A reading room is more than just a cozy place to read. It’s designed to spark innovative and aspirational thinking in young children. This space encourages students to think for themselves and explore a world of possibilities through the pages of a book. Pat Davis was one of those students who found inspiration in his school’s Ben Carson Reading Room. So moved by how that space impacted his life, Pat wrote a letter to our co-founder, Dr. Ben Carson.

“Dear Dr. Carson,

I am Pat Davis. I am currently a pre-med student studying neuroscience in my freshman year at Florida State University. I am writing to you to express my gratitude for you being such an important role model to me. I grew up in Columbia, Maryland. I was born at the Howard County General Hospital and, shortly after, was taken to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to receive surgery to correct my club feet. I would receive two more operations in the next three years at the same Institute of Pediatric Orthopedics, and thanks to the wonderful doctors at Johns Hopkins, I was able to exceed all possible expectations, participating in sports my whole life and eventually becoming a two-sport varsity athlete at my high school. From kindergarten to the fourth grade, I attended an economically disadvantaged elementary school. Because of this, my school received a Ben Carson Reading Room. I would fill with joy hearing my name called to spend time in the Reading Room. Although I was very young, I still remember the smell of the room and can picture the small room and its vibrant assortment of beanbags and bookshelves. Being able to let my curiosity flow while in your reading room contributed to me pursuing a career that revolves around learning, problem-solving, and intellectual curiosity. I am forever grateful for that. I remember asking my parents who Ben Carson was. I didn’t really know that much about medicine at the time, but a fond memory of mine was my mom explaining how you were the first person to separate conjoined twins. In high school, I watched your Netflix documentary. I felt like I personally related to your struggles with academics as I struggled for a long time in school and had trouble figuring out the best way for me to excel academically. I was very inspired by your story. You have had a positive impact on my life throughout time. As I work toward my goal of becoming a physician, I have to thank you for being such an inspiration to me.

Best Regards,

Pat Davis”