I had a childhood dream of becoming a physician. However, growing up poor in the 1950's in Detroit, Michigan with low self esteem, a horrible temper, and in a single parent household, the statistics were certainly not in my favor. But my mother, having only completed third grade herself, challenged her two children to strive for success by focusing on education. She encouraged me and my brothers to reach beyond our meager circumstances through reading and building our knowledge of the world. As i began to appreciate reading, my grades improved dramatically and he started to develop what would become a life-long love affair with learning. Young Ben excelled in high school and upon completion, went on to attend college at Yale University where he met Candy, the young lady who would become his wife.