My story is not unique but perhaps exceptional because of my parent's belief in me and their values. We were not rich in dollars but wealthy in skills for personal success and helping others. Early in my life my parents taught their ideals. They were both educators. I believed, embraced and acted on those ideals. Now during this learning period, I certainly had fun, made and lost friends. I explored nature and studied both hard and smart. Most importantly I respected, admired and loved my teachers. And I believed their feelings were mutual. My teachers made it possible for me to say with full confidence, as I said in the chapter on my future goals, that I could be a Surgeon, Army General or a Scientist. I was not given a silver spoon for material things. But, I was taught to look for the gold in me and others to overcome temporary road blocks. These and other lessons from my early childhood village-Wilmington, NC provided foundation guideposts for my success in a helping profession as a medical trailblazer.