Dreaming Big, Three Friends Help Each Other to Succeed 1

Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt made a life-changing pact with one another when they were in 11th grade: they decided that they all would become doctors. The three friends had bonded after realizing they were all smart, and they were all determined to make something of their lives. Jenkins had been dreaming of becoming a dentist since he was 13 years old. He told Davis and Hunt about his dream and convinced them that they, too, should set their goals high.

2

Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1980s was not easy. Crime, gangs, and drugs defined the neighborhood where Davis, Jenkins, and Hunt lived. The dropout rate at their high school was 50%. But these young men were determined to overcome these incredible obstacles even though they witnessed failure and defeat all around them.

3

These courageous young men depended on each other a great deal during high school. They studied together while their classmates skipped school to hang out on the streets. They socialized together so that they could avoid getting mixed up with people who would bring them down. Most of all, they supported and encouraged each other. While others laughed at the three for dreaming so big, they reminded each other not to give up.

4

When Davis, Jenkins, and Hunt graduated from high school, they went on to Seton Hall University for college. Again, they worked hard to overcome obstacles. College was expensive, and they had to work and apply for scholarships. They sometimes toyed with the idea of quitting, but whenever one of them felt down, the other two motivated him to keep going. They excelled in college, and Jenkins went on to dental school while Davis and Hunt went to medical school.

5

Today, Dr. Hunt is an internist at a medical center and an assistant professor at a medical school. Dr. Jenkins is an assistant professor at a dental university, and Dr. Davis is an emergency room physician. That’s not all, though: the three are also highly involved in the community. They speak to young people about overcoming the incredible challenges of the inner city, and they share their story of determination.

6

The three doctors have written several books to inspire others with their message of drive and dedication. They enjoy being role models and teaching young people to work hard and to be patient when striving for a goal. They use their lives as an example of the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people. Most of all, they encourage others to do what they did: dream big.

Rewrite paragraph 3 of the text “Dreaming Big, Three Friends Help Each Other to Succeed” using literary devices. Include at least 2 literary devices such as simile, metaphor, hyperbole, idiom, personification, alliteration, imagery, descriptive/sensory detail, or dialogue.