Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams.

They were saying you would be a tremendous addition to the military, and we can get you into West Point with a full scholarship. And I simply said, I want to be a doctor. I really appreciate it.

We are more than just flesh and bones. There's a certain spiritual nature and something of the mind that we can't measure. We can't find it. With all our sophisticated equipment, we cannot monitor or define it, and yet it's there.

Our children need to see and hear about more black role models in many fields so they can make better choices.

There is a tendency of people to try to make you believe only a few people are smart. As a brain surgeon, I know better than that.

Through the use of books I had the whole world at my feet: could travel anywhere, meet anyone, and do anything.

Now if you not only support them through that pregnancy, but now provide childcare for them so they can go back to school and get their GED or their associate's degree or bachelor's degree or their master's degree, learn how to take care of themselves, teach their baby how to take care of themselves so that you break the cycle of the dependency.