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The two most important things in my life were academics and sports. I had to do my schoolwork first.

For me specifically, it was important to graduate. In my family, I was one of the first graduates. My mom did not have a college degree. My dad did not have a college degree.

I made good grades in school.

I enjoyed school, I was a bit of a square. I did very well in exams. I was quite lucky I was academic.

I was a child with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and remember enjoying all of my courses almost equally. When it came time at the end of my high school career to choose a major in which to specialize, I was in a quandary.

Grades were important in our house. I was reading by two. My mom would sit there and read with me, read with me, read with me. It was wonderful.

It was hard for me, being in school. And nobody was there to tell me how important it was.

I struggled academically in high school because it was hard to focus. It was hard to focus on those things that were other than artistic stuff.

Grade school, middle school and high school were relatively easy for me, and with little studying, I was an honor student every semester, graduating 5th in my high school class.