The author's parents taught her that merely "adequate" is not sufficient. The author began homeschooling halfway through her 5th-grade year partly because of this philosophy. One reason why the author's parents chose homeschooling was because of her dedication to classical piano. The author and her parents agreed that she would probably be able to learn more efficiently at home, even though she benefited from the gifted and talented program at her elementary school. By covering the same amount of material in a shorter period of time, she had more time to spend at the piano and other activities than she had while in public school. After three years of homeschooling, the author and her parents decided that it was best that she went back to public school. They realized that at higher academic levels, almost all the subjects she would be taking were better suited to learning in a group environment. The transition from homeschool to public school was easier for her than most people expected. The author cannot imagine her scholastic career unfolding better than it did. Attending a public high school gave her the academic environment necessary for a higher level of work and laid the base for a successful college search. Homeschooling throughout middle school allowed her the time to develop the musical skills that earned her a scholarship to Wake Forest University. It also helped solidify the work ethic and world view that her parents instilled in her at a very young age, both of which she has carried into her time in college.