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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.