Adolf would challenge his tyrannical father and was beaten severely for it. In 1900, at the age of 11, Hitler entered a secondary school that turned out to be disastrous.
After entering the school, Adolf's grades dropped in every subject except drawing. Hitler explains this change in academic performance in his book Mein Kampf. Hitler states that he purposely failed his classes to rebel against his father and sabotage all ambition towards him (Bullock 8). During his high school career, Hitler became seriously ill with a lung infection and was forced to drop out of school. After his illness was cured, he then applied to the Vienna Academy of Arts hoping to start a career in painting. Hitler took the admission test and passed it, but when it came down to submitting a piece of art, Hitler's watercolor was rejected. Adolf was rejected from the academy and felt no disappointment, although, Hitler was more concerned with a dying woman whom he loved greatly, his mother. Klara was suffering from breast cancer and would die in December of 1907. The death of his mother brought great sorrow to Hitler. The family physician said, "I have never seen anyone so prostrate with grief as Adolf Hitler (Twisted 71)." Hitler felt that he should not give up his love for art, so he reapplied to the art
academy. This time, Hitler didn't even pass the preliminary exam. Hitler was offended greatly and couldn't believe what happened. In desperation for a source of income, Hitler joined the German Army and began attending meetings of the Nazi party. This is the major turning point in Hitler's life that might have brought on the power-demanding personality that is a part of his name. As you can see, Hitler has been subjected to many altered experiences in his childhood. These things may have quite possibly turned the once playful youngster, into a tyrannical leader of the Nazi party.