We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success

Rameck’s mother struggles with drug addiction and his father is incarcerated. His most positive role model growing up is his grandmother, whom he calls Ma. She supports Rameck in one of his greatest passions—theater. Though he can’t have headshots taken because his mother takes the money earmarked for that and spends it on drugs, Rameck does act in school plays and later is the one who is most enthusiastic about their music career. Rameck is intense and passionate, organizing protests and also engaging in violence when he feels threatened or disrespected. Over the years, Rameck has to gradually learn to transition away from his neighborhood friends, who lead him down the wrong path. Yet he is determined to still find a way to give back to his community, via his chosen career path and volunteering.

It is clear to George early on that dentistry appeals to him most, though it does mean that he has to part ways with Rameck and Sampson for the latter part of his study. Of the three friends, George has the fewest entanglements with poor decision making and no close calls with the law, though he grows up in the same environment of theft and drug addiction.