Bernie is a young black boy who struggles academically, consistently scoring in single digits on tests and becoming the target of ridicule from classmates and teachers. Despite his belief that he is inherently dumb, his mother continually encourages him, believing in his potential. This story highlights Bernie's journey from being mocked and racially harassed to achieving remarkable success. His turning point begins in the classroom when he scores a zero on a test, but his teacher mistakenly thinks it is a nine, leading her to praise him for this perceived improvement. Although the class mocks him for his scores, Bernie’s determination and his mother’s support drive him to overcome these challenges and achieve greatness, demonstrating that even those who are underestimated can achieve the extraordinary.