AN ABRIDGED REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THE GIFTED HANDS
Purpose of Reflection
Having a pure intent to find purpose and to hold steadfast to it irrespective of background, in today’s world bedeviled with a whole lot of frivolities both online and offline have become a battle which more persons loose each day (Battle field of the Mind – by Joyce Meyers).
I recall growing up in my neighborhood back in my country. Life was seemingly simplistic with nothing sinister but a regular routine. It was mostly school and reveling at home. Innocent me, what else could I have done. Nonetheless, my heart did beat for something beyond me; like a course taking its toll, it burned more intensely with each passing day. It was fist a haphazard feeling to find meaning and purpose and to stand out but having gone through the life of Ben Carson in the pages of Gifted Hands and coming to know how seemingly far apart our backgrounds where; it was clearer and I couldn’t help but reflect on his eventual resounding successes in neurosurgery and life in general despite the ordeals he had to go through in a very cosmopolitan society plagued with racism and eternal taste for crimes and drugs
{You can talk about the reflection of the discussion that was held in your class at this point}
INTRODUCTION
You first start by giving a brief summary of Ben Carson’s life as at today. It should include his current age, marital status (i.e divorced or not), place of work, position and the whereabout of his children if necessary.
MAIN BODY
Early childhood
Ben Carson fondly called Bennie was the second of the sons of the Carsons. He was a proper child like everyone else his age and loved toys and reveling until at the age of 8th when he was to experience the most bitter part of his childhood. His Dad and mom had a divorce after his mom had found out that his dad had fathered other children outside their home. Bennie was going to lose his best friend, his dad as a result and it took him years to heal from it. There were terrible consequences that came with the divorce.
He and his brother remained with their mum, Joyce Carson who was now saddled with the herculean responsibility of catering for them both as a father figure and as a mother.
High School
Bennie was not a bright kid at first. With the initial move to the Avery’s at Boston and back to Detroit after his mother saved enough from multiple jobs, Bennie continued with school. Having to school in a white reserved school only added to his plight but he was bound to succeed. His mother’s rules on watching television, reading an average of __ books in a week, constant encouragements and her exemplary doggedness not only helped in forming a more resilient Bennie and his burning desire to excel will also set him for greatness. Finished from High school tops, He was set for Yale where he was going to embrace his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.
Yale
With another height attained academically came another huge offset to his scores. His reading skill was flat and he had to drop his old ways for the real life of study. With God factor and perseverance he made it through Yale. He had lots of jobs and his managerial skills were topnotch that he was on the good book of almost, if not all his employers. A hard working Bennie found love at Yale. Lacena Rustin whom he fondly called Candy was a triple major student in Yale and fate brought the two together and like a match made in heaven were perfect for each other.
Medical School
After graduating from Yale in 1974 with a fairly respectable grade point average, Bennie applied to a handful of Medical Schools in the country but he had his heart in one of the best, University of Michigan. Once again he got his wish and his application was well received and was granted admission. While at medical school, he had a plethora of revelations both as a student and as a Christian. He was very opened to learning and became an outstanding student.
{Check out the time of his graduation and some honors he might have gotten and add them to this part}
A Neurosurgeon
{You could narrate some of the places he worked in and some of the accomplishments he had in those places}
Transitions
{You could itemize them with a little brief}
1. Bully in elementary school
2. Having to lose the fun of his early childhood
3. Systemic racism{ site and instance}
4. Constant motivation from his mom
5. Constant appraisal and motivation during his internship at John Hopkins
Trajections
(Similar method should be applied as above}
1. His parents’ divorce
2. The exemplary sermon of Pastor Ford
3. Winning numerous awards in school
{A lot should come from his times as a doctor}
Turning Points
1. When he got glasses while in elementary school
2. His mother's sole raising of him
3. His success in Miranda’s surgery. etc
{You could add major life events at this point}
Conclusion
Gifted hands is not a tale of a super human. It is not an ode to a deity nor the mysterious. It is not a epilogue soaked in perfection and an unachievable feat for the rest of humans. It didn’t talk about Hercules or Zeus the god of mount Olympus that could serenade anyone with some supernatural thunder fireworks. The Gifted hands is a story that only seems out of the ordinary because of that little extra we seem not to remember exist and how help is indispensable to anyone that must achieve great and worthwhile success in life.
It was a narrative of an inner school kid who faced challenges, discomfort, racism, disenchantment and exhaustion but with constant discipline and encouragement from his mother, perseverance and the personal zeal to succeed wrapped up in some touch of the God kind of supernatural became an acclaimed and well renowned neurosurgeon who has touched the lives of many, healed the lives of some others and served as an inspiration to many out there in the world today
While we dream, we must dream big; put in the work and the zeal and our success will be resounding.
Happy Independence day Nigeria @ 61
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