Between the ages of 12 and 21, I did my best to squander every educational opportunity afforded me.

Starting Aug. 20, I will try, once again, to excel in the classroom when I begin the first semester of an MBA program at the University of Hawai'i.

I'll continue to work full time while going to school four nights a week, from 6 until 8:45 p.m. No problem, right?

My academic adviser at UH is engaged to the son of my high school math teacher, who told her that I "hated math" and could not believe I was attempting an MBA.

Men do not fail. Sure, we may not succeed for a long time but, eventually, real men manage to turn weaknesses into strengths.

As a teen, I tuned out the structure of high school in order to learn what I wanted to learn when and how I wanted to learn it.

I relished conflict with authority figures and dedicated most of my energy to ignoring educational opportunities created by my parents and one of the best private schools in the country, 'Iolani.

Classroom application, studying and math were not areas in which I excelled.

Rebellion and books not assigned in class motivated me.

I partied and postured myself against "the man," making my parents' investment of more than $40,000 in tuition between 1992 and 1997 seem questionable.

Kids, I do not recommend this approach to high school.

Thankfully, I got into the University of Iowa, where in fall 1997 I arrived prepared to right the wrongs of high school. I was organized, prepared and anxious to become the best English major on campus.

Six weeks into my first semester, I attended a University of Iowa football game and joined the campus' largest fraternity in the span of four days.

In 96 hours my emphasis shifted from English literature to college sports, alcohol consumption and recreation.

Self-control and moderation have never been strengths, and both conspired to limit my undergraduate GPA.

My major required me to read some of the greatest books ever written, so that was a joy, but I mailed in the remainder of the requirements.

I'm trying to change, again.

My fiancee asked me if I am nervous about school this fall — and I really am because I have no statistical or anecdotal evidence suggesting that I will succeed.

I'm banking on the fact that I am 27, more settled and committed to realizing the failed classroom potential of my high school and college years.

Optimism aside, statistical analysis and managerial accounting, two of my classes this fall, prove the path to academic redemption runs uphill.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com. Read his daily blog at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.