Fresno, Calif. – Dr. James Harris Jr., a 48‑year‑old general surgeon and chair of surgery at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, recently reunited with the counselor who set him on a path to college and a medical career.

From a troubled teen to a top surgeon

Harris grew up in a neighborhood where drug dealing and gang violence were commonplace. By his early teens he was skipping school, carrying a padlock and Swiss Army knife, stealing cars, and faced the pregnancy of his 14‑year‑old girlfriend. He failed his first two years of high school and was eventually placed in Ted C. Wills Restart, a continuation school.

It was there that Henry Ray, then a school counselor, introduced Harris to Fresno State’s Educational Opportunity Program. Ray encouraged him to apply, and Harris began to take his education seriously. By age 17 he was working full‑time, finishing high school, and preparing for college.

College, medical school and a grateful reunion

At Fresno State Harris needed an extra year of math and a remedial English course before he could enroll in regular classes. He persisted, earned his degree, and was accepted to his first‑choice UCLA Medical School. After receiving his acceptance letter, Harris returned to the continuation school to show Ray the good news.

Years later, on Sept. 16, Harris turned to social media to locate Ray, who had retired at age 80 and lived a private life. Within hours, volunteers tracked down Ray’s son, Lavance Ray, and shared his father’s phone number. Harris called, and Ray recognized him immediately.

“You still sound the same, too,” Harris said, and Ray replied, “You were worth a chance because you were young.” The two exchanged memories, and Harris expressed his gratitude: “I wouldn’t have made it if you didn’t do that for me. If you didn’t take that chance on me, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Ray’s quiet legacy

Ray, a former Army paratrooper and Fresno State alumnus, spent his career working with at‑risk youth but rarely spoke about the outcomes of his students. His son Lavance, who works with foster youth, said his father kept those stories close to his heart. “He holds it deep in his heart what happens to these kids after they leave,” Lavance explained.

When Harris offered a gift, Ray asked instead for a copy of Harris’s memoir, Not Who I Once Was: My Unusual Path to Becoming a Surgeon, with Harris’s phone number included again. The exchange underscores a lasting mentorship that shaped a life once on a very different trajectory.

Family and lasting impact

Harris has been married to his high‑school sweetheart, Rosina, for 34 years; together they have raised three children. Their story illustrates how a single caring adult can alter the course of a young person’s life, especially when that adult is willing to see potential where others see risk.

Ray’s humility and dedication to service continue to inspire his own children, who follow his example by working with foster youth. “It just made me proud and solidified our family legacy of serving the public,” Lavance said.

This story, first published by TODAY.com, highlights the power of mentorship, perseverance, and the enduring impact of community leaders who invest in the next generation.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.