Chris Gardner is the one who inspired the movie âThe Pursuit Of Happynessâ was homeless with his young son while he was training in a finance program.
Chris Gardner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 9, 1954. Gardner did not grew up peacefully and didnât have many male role models. He grew up with an abusive stepfather to both his mother and sisters.
He was married to Sherry Dyson in June 18, 1997, a Virginia native and an educational expert in mathematics. His relationship with Sherry was detached in part because of his decision to abandon a medical career and in part due to differences in their behavior. He began an affair with a dental student named Jackie Medina, and she became pregnant with his only child only a few months into the affair. After three years with Sherry, he left Sherry to move with Jackie and prepare for fatherhood. Only then after 9 years he was legally divorced with Sherry.
His son Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr. was born on January 28, 1981. Gardner worked as a research lab assistant at a veterans hospital after leaving his service but his position was not enough to support a live-in girlfriend and a child. After four years he quit and became a medical equipment salesman.
His life then changed completely when he saw a man parking his red Ferrari one day, and Gardner asked him what he did for a living. The man was a stockbroker called Bob Bridges, and after the two got talking, Gardner expressed an interest in joining the industry. They met again, and Bridges helped Gardner secure an interview for an internship. However, in the days before the interview at DWR Gardner was arrested and jailed for non-payment of parking tickets. He was ultimately able to make the interview, but only in the clothes he was wearing when he was arrested, which included trainers and a vest. Despite the scruffy attire, his sense of drive and enthusiasm was enough to get him the job.
What inspired me was even when he was going through very tough times he managed to overcome them because of his drive. He didnât give up because he didnât wanted his child to grow up poor as he was back then. Chris Gardner is one of the people I look up to.
