When I was a child, I really loved getting awards. I was the child that tried for hours to receive a gold star on her homework. I had to get A’s on everything and I had to be the smartest child in the school. Early on my parents discovered this about me, so they bought certificate paper and made me little plaques to hang on my wall. At least they told me that the paper certificates were plaques. Anyway, I hung them on my wall, and they said everything from Best Daughter in the World to Smartest 7 Year Old Ever. Yeah, looking back I can see how much my parents loved me. After all, I was a real brat!