1. Woman Who Left School at 15 Graduates as a Doctor at 41
A woman who dropped out of school at age 15 finally studied for her GED (known in the UK as GCSE)—and now has graduated as a doctor at 41. She recalls being sick and tired of people telling her she couldn’t do things because she dropped out of school. Now, Dr. Becs Bradford officially holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Bristol.
“I don’t know if I’m just a little delusional, but I really believe that if your heart is in it, you can 100% do the crazy things you’ve always dreamed of.
“When I was young I was constantly told I would amount to nothing, that I was stupid. I wanted to prove that people like me do deserve good things, that they can get jobs that are fulfilling and well paid.”
Becs’ father fell from a ladder and was left paralyzed when Becs was just 12 years old, and the family lost their home. Soon, Becs ended up in foster care.
Despite this rocky start, Becs became a hard worker in various fields as a flight attendant, a personal trainer, and in sales. But she knew there was something else waiting for her, and when she realized she wanted to be a doctor, she said ‘everything just fell into place’.
2. D-Day Hero Gets Over 200 Cards to Celebrate His 100th Birthday
A D-day veteran who defended landing troops from Nazi fighter planes has received more than 200 cards from well-wishers for his 100th birthday. John Dennett, who now lives near Liverpool, England, was surprised by the haul of 217 cards and letters sent to him from across the county to mark his special day.
The widower celebrated with friends and family at a private party that featured wartime music, food, and entertainment.
“It’s a funny feeling. It’s only now that I’ve reached 100 that I realize I’m that old. I will just have to take it easy now,” he joked.
“All I hope is I reach 200!”
3. 4th Generation Farmer Helps Youth Flunking Out of School to Grow and Sell Food for Disadvantaged in Minnesota
A fourth-generation Black American farmer is bringing 21st-century agriculture into the lives of youth from marginalized communities, teaching them how to grow and sell nutritious food to the people who need it.
Marcus Carpenter is the founder of Route 1, an organization that focuses on introducing farming to people, and farmers to the people, through a variety of educational and business programs with a focus on addressing the challenges facing the poorest communities in Minnesota.
Carpenter grew up on 180 acres of farmland in Arkansas, bought by his great-grandmother Sally in 1914, who worked the land down a dirt road in a country house with 13 children.
Route 1 was the name of that old dirt road, but its approach to agriculture is anything but old.
The programs and facilities include the “Freight Farm” where hydroponic gardens grow a variety of food inside donated shipping containers equivalent to 4 acres of farmland. It includes the Emerging Farmers Institute, offering intensive virtual coursework on the fundamentals of farming, while also including sessions aimed at tackling the most commonly faced mental stressors of working in agriculture.
