make a great scientific breakthrough, to assume leadership, to be an inspiring example to others, or to make a difference in the world. If you want America to be beautiful for your children and grandchildren, get involved now, be concerned about something more than the next tune playing on your iPod."

Educational concerns: Carson expresses worry about the declining performance of American students in international rankings, particularly in math and science.

Call to action:

• Encourages young people to take responsibility for their education
• Emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and knowledge of government
• Challenges youth to make a difference in their communities and country

Vision for the future: Carson believes in the untapped potential of America's youth and sees them as the key to maintaining the nation's greatness. He dedicates much of his post-surgical career to inspiring and challenging young people to excel academically and become engaged citizens.

Last updated: January 24, 2025