--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Originally, I think, I wanted to be an…" description: "\"Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to pay for my college educat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg" --- # Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got… ![“Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to pay for my college education. I applied for a summer announcing job at a couple of radio stations.” quote by Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg) > “Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to pay for my college education. I applied for a summer announcing job at a couple of radio stations.” [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trebek recounts that his initial ambition was acting, but financial needs led him to a broadcasting job during college, which started his media career. **In simple terms:** He shifted from acting to broadcasting for money. Key Takeaway Practical needs can redirect career paths. Themes career finance opportunity adaptability Mood nostalgic pragmatic Type personal anecdote career reflection When to use this quote - College students seeking part‑time work - Career changers - Financial aid planning - Media industry entry Key Concepts career pivot economic pressure Practical Applications - Leverage temporary jobs to build transferable skills - Network within unexpected fields Questions to Reflect On - How do financial constraints shape long‑term career satisfaction? - What skills from broadcasting helped his later success? A Different Perspective A single anecdote may not represent broader career dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Broadcasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadcasting/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-education/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [The only reason I got into broadcasting was, I needed money to pay for my junior and senior years at college, and they hired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/the-only-reason-i-got-into-broadcasting-was-i-needed-money-to-pay-for/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Borrowing to pay for college used to be the exception; now it's the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/borrowing-to-pay-for-college-used-to-be-the-exception-now-it-s-the/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [My parents didn't pay for college because we all got scholarships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/my-parents-didn-t-pay-for-college-because-we-all-got-scholarships/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [People of my age who went to college, go into college, you know what it cost back then? Nothing or next to nothing. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/people-of-my-age-who-went-to-college-go-into-college-you-know-what-it/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“No one disputes that college has gotten a lot more expensive. A recent Money magazine report notes, “After adjusting for financial aid, the amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-harlan-reynolds/no-one-disputes-that-college-has-gotten-a-lot-more-expensive-a-recent/) Glenn Harlan Reynolds > [I worked for dad on the grounds and I was in high school and I said I wanted to go to college, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-worked-for-dad-on-the-grounds-and-i-was-in-high-school-and-i-said-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [When I was a sophomore in college, my father called me at the fraternity. He told me he no longer had the funds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-j-lundgren/when-i-was-a-sophomore-in-college-my-father-called-me-at-the/) [Terry J. Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-j-lundgren/) > [College students today are drowning in debt, and it is hurting them and hurting our economy. We must find a way to help families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/college-students-today-are-drowning-in-debt-and-it-is-hurting-them/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [No one should be denied the opportunity to get an education and increase their earning potential based solely on their inability to pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-scott/no-one-should-be-denied-the-opportunity-to-get-an-education-and/) [Bobby Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-scott/) > [The whole student loan thing drives me completely nuts. If it wasn't possible for 18-year-olds to sign themselves up for tens of thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-whole-student-loan-thing-drives-me-completely-nuts-if-it-wasn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Credit card companies pay college students generously to stand outside dining halls, dorms, and academic buildings and encourage their fellow students to apply for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-slaughter/credit-card-companies-pay-college-students-generously-to-stand/) [Louise Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-slaughter/) > [I was lucky to have a successful career as a model, but that was just a way to pay off my college loans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-was-lucky-to-have-a-successful-career-as-a-model-but-that-was-just/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I decided to join the military to give back to my country and help pay for college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/i-decided-to-join-the-military-to-give-back-to-my-country-and-help/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [I refuse to ask students to pay more for college; or kick children out of Head Start programs so those with the most can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-refuse-to-ask-students-to-pay-more-for-college-or-kick-children-out/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There's no constitutional right for your parents to pay for college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/there-s-no-constitutional-right-for-your-parents-to-pay-for-college/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) ## More by Alex Trebek > [Don't minimize the importance of luck in determining life's course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/don-t-minimize-the-importance-of-luck-in-determining-life-s-course/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [It's very important in life to know when to shut up. You should not be afraid of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/it-s-very-important-in-life-to-know-when-to-shut-up-you-should-not-be/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Maybe I'll take a little better care of myself, but I wouldn't count on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/maybe-i-ll-take-a-little-better-care-of-myself-but-i-wouldn-t-count/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Jim Cummings, Whoopie Goldberg & Cheech Marin make up this famous Disney threesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/jim-cummings-whoopie-goldberg-cheech-marin-make-up-this-famous-disney/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [My musical development stopped when Frank Sinatra died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/my-musical-development-stopped-when-frank-sinatra-died/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [If you can't be in awe of Mother Nature, there's something wrong with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/if-you-can-t-be-in-awe-of-mother-nature-there-s-something-wrong-with/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Don't tell me what you believe in. I'll observe how you behave and I will make my own determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/don-t-tell-me-what-you-believe-in-i-ll-observe-how-you-behave-and-i/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Have you ever met a successful person who wasn't restless- who was satisfied with where he or she was in life? They want new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/have-you-ever-met-a-successful-person-who-wasn-t-restless-who-was/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I have an Apple computer, which I use to play Spider Solitaire and do research on the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/i-have-an-apple-computer-which-i-use-to-play-spider-solitaire-and-do/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I did everything - I did newscasts, I did sports, I did dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/i-did-everything-i-did-newscasts-i-did-sports-i-did-dramas/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I go through these cycles where I read a lot and then watch TV a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/i-go-through-these-cycles-where-i-read-a-lot-and-then-watch-tv-a-lot/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I had only been a citizen for two weeks when I received a summons to appear for jury duty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/i-had-only-been-a-citizen-for-two-weeks-when-i-received-a-summons-to/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [Sex? Unfortunately, as you get older - and I shouldn't admit this - there are other things that become more important in your daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/sex-unfortunately-as-you-get-older-and-i-shouldn-t-admit-this-there/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [The only reason I got into broadcasting was, I needed money to pay for my junior and senior years at college, and they hired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/the-only-reason-i-got-into-broadcasting-was-i-needed-money-to-pay-for/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [I don't spend any time whatsoever thinking about what might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/i-don-t-spend-any-time-whatsoever-thinking-about-what-might-have-been/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) [Explore all 42 Alex Trebek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) ## More Accident quotes > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [People dont get married by accident and they dont get divorced by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/people-dont-get-married-by-accident-and-they-dont-get-divorced-by/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [A tragic car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes and dreams for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/a-tragic-car-accident-put-me-in-a-wheelchair-and-dashed-my-hopes-and/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/accident-ruled-every-corner-of-the-universe-except-the-chambers-of/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [However, I met with a horrible accident while riding my bike in Sangla Valley. The accident was a wakeup call for me stop getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/however-i-met-with-a-horrible-accident-while-riding-my-bike-in-sangla/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 922 Accident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to pay for my college education. I applied for a summer announcing job at a couple of radio stations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Trebek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accident" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/alex-trebek-15683_accident_originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-act_115849.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because…” — Alex Trebek", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Trebek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Originally, I think, I wanted to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```