It was challenging, but not all that bad. I was 15 when I went to my Board of Review for Eagle. Still riding my bicycle to troop meetings. Next stop was the DMV to sit for my motorcycle learner's permit. CA allowed that at 15 1/2. I purchased a Honda CB175 and used it to attend Summer school between grades 10 & 12. I skipped a year. In August, I turned 16 and upgraded to a full license for both the car and bike. Having crossed the magic age 16 boundary, I could apply for a job. Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, 5th & H St, Chula Vista. Enough money to cover my senior year activities expenses. I was still 16 in June on graduation day.
Some of my fellow students had obsessed over taking the PSAT. I never did. My preparation for the SAT was a good night's sleep. I applied to UCSD for Winter quarter 1974. I slacked off in the Summer and Fall finishing only 28 semester units at Southwestern College before starting at UCSD in January. There was a 3 week crossover where I was finishing the semester at Southwestern and starting my first quarter at UCSD. That was a royal pain.