School Days

Over the years, I learned more from my siblings than I realized at the time. Perhaps my biggest influence was from my sister Albina. She was three years older than I was and so was ahead of me in grade school. She taught me whatever new material she learned in her class. We used the pull-down door of the big black stove in the kitchen as a blackboard. I did not always want to "play school" after a day in classes, but Albina was persistent and insisted that I listen and learn. In this way, she also reinforced her own learning and I was well ahead of my class in English grammar, mathematics and spelling. Perhaps this stimulated my learning capacity, or perhaps I was naturally a good student; I like to think the former. I loved school and learning. I worked hard to please my teacher and my family. The more recognition I received, the harder I worked.