President-Elect Donald Trump has recently announced his top pick for the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Ben Carson. Ironically, the two men had been rivals during their primary fight in 2015. Many wonder who exactly this man is, and if he is fit for the position?

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1951, Ben Carson grew under an impoverished and underprivileged family eventually succeeding in high school, attending medical school later. At the age of 33, he became director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and received praise from the public by separating conjoined twins. He retired from medicine in 2013, and decided to join the political race by becoming a Republican Nominee. Carson dropped out in 2016 and advocated former rival Donald Trump for president.

Many politicians have expressed excitement for Ben Carson such as Paul Ryan and especially President-Elect Trump himself. Despite oppositions, Ben Carson persevered through his hard life and rose to a prominent position with the help of education. Moreover, this job fits well for Mr. Carson because he is an African American, whereby Donald Trump had promised to fix the issues that plague interstate cities especially in the deteriorated black communities. Politicians hope that Carson utilizes his medical experience to incorporate guidelines towards a sanitary and safe conditions within public housing. Research proves that the environment where one resides often has long term impacts on his/her life. The HUD has always been forgotten and trivialized; however, with the help of Carson, his opening could possibly raise more attention and actually receive direct support from the President. Last but least, Ben Carson himself had to survive in subsidized homes. However, many others have disagreed and are disappointed with this pick for one main reason: lack of expertise in public housing. For one, Mr. Carson lacks the political experience to fill such a spot and probably does not know what to do specifically to target the issues regarding housing and development because he was in the medical field.

Whether or not Carson will properly fill his role as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development can only be determined by time itself. America is still divided and will take long ways to mend broken pieces together. Hopefully, we can only hope for now that both Donald Trump and Ben Carson do great jobs to uplift America and eliminate problems that many U.S citizens face every day.

<Daniel Choi Laguna Hills 11th Grade>