Academy of Achievement Logo
Home
Achiever Gallery
Keys to Success
Achievement Podcasts
About the Academy
For Teachers

Search the site

Academy Careers

 
Dr. Benjamin Carson 2007, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Permalink: Email Video

Dr. Benjamin Carson 2007 Video

Pediatric Neurosurgeon
Introduction

"There is no such thing as an average human being. If you have a normal brain, you are superior. There's almost nothing that you can't do."

When Benjamin Carson was in fifth grade, he was considered the "dummy" of his class. His classmates and teachers took it for granted that Ben would take an entire quiz without getting a single question right. He had a temper so violent that he would attack other children, even his mother, at the slightest provocation. "I was most likely to end up in jail, reform school, or the grave," he remembers. But Benjamin Carson turned his life around. He graduated from high school with honors, went on to Yale University and to medical school. At age 32, he became Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He is internationally recognized as a pioneer in his field. In his operation on the Binder conjoined twins in 1987, he succeeded where all predecessors had failed, in separating twins joined at the head.



View More Podcasts
Each of the symposium presentations are excerpts from the 48-year history of International Achievement Summits. The audience is comprised of hundreds of promising young people selected to attend by the Academy.
Filter by: Most Recent, By Name
Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 3), Executive Director, ACLU

Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 3)

Executive Director, ACLU
Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 2), Executive Director, ACLU

Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 2)

Executive Director, ACLU
Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 1), Executive Director, ACLU

Anthony Romero 2010 (Part 1)

Executive Director, ACLU
Benazir Bhutto 2002, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto 2002

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Amy Grant 2009, Grammy-winning Singer and Songwriter

Amy Grant 2009

Grammy-winning Singer and Songwriter
Vince Gill 2009, Country Muisc Hall of Fame

Vince Gill 2009

Country Muisc Hall of Fame
Sue Grafton 2000, Award-winning Mystery Writer

Sue Grafton 2000

Award-winning Mystery Writer
Ehud Barak and George Mitchell 2003 (Part 2), Former Prime Minister of Israel with the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East

Ehud Barak and George Mitchell 2003 (Part 2)

Former Prime Minister of Israel with the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East
Ehud Barak and George Mitchell 2003 (Part 1), Former Prime Minister of Israel with the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East

Ehud Barak and George Mitchell 2003 (Part 1)

Former Prime Minister of Israel with the U.S. Envoy to the Middle East
Dr. John Sexton 2005, President of New York University

Dr. John Sexton 2005

President of New York University
The Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa<br />2009 (Part 2), Mayor of Los Angeles

The Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa
2009 (Part 2)

Mayor of Los Angeles
The Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa<br />2009 (Part 1), Mayor of Los Angeles

The Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa
2009 (Part 1)

Mayor of Los Angeles
Dr. Joseph Stiglitz 2009<br />(Part 2), Nobel Prize in Economics

Dr. Joseph Stiglitz 2009
(Part 2)

Nobel Prize in Economics
Dr. Joseph Stiglitz 2009<br />(Part 1), Nobel Prize in Economics

Dr. Joseph Stiglitz 2009
(Part 1)

Nobel Prize in Economics
Wole Soyinka 2009, Nobel Prize for Literature

Wole Soyinka 2009

Nobel Prize for Literature
Anthony Romero and <br />Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 2), Executive Director, ACLU with the <br />Host of

Anthony Romero and
Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 2)

Executive Director, ACLU with the
Host of "Hardball"
Anthony Romero and <br />Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 1), Executive Director, ACLU with the <br />Host of

Anthony Romero and
Chris Matthews 2009 (Part 1)

Executive Director, ACLU with the
Host of "Hardball"
Alexander McCall Smith 2009<br />(Part 2), Best-selling Author

Alexander McCall Smith 2009
(Part 2)

Best-selling Author