[17][18] Frequent trips to Europe—beginning at age two and from age seven to fifteen—helped Roosevelt become conversant in German and French. Except for attending public school in Germany at age nine,[19] Roosevelt was home-schooled by tutors until age 14. He then attended Groton School, an Episcopal boarding school in Groton, Massachusetts.[20] He was not among the more popular Groton students, who were better athletes and had rebellious streaks.[21] Its headmaster, Endicott Peabody, preached the duty of Christians to help the less fortunate and urged his students to enter public service. Peabody remained a strong influence throughout Roosevelt's life, officiating at his wedding and visiting him as president.[22][23]
Like most of his Groton classmates, Roosevelt went to Harvard College.[21] He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity[24] and the Fly Club,[25] and served as a school cheerleader.[26] Roosevelt was relatively undistinguished as a student or athlete, but he became editor-in-chief of The Harvard Crimson daily newspaper, a position that required ambition, energy, and the ability to manage others.[27] He later said, "I took economics courses in college for four years, and everything I was taught was wrong.