Fortunately as far as investing is concerned I was recommended a book entitles "Investing for Dummies" in my early years in college. I followed the advice in that book and got involved in Vanguard SP 500 Index Funds. That was many years ago and it has grown quite a bit in value since then, just like the book said it would.

My high school times were crazy. I was encouraged to have a job as soon as I possibly was allowed to in my household and this was the case for my siblings as well. We all still managed to do reasonably well in high school as well but your Dad was correct that if that had been my only job I definitely would have performed better.