Growing up as an orphan, earning his pilot’s license upon high school graduation, and joining the army at age seventeen to serve in Afghanistan, Ben’s story is a tale of perseverance, courage, and survival. He journeys from an abusive foster care home to the battlefields of Afghanistan, from university classrooms to backpacking trips through Europe. Ben’s rich and varied experiences offer unique insight into how to draw strength and inspiration from hardship and misfortune. He tells his story with the aim of motivating youth to channel their troubles into opportunities for their personal development and success.