This time of year reminds me of my mother's belief in academic excellence. She saw to my getting into a fine private school after my getting expelled from public school. After being rejected by the prep shcool to which I applied, she was convinced that the local high school was good enough, and she with my father met often with my teachers along with helping me with my homework, thereby making the school good enough for me to graduate in the top 7-1/2 percent of my class. They also encourgaged me to go to college, which I satisfyingly did.