Ben underwent three ear surgeries as a child to restore his hearing and was a hematology patient at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. At age seven, he witnessed his mother’s hair falling out during her chemotherapy treatment for advanced breast cancer. But, he also reports his joys and successes: two National Math Competition awards, National Latin exam awards, Tennessee Olympiad Science awards. Number one is his high school class. “My grit personality trait caused me to survive and thrive in my roller coaster life.” His school counselor says that she is confident Ben will be successful at any endeavor he chooses to pursue. Ben plans to major in actuarial science at The University of Chicago, one of America’s top schools.