• Born in the slums of Detroit, in deep poverty.
• His mother and father divorced.
• His Mother came from a family of 24 children. 
• His mother couldn't read.
• His mother raised Ben and his brother, Curtis.
• Ben was the worst student in his grade school class.
• Ben becomes top student in his grade school.
• Ben becomes a world renowned doctor. 

Student Success Statement

A Choice: Poverty or Prosperity

“I hated poverty. Poverty is more of a choice than anything else, and I can change that (poverty). It depends how hard I want to work and I decided that I would change it.”