--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that every child in America…" description: "\"I don't think that every child in America is going to necessarily aspire to, you know, a four-year degree from a liberal arts college or a certain kind..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/angela-duckworth-2560_america_i-don-t-think-that-every-child-in-americ_474440.jpg" --- # I don't think that every child in America is going to… ![“I don't think that every child in America is going to necessarily aspire to, you know, a four-year degree from a liberal arts college or a certain kind of life. I think that people should learn to be excellent in the thing that they choose to do.” quote by Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/angela-duckworth-2560_america_i-don-t-think-that-every-child-in-americ_474440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/angela-duckworth-2560_america_i-don-t-think-that-every-child-in-americ_474440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/angela-duckworth-2560_america_i-don-t-think-that-every-child-in-americ_474440.jpg) > “I don't think that every child in America is going to necessarily aspire to, you know, a four-year degree from a liberal arts college or a certain kind of life. I think that people should learn to be excellent in the thing that they choose to do.” [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children should aim for excellence in their chosen path, not a prescribed education route. **In simple terms:** Focus on mastering what you love, not a specific degree. Key Takeaway Pursue mastery over conformity. Themes education excellence personal choice grit Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - talent nurturing - alternative education pathways Key Concepts growth mindset skill development motivation Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How can you support diverse aspirations? A Different Perspective Societal pressures may limit perceived options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-arts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Almost everything on Craigslist paid more than I was making, but my qualifications were sketchy. I had a college degree in liberal arts. 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Now you can say them, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/when-i-was-in-college-there-were-certain-words-you-couldn-t-say-in/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [I was very quiet at college and had a certain group of friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yami-gautam/i-was-very-quiet-at-college-and-had-a-certain-group-of-friends/) [Yami Gautam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yami-gautam/) > [I've always spent time talking to a lot of NBA coaches, and I've always said this: There's certain things that work in the NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/i-ve-always-spent-time-talking-to-a-lot-of-nba-coaches-and-i-ve/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [I went to UT in Austin for a year as an undeclared liberal arts student. 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They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [For some students, especially in the sciences, the knowledge gained in college may be directly relevant to graduate study. For almost all students, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/for-some-students-especially-in-the-sciences-the-knowledge-gained-in/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [I'm a liberal arts junkie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/i-m-a-liberal-arts-junkie/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) ## More by Angela Duckworth > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“you can, in fact, modify your self-talk, and you can learn to not let it interfere with you moving toward your goals. With practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/you-can-in-fact-modify-your-self-talk-and-you-can-learn-to-not-let-it/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-thing-that-s-true-of-gritty-people-is-they-love-what-they-do-and/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [The focus on just thinking about standardized test scores as being synonymous with achievement for teenagers is ridiculous, right? There are so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-focus-on-just-thinking-about-standardized-test-scores-as-being/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Nobody wants to show you the hours and hours of becoming. 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For instance, growing up, my dad liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/for-many-of-us-the-companies-we-work-for-are-an-important-cultural/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“trying to do things they can't yet do, failing, and learning what they need to do differently is exactly the way that experts practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/trying-to-do-things-they-can-t-yet-do-failing-and-learning-what-they/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Negative feelings are typical of learning, and you shouldn't feel like you're stupid when you're frustrated doing something. You might say to yourself, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/negative-feelings-are-typical-of-learning-and-you-shouldn-t-feel-like/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [I was a good novice teacher, but I did the things that were obvious. 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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