My son, who made the dean's list in his freshman year at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, called home a few weeks after starting his sophomore year as a psychology student.

"Mom," he said excitedly, "I have found the answer to surviving college! It isn't the grades that are so important, but the quality of what is learned and how it is applied to daily life. I'm lucky to be having these wonderful experiences!"

"And just what does this mean?" I asked.

"I'm flunking math." he replied.

我的儿子是印第安那市曼西尔波州立大学的学生，大学一年级的时候，他的名字就被列在了系主任的表扬名单上。大学二年级的时候，他学的是心理学。刚开学没几个星期，他就往家里打了一个电话。

“妈妈，”他兴奋地说，“我已经找到了在大学生存下去的答案！分数不是最重要的，重要的是具备如何把学到的知识应用于日常生活的素质。幸运的是，我拥有了这种奇妙的经历！”

“你说的这些究竟是什么意思？”我问道。

“我数学没及格。”他回答道。