15 high schoolers from Clarksdale, Mississippi are a long way from home.
They were brought to Wynnefield Heights by Dr. Steven Blake for a very simple reason.
"We should do all that we can to contribute to inspire and encourage young people," Dr. Blake said.
Dr. Blake puts his money where his mouth his.
For the past 6 years he has paid all expenses to give students from his high school a tour of major east coast cities.
The idea is to open a new world of possibilities.
Dr. Blake is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He remembers the culture shock when he first came to Philadelphia to study medicine.
It made him realize anything is possible, a lesson he's determined to pass on.
"I'm hoping that they will encourage others to believe in themselves and work hard and realize that you can achieve success in life not just through playing football and basketball and baseball, but to use their brains," Dr. Blake said.
Their brains were on overload as they toured PCOM. That included a rare look at the cadavers used in anatomy instruction.
From here, the students will take in the cultural and historic sites of Philadelphia.
Then it's off to Washington before heading back home, hopefully, with big dreams.
