I was 4 in my grandmother's dining room in Brooklyn,NY. Standing in front of her random cabinet of pretty breakable things, I was thinking "I can read." For some reason, I told myself to remember this moment forever. I think I just wanted to see if I could. Obviously, it worked.

Mrs. Soltice in the 1st grade. She got in my face and called me a "jackass" because I wouldn't stay still in line or something like that. Spittle flew out of her mouth and hit me in the eye.

Mrs. Fauntleroy was another gem. She swore I had "problems at home" and had me sent to the principal's office based on a misunderstanding. She mistakenly gave me an assignment that I had already completed. I brought this to her attention and she said I was trying to cheat or something like that. Nevermind the fact that I was probably the best student in the class. The entire class was basically yelling at her, trying to tell her she was making a mistake, but she had me sent away anyway. First and last time ever in the principal's office.

"Some motherfuckers always trying to ice-skate uphill." --Blade

Most people are in a constant struggle to ice-skate uphill. It's an impossible task and they will never reach the top of that hill, but that doesn't stop them from trying. Most don't even know they're doing it.

Assess your situation and adapt your strategy. Don't just keep banging your head against a wall. Don't just keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.