I lasted one quarter (remember those?) at the UT College of Engineering after deciding that majoring in English was self-indulgent. My physics professor, a black man, eventually took me out in the hallway where he told me that blacks and women in engineering must make straight A's or face unemployment. Therefore, I needed to do better or get out. That was winter quarter 1980.

I don't know how many idiot feminists have since told me that my physics prof was a horrible sexist. No, he actually believed in standards and he actually believed that holding to them was the absolute best thing that could happen for minorities.

Because I knew I was already doing my best, I got out. Part of it was I was sick, but engineering was not making me well.

After what I've seen since in college-level language and journalism classes, I must say, I wish every prof in every field had my physics professor's attitude. When I was at Georgia State in 1992, they made us take a test to advance to junior level classes. I could've aced that thing in the 6th grade! It was elementary arithmetic and spelling -- to take junior level college classes? And that was over 30 years ago. It's why we're now in a world of hurt.

(I dropped out of college repeatedly. In a sane world, quite frankly, I'd have been a lifelong housewife & mother.)