Thrown into a new school, new people, and new challenges; Ben Carson faces trouble adapting to his surroundings. A few months ago he moved from Boston and is beginning fifth grade at Higgins Elementary School. He'd be what you'd call 'stupid' or an 'idiot'. He just couldn't comprehend what was being taught since his former teacher was more interested in talking to her coworkers. So obviously when he got to this school he was behind the other kids. The worst part was that he just got his report card. He doesn't want his mom to see his embarrassing grades. When she sees them, she asks if those were his grades. Ben nonchalantly replies, "Oh, yeah, but you know, it doesn't mean much." This frustrates her, just like any other parent, because she knows he has the brains; he just needs to try. She sighs, "Education is the only way you're ever going to escape poverty. It's the only way you're ever going to get ahead in life and be successful." After she says this, she tells him he has to read two books a week and only watch 2 TV programs a week.
When I read that I felt bad for him. I can't even imagine only watching TV twice a week! I think it's mostly just because in this time, technology is taking over our lives and making us lazier. Once I kept reading, the book said Ben was getting smarter. He knew what the teacher was talking about when no one else in the class did. His mom's rules really helped him excel faster than his classmates. He would always share his knowledge to the class any chance he got. I don't think he realized that he sounded as if he was bragging. Bragging is usually just annoying and sends people in the opposite direction. Bruce Lee once said, "Knowledge is power, but character respect." Knowledge is acquired by learning, but character respect is earned by the way you go about your learning. I don't believe that Ben went about it the right way; his classmates would agree.
