...even though I was getting better education at home than any of the kids in Toyah, I'd need to go to finishing school when I was thirteen, both to acquire social graces and to earn a diploma. Because in this world, Dad said, it's not enough to have a fine education. You need a piece of paper to prove you go it.
The narrator reflects on the contrast between their home education and that of peers in Toyah, noting that despite a superior education at home, formal schooling is still crucial. At the age of thirteen, there is an expectation to attend finishing school, which will not only help develop essential social skills but also provide an official diploma.
This requirement highlights the belief that academic credentials are necessary to succeed in society, as the narrator's father emphasizes the importance of having tangible proof of one's education. It illustrates the idea that in addition to knowledge, societal validation through formal qualifications plays a significant role in one's future opportunities.
