childhood memory regarding success

I guess the memories I have about being successful revolve mostly around my father. He was always telling me and my younger brother that if we wanted to get into a good college, we had to study hard and make good grades during elementary, middle, and high school. Every time we came home with a bad report card, we got the old "college talk" (along with being grounded or chores, depending on how bad the report actually was). He really drilled it into our heads that going to school was crucial to doing well in life.

I guess I didn't pay him enough attention, because I didn't realize until my senior year in high school how important getting good grades and being involved actually was. My dad hadn't said anything about class ranking or how extracurricular activities fit into college acceptance, and he divorced my mom before graduation. However, he still used methods to encourage us to do well. For example, I couldn't drive my sweet red convertible unless I made good grades. (By the way, the car was a one-up on my mom after the divorce, and I only got to drive it for about 3 months before I smashed it up!) But by and by, I fell behind in class. I think it was ultimately the car that got me into so much trouble. After all, I wouldn't have been able to skip class if I had to ride the bus. I ended up dropping out of high school and going back to finish later on.

Back to the point though. The idea of success was implanted by my father (I'm sure my mother agreed with him, but I associate the lectures about college with my father) at a young age. I wish that things had turned out differently on those fronts (time-wise), but ultimately I am here at a decent school and about to graduate with a degree, after all. So in the end, his lectures must have had an effect on me.