--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Students usually don't refer to…" description: "\"“Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until someone else accuses them of being one.”\" — Alexandra Robbins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png" --- # Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until… ![“Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until someone else accuses them of being one.” quote by Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png) > ““Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until someone else accuses them of being one.”” [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often adopt labels only after external judgment, revealing how identity can be socially constructed. **In simple terms:** Identity forms when others label you. Key Takeaway Be aware of how others' words shape self‑view. Themes identity social perception labels Mood reflective insightful Type observational psychological When to use this quote - school life - online communities - first day of work - peer groups Key Concepts self‑concept stereotyping social influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you react when labeled? - Can you define yourself beyond others' tags? A Different Perspective Labels can limit personal growth if internalized uncritically. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Labeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling/) [Nerds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerds/) [Nerds Accuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerds-accuses-5918187/) [Refer Nerds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refer-nerds-5918189/) [Self perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-perception/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-usually-5918188/) ## Related quotes > [“Most people overestimate others' talents and underestimate their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/most-people-overestimate-others-talents-and-underestimate-their-own/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [The game got these old handprints on it, but Imma be the one to pour cement on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/the-game-got-these-old-handprints-on-it-but-imma-be-the-one-to-pour/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Changes in the Perception of Self: People who have been traumatized in childhood are often troubled by guilt, shame, and negative feelings about themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzette-boon/changes-in-the-perception-of-self-people-who-have-been-traumatized-in/) [Suzette Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzette-boon/) > [“But maybe, I miss who I was. The capacity I held to be myself. Beyond the burden of years, and silent deaths of versions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devika-todi/but-maybe-i-miss-who-i-was-the-capacity-i-held-to-be-myself-beyond/) [Devika Todi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devika-todi/) > [“The person in the mirror is waiting for you to believe that their reflection is greater than what can be contained by a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-person-in-the-mirror-is-waiting-for-you-to-believe-that-their/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [ Of course, no state accepts \[that it should call\] the people it is imprisoning or detaining for political reasons, political prisoners. They don't call… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/of-course-no-state-accepts-that-it-should-call-the-people-it-is/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I talk slicker than a pimp from Augusta who just had his linen suit dry-cleaned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-talk-slicker-than-a-pimp-from-augusta-who-just-had-his-linen-suit/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Rest in peace to Heath Ledger but I'm no joker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/rest-in-peace-to-heath-ledger-but-i-m-no-joker/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [If we reverse the outer shell and the essence--in other words, consider the outer shell the essence and the essence only the shell--our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-we-reverse-the-outer-shell-and-the-essence-in-other-words-consider/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Noi fummo i Gattopardi, i Leoni; quelli che ci sostituiranno saranno gli sciacalletti, le iene; e tutti quanti gattopardi, sciacalli e pecore, continueremo a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-tomasi-di-lampedusa/noi-fummo-i-gattopardi-i-leoni-quelli-che-ci-sostituiranno-saranno/) [Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-tomasi-di-lampedusa/) > [“But don't we all want to be in the presence of someone who makes us feel larger and better than what we can ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayl-jones/but-don-t-we-all-want-to-be-in-the-presence-of-someone-who-makes-us/) [Gayl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayl-jones/) > [“The way you see and know yourself is also referred to as self-perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-smith/the-way-you-see-and-know-yourself-is-also-referred-to-as-self/) [Benjamin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-smith/) > [Self perception makes you the person of self worth. If you have conviction and courage you can achieve anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kumar-sinha/self-perception-makes-you-the-person-of-self-worth-if-you-have/) [Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kumar-sinha/) > [I really think you stare at yourself and you see things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-really-think-you-stare-at-yourself-and-you-see-things/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“The mirror of our mind always shrinks our reflection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-mirror-of-our-mind-always-shrinks-our-reflection/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Alexandra Robbins > [Imagine what it must be like for teenagers who don't feel they have room to breathe in their own homes. If you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/imagine-what-it-must-be-like-for-teenagers-who-don-t-feel-they-have/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“A teach­er in Ok­la­homa re­flect­ed on the post-​grad­ua­tion af­ter­math of stu­dent so­cial di­vi­sions. “The in crowd al­ways hangs to­geth­er, even af­ter grad­ua­tion. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/a-teach-er-in-ok-la-homa-re-flect-ed-on-the-post-grad-ua-tion-af-ter/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Polarization is just one of many ways group membership can change an individual. Perhaps the most striking effect of group membership is that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/polarization-is-just-one-of-many-ways-group-membership-can-change-an/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“No student should be encouraged -- by anyone -- to change himself until he's "normal," a term that says everything and means nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/no-student-should-be-encouraged-by-anyone-to-change-himself-until-he/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [In one survey, respondents listed Princeton as one of the country’s top ten law schools. The problem? Princeton doesn’t have a law school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/in-one-survey-respondents-listed-princeton-as-one-of-the-country-s/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [Social standing does not necessarily translate to social acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/social-standing-does-not-necessarily-translate-to-social-acceptance/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Instead of revamping school policies to welcome every child, many school systems are bent on revamping the students to conform to their schools.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/instead-of-revamping-school-policies-to-welcome-every-child-many/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Unruly geeks change the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/unruly-geeks-change-the-world/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“He comes in entirely as an outsider. He lets his mind wander. He’s not endangering his academic position because he doesn’t have one, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/he-comes-in-entirely-as-an-outsider-he-lets-his-mind-wander-he-s-not/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [Random, meaningless groups can adopt an us-versus-them mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/random-meaningless-groups-can-adopt-an-us-versus-them-mentality/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Awkwardness defines my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/awkwardness-defines-my-life/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Conformity is a mask behind which students can hide their identity or the fact that they haven't yet figured out their identity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/conformity-is-a-mask-behind-which-students-can-hide-their-identity-or/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [The aging aren't only the old; the aging are all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/the-aging-aren-t-only-the-old-the-aging-are-all-of-us/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“Nobody’s listening to me, he thought, story of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/nobody-s-listening-to-me-he-thought-story-of-my-life/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) > [“It was the fact that they tried so hard that doomed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/it-was-the-fact-that-they-tried-so-hard-that-doomed-them/) [Alexandra Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) [Explore all 23 Alexandra Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/) ## More Labeling quotes > [Nothing more guarantees the erosion of character than getting something for nothing. In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Sometimes labeling is only useful, like with OCD. Once you're labeled you can be treated. On other occasions labeling leads to tyranny, like with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/sometimes-labeling-is-only-useful-like-with-ocd-once-you-re-labeled/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [“Dads. Do you not realize that your child needs to feel your skin on his? Do you not realize the incredible and powerful bond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/dads-do-you-not-realize-that-your-child-needs-to-feel-your-skin-on/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [Those who are highly evolved, maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/those-who-are-highly-evolved-maintain-an-undiscriminating-perception/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [A label is a mask life wears. We put labels on life all the time. 'Right,' 'wrong,' 'success,' 'failure,' . . . Labeling sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/a-label-is-a-mask-life-wears-we-put-labels-on-life-all-the-time-right/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [This is a business meal. The calories do not count. I am mentally labeling these as 'business calories' so my body will know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/this-is-a-business-meal-the-calories-do-not-count-i-am-mentally/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Comedy doesn't come easy for me. I've only done 2 movies that are really comedy-style films and I have to work at them. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/comedy-doesn-t-come-easy-for-me-i-ve-only-done-2-movies-that-are/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [No day passes without a Democratic politician, a left-wing commentator, or, if I may be excused a redundancy, a left-wing academic labeling Republicans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/no-day-passes-without-a-democratic-politician-a-left-wing-commentator/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The FDA has received over a million comments from citizens demanding labeling of GMOs. 90 percent of Americans agree. So, why no labeling?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/the-fda-has-received-over-a-million-comments-from-citizens-demanding/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [As for labeling someone a whistleblower, I think it does them - it does all of us - a disservice, because it "otherizes" us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-for-labeling-someone-a-whistleblower-i-think-it-does-them-it-does/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I am used to jealousy and people putting me in a box and labeling me without really knowing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/i-am-used-to-jealousy-and-people-putting-me-in-a-box-and-labeling-me/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) > [“What is the point of labeling each individual piece of fruit? Buy the fruit, EAT the ad! We've carved a chunk out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-ellmann/what-is-the-point-of-labeling-each-individual-piece-of-fruit-buy-the/) [Lucy Ellmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-ellmann/) > [The entire EU has labeling for GMOs, and is simply saying let's let consumers know what they're buying, let's let them choose. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/the-entire-eu-has-labeling-for-gmos-and-is-simply-saying-let-s-let/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [Well, I don't think of myself as a feminist at all. As soon as we start labeling and categorizing ourselves and others, that's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/well-i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-feminist-at-all-as-soon-as-we-start/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [Punishment also includes judgmental labeling and the withholding of privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/punishment-also-includes-judgmental-labeling-and-the-withholding-of/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) [Browse all 122 Labeling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until someone else accuses them of being one.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexandra Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselves-as-nerds-until-someone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Labeling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselves-as-nerds-until-someone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/alexandra-robbins-25367_labeling_students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselv_2384557.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Students usually don't refer to themselves as nerds until someone else accuses them of being one.” — Alexandra Robbins", "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": "Alexandra Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Students usually don't refer to themselves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselves-as-nerds-until-someone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-robbins/students-usually-don-t-refer-to-themselves-as-nerds-until-someone/#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 } } ] } ```