Benjamin Franklin

I'm going back many many years in my next article to one of America's Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin.  While a young child, Ben Franklin's father wanted him to attend school with the clergy.  Unfortunately, he could only afford to send his son to school for two years.  Benjamin Franklin's formal education ended when he was only 10 years old.  However, he would continue educating himself through rigorous reading.  When Ben was only 15, he founded The New-England Courant, which was the first truly independent newspaper in the colonies.  At the age of 21, Ben Franklin created the Junto.  This was a group of like minded artisans and tradesman in Philadelphia whom debated various morals, politics, and philosophy in an effort to make the community better.  In 1729, Franklin became the publisher of a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazzette.  He saw the printing press as a way to inform the colonial people of various aspects of morality in another effort to help the community. 

Of course, one of Benjamin Franklin's biggest contributions to society was the discovery of electricity.  He published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. While certain people performed this experiment with varying results, it were these experiments that led to Franklin's invention of the lightning rod.  The rest they say is history.

Benjamin Franklin is an important figure in American History.  As previously noted, he served to improve the colonies.  Franklin served as the first United States Ambassador to France. He championed the American cause by being a spokesman at the highly publicized testimony in Parliament in 1766. Ten years later at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin replied to a comment from John Hancock that they must all hang together:  "Yes, we must, indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." 

Simply put, Benjamin Franklin achieved much in his life without the traditional educational or financial background.  Education is important and having the proper financial resources to obtain things is important as well.  However, I feel in today's digital world, people give up on their dreams because they are given reinforcements from the media that they are not smart enough or rich enough to achieve them.  Well that television you watched or computer you are using is functioning from something that was invented by a man whom educated himself.  Benjamin Franklin Overcame the Odds.

Collin Clarke

My next Overcoming the Odds article is on a young man whom competed in a bodybuilding contest.  Competing in these types of contests requires great discipline as it pertains to diet and exercise.  In the case of Collin Clarke, competing in a bodybuilding contest showcased more than just self discipline.  It displayed  a perfect example of chasing a dream that would inspire others.  Collin Clarke is a 22-year old man from Indiana with Down Syndrome.  In addition, he had been overweight.  Training with fellow bodybuilder Glenn Ubelhor, Clarke sacrificed many hours to his diet and training and lost up to 60 lbs. In November of 2015, Collin competed in the Kentucky Muscle Bodybuilding Championship placing 5th in the Novice Light Division.  Although unable to attend the contest, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler sent Collin a gift encouraging him to continue chasing the dream.  Check Videos Below!!!  Collin Clarke overcame the odds of obesity and down syndrome to compete in a contest geared towards health!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSUBEk9pQQM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_kuuHCtIsk