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BEN CARSON’S SUCCESS

In “A Mother’s Answer” written by Ben Carson with Gregg Lewis, it is


clear that there is a wide range of factors responsible for Ben Carson’s success. In
this essay, two main groups of factors—subjective and objective—are going to be
discussed, followed by lessons deduced from the story.

Of all the contributions to Carson’s success, subjective factors cannot be


left out. First, his curiosity about geology acted as a motivation when he was not
allowed to watch too many TV programs per week. Second comes his thirst for
knowledge. He found himself going deep into general knowledge, and
surprisingly enough, he became an expert. Third, he realized his pride was there
all along the instant he gave the excellent answer in science class. He admitted
that from such moment he had been acknowledged of his own abilities for the
first time. Eventually, he found himself enjoying the feeling of being looked up to
by those who once had tormented him. As Carson realized that he was “no
dummy” and saw the potential of himself being at the top of the class, his life had
started to change. Conscious thought is so powerful that it creates big difference
among people. He believed he was dumb because others said so, but when he
realized he had his own ability, he achieved accordingly. Conscious thought was
the reason he was called “the dummy” and later “the genius”. That gap is so thin
that it sometimes seems blur to people.

Aside from subjective factors, objective factors also play a role in the
success of Ben Carson, the first one being his mother’s involvement in his
studies. Although Mrs. Carson, who received only a third-grade education,
couldn’t read the reports she required of her children, with her intuition, she
knew she must not let her son watch too much TV and neglect his schoolwork.
Carson’s mother loved him and wanted a better future for him than that of hers,
so she decided to make him read books regularly. Her determination was
remarkable, for many parents had given in to their child’s tantrum. Moreover,
she understood her son enough to neither force him too harshly nor indulge him
too much, just the right amount of authority to give him the best childhood
possible to support his later success in life.
The second extrinsic factor would be the environment in which Carson lived
through his childhood. In other words, it was the culture background that partly
delivered the positive impact on Carson’s success: “Well, back in those days, the
parents ran the house. They didn’t have to get permission from the kids.” This
seemingly strict and unfair treatment of parents actually helped Carson get down
to work and gradually learn to love reading. Moreover, the era of his childhood
did not offer many forms of entertainment other than the television. Without the
privilege of watching programs freely, Carson was left with few choices, and
ended up reading about animals, plants, and, fortunately, rocks.
Another factor worth considering was the bully he used to receive from his
classmates. Although this component was apparently negative, when the time
struck, it combined with the given chance to boost Carson’s pride and ego. It was
his desire to be more knowledgeable than those kids who had been teasing and
underestimating him that gave him the motivation, to achieve the long-seek
recognition and respect from his peers.
Last but not least, another cause that brought about Carson’s first ‘success’ was
no other than his pure luck. In other words, it was that one precious chance, the
chance in which Carson had the right opportunity to express his knowledge
about this exact rock in the exact topic that he had read, when everyone else
knew nothing about it. Although the incident might be considered as a flash in
the pan, it affected directly to Carson’s mind, being the first step that changed his
self-perception and paved the way for his restless effort as well as achievement
in the future.

No tale is without lessons; as a story, “A Mother’s Answer” delivers


various. To those still in the process of learning, it is but a story that highlights
the power of self-perception. Having had the same brain all along, Ben Carson
made a point saying it was the difference in mindset that led him to different
results: in fifth grade, believing he was stupid, Carson acted like he was and
stupid he became; in the seventh grade, however, thinking he was smart, Carson
acted accordingly, and became just that. This urges one to see to this truth: the
way you sees yourself ultimately decides who you are, for perceptions breed
belief, belief gives birth to action, the repetition of which shapes character and
thus identity is formed. That said, within the realm of reality, it is entirely
possible for one to become exactly what one desires to be, with enough effort put
into the process. Back to the story of Ben Carson for instance, who could have
guessed a kid of the underclass who failed in almost every subject would carve
his way into Yale? Even Ben Carson himself couldn't, but the instant he thought
he could, self-transformation was well under way. Indeed, while making his way
from bottom to the top was the two-year result of many factors—his mother's
determination, his pride in sending the jaws of those who teased him to the floor,
his time spent rigorously on books—the crucial starting point remains: when his
self-image changed, Carson was bound to change accordingly. Consequently, the
narrator’s musings regarding the potential of the human brain raise the question
of whether there exists a certain extent to which humans' abilities can reach.
There ought to be, but history has shown so far that it's unlikely: cavemen never
thought they would escape the confines of land, kings of ancient kingdoms never
dreamed of flying, and yet here we are, just a few hundred years away from
uncovering secrets of the universe. Perhaps limits are all self-inflicted—walls we
create to bar evolution. A change in perception, thus, undeniably results in the
eradication of such limits, turning walls into doors that lead to endless
possibilities.
Substances remain the same, it's what you make of them that yields
different results—that is the main lesson to be drawn from Ben Carson's story.
There are other points to be made, however; the following paragraphs will dwell
deep on two other ones being the importance of reading and the lesson of proper
parenting.

To those who constantly seek knowledge, “A Mother’s Answer” is a story


of the power of reading. Though not explicitly mentioned, the importance of
reading is made apparent: it is a means to other ends, the root from which
knowledge can be taken and the starting point of most, if not all, success stories.
Books are methods through which Carson moved from zero grades to a
scholarship to Yale, the sole reason for his leap from the pit to the summit, the
source of education that allows him a position above everyone else in class. Had
he never or rarely read books, Carson could never have answered that question
on that faithful day, never have realized his own potential and thus never have
achieved what he now did. Looking at his achievements, it is to be surmised that
reading is a must on the path to success. Not only is reading crucial but it is also
inspiring: the fact that what used to be a forced habit formed by his mother
turned into Carson’s willing ventures into all kinds of books proves that he more
one reads, the more engrossed one is likely to be.

To fathers and mothers, however, “A Mother’s Answer” delivers an interesting


account of proper parenting. In her case, Mrs. Carson had been right to make her
children read books, even more so when she let them choose types of their own
will. There was authority exerted, but not so much that it robbed the children off
of their own freedom and prevented them from naturally growing; a healthy
upbringing, as one would call it. Moreover, the fact that Mrs. Carson wasn’t even
educated well enough to read reports she required of her children speaks a lot
about this woman's character as a mother: earlier on we know that she loved her
children very much—she was strict because she worried about their future and
did all she could so that they didn't end up powerless—and seeing now as she
urged them to do something that was even beyond the capacity of her
knowledge, we could conclude that Mrs. Carson was aware of the significance of
knowledge and more than willing to accept her own lacking if it meant that her
children would reach a point in life where they could decide their own destiny.
Embracing her own deficiency and stepping back to guide her children away
from her unpromising path, Mrs. Carson had found the answer to change her
sons' life forever; and the success of Ben Carson surely proves that answer
satisfactory.

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