In My Life and Times, Dr. Rufus J. Faulk offers an untold story of growing up in Roxbury, an inner-city neighborhood of Boston during the 1980's after the desegregation of the Boston Public School system in the mid-1970's. This tumultuous time of Boston's history is steeped in racially charged federal and local politics and events that resulted in a broken public school and public safety system. As a young child and adult, Dr. Faulk navigated the public school system and streets that were a minefield for black students. He recounts personal and familiar stories of aptitude tests, exam schools, and rising gang violence and homicides as reoccurring experiences for many kids at the time. Rising above all expectations, Dr. Faulk managed to excel in school and stay off the streets, an accomplishment many of his peers were not able to overcome or live long enough to do. Dr. Rufus Faulk's story is one of adversity and determination; it is a realistic but optimistic outlook on our public education and safety system. Through a mix of research, stories and lessons learned, Dr. Faulk shares how your environment impacts your academic success and future, but you can still overcome the adversities stacked against you. What you experience does not have to be your future.