Dr. Ben Carson

But the other thing, probably just as importantly, is I hated poverty. You know, some people hate rats. Some people hate snakes and bugs. I hated poverty. And, you know, it really stung acutely. The teacher would sometimes say, everybody bring a nickel tomorrow because we're going to have popcorn balls. And they were beautifully wrapped in these cellophane balls.

But the other thing, probably just as importantly, is I hated poverty. You know, some people hate rats. Some people hate snakes and bugs. I hated poverty. And, you know, it really stung acutely. The teacher would sometimes say, everybody bring a nickel tomorrow because we're going to have popcorn balls. And they were beautifully wrapped in these cellophane balls.

But the other thing, probably just as importantly, is I hated poverty. You know, some people hate rats. Some people hate snakes and bugs. I hated poverty. And, you know, it really stung acutely. The teacher would sometimes say, everybody bring a nickel tomorrow because we're going to have popcorn balls. And they were beautifully wrapped in these cellophane balls.

wrappings of different colors and they looked so good. And they only cost a nickel. Some kids actually would bring a dollar to the school and buy a whole bag of them. But, you know, I never had a popcorn ball. Because we never had an extra nickel. That's how bad things were. But I just hated poverty until I started reading those books, until I started reading about successful people.

wrappings of different colors and they looked so good. And they only cost a nickel. Some kids actually would bring a dollar to the school and buy a whole bag of them. But, you know, I never had a popcorn ball. Because we never had an extra nickel. That's how bad things were. But I just hated poverty until I started reading those books, until I started reading about successful people.

wrappings of different colors and they looked so good. And they only cost a nickel. Some kids actually would bring a dollar to the school and buy a whole bag of them. But, you know, I never had a popcorn ball. Because we never had an extra nickel. That's how bad things were. But I just hated poverty until I started reading those books, until I started reading about successful people.

Surgeons, scientists, explorers and entrepreneurs, inventors. And as I read their stories, I began to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you. And the person who determines your future is you. And then poverty didn't bother me because I knew that it was only temporary and that I had the ability to change it.

Surgeons, scientists, explorers and entrepreneurs, inventors. And as I read their stories, I began to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you. And the person who determines your future is you. And then poverty didn't bother me because I knew that it was only temporary and that I had the ability to change it.

Surgeons, scientists, explorers and entrepreneurs, inventors. And as I read their stories, I began to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you. And the person who determines your future is you. And then poverty didn't bother me because I knew that it was only temporary and that I had the ability to change it.

I would have been about 10 or 11 at that point.

I would have been about 10 or 11 at that point.

I would have been about 10 or 11 at that point.

And I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I've always been drawn toward medicine. I used to love hearing the stories about missionary doctors who travel all over the world at great personal expense and danger to bring not only physical but mental and spiritual health to people. And I actually had determined when I was eight years old that I was going to be a missionary doctor.

And I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I've always been drawn toward medicine. I used to love hearing the stories about missionary doctors who travel all over the world at great personal expense and danger to bring not only physical but mental and spiritual health to people. And I actually had determined when I was eight years old that I was going to be a missionary doctor.

And I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I've always been drawn toward medicine. I used to love hearing the stories about missionary doctors who travel all over the world at great personal expense and danger to bring not only physical but mental and spiritual health to people. And I actually had determined when I was eight years old that I was going to be a missionary doctor.

Even when I was a terrible student, I was going to be a missionary doctor. And that was really my dream until I was 13. At age 13, having grown up in dire poverty, I decided I'd rather be rich. So missionary doctor was out. And psychiatrists was in. Because, you know, on TV, psychiatrists seemed like rich people. They lived in the mansions and drove Jaguars and had these big plush offices.

Even when I was a terrible student, I was going to be a missionary doctor. And that was really my dream until I was 13. At age 13, having grown up in dire poverty, I decided I'd rather be rich. So missionary doctor was out. And psychiatrists was in. Because, you know, on TV, psychiatrists seemed like rich people. They lived in the mansions and drove Jaguars and had these big plush offices.

Even when I was a terrible student, I was going to be a missionary doctor. And that was really my dream until I was 13. At age 13, having grown up in dire poverty, I decided I'd rather be rich. So missionary doctor was out. And psychiatrists was in. Because, you know, on TV, psychiatrists seemed like rich people. They lived in the mansions and drove Jaguars and had these big plush offices.

And all they had to do was talk to crazy people all day. And it seemed like I was doing that anyway. So I said, wow, this is going to work out really well. My brother knew about my interest in becoming a psychiatrist. He had a job and he bought me a subscription to Psychology Today. I started reading it and I became the local shrink in high school. Everybody would bring me their problems.

And all they had to do was talk to crazy people all day. And it seemed like I was doing that anyway. So I said, wow, this is going to work out really well. My brother knew about my interest in becoming a psychiatrist. He had a job and he bought me a subscription to Psychology Today. I started reading it and I became the local shrink in high school. Everybody would bring me their problems.