--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s when a switch flipped in my head,”…" description: "\"“That’s when a switch flipped in my head,” Cody said. “I went from ‘Why bother?’ to ‘Why not?’ I knew I might not get into a really good college, but I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/angela-duckworth-2560_school_that-s-when-a-switch-flipped-in-my-head_2785892.jpg" --- # That’s when a switch flipped in my head,” Cody said. “I… ![“That’s when a switch flipped in my head,” Cody said. “I went from ‘Why bother?’ to ‘Why not?’ I knew I might not get into a really good college, but I figured, if I try, I have a chance. If I never try, then I have no chance at all.” quote by Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/angela-duckworth-2560_school_that-s-when-a-switch-flipped-in-my-head_2785892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/angela-duckworth-2560_school_that-s-when-a-switch-flipped-in-my-head_2785892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/angela-duckworth-2560_school_that-s-when-a-switch-flipped-in-my-head_2785892.jpg) > ““That’s when a switch flipped in my head,” Cody said. “I went from ‘Why bother?’ to ‘Why not?’ I knew I might not get into a really good college, but I figured, if I try, I have a chance. If I never try, then I have no chance at all.”” [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. A mindset shift from apathy to possibility opens opportunities; effort creates chance, in trying guarantees none. **In simple terms:** Changing mindset creates chances. Key Takeaway Adopt a “why not” attitude. Themes motivation mindset effort Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - education - career decisions - personal projects - health goals Key Concepts growth mindset self‑efficacy risk taking Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you balance hope with practicality? A Different Perspective Optimism may ignore realistic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-try-1645411/) [Cody Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cody-said-590867/) [College Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-figured-3343271/) [Flipped Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flipped-head-3343272/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Switch Flipped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/switch-flipped-2410098/) ## Related quotes > [“A switch flipped in him, in her, smoldering from his eyes to her body. “Do you want to find out what I taste like?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joely-sue-burkhart/a-switch-flipped-in-him-in-her-smoldering-from-his-eyes-to-her-body/) [Joely Sue Burkhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joely-sue-burkhart/) > [When I was in school, I was very much into just sports, mostly basketball, and didn't really see myself as much of a student.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-de-la-pena/when-i-was-in-school-i-was-very-much-into-just-sports-mostly/) [Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-de-la-pena/) > [“Stay positive,” Cody said. “Go past those negative beliefs in what’s possible and impossible and just give it a try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/stay-positive-cody-said-go-past-those-negative-beliefs-in-what-s/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Whoa. Not too stiff," Cody said. "Secure, strong, but calm. Like you're caressing a beautiful woman, remember?" That made me think of Megan. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/whoa-not-too-stiff-cody-said-secure-strong-but-calm-like-you-re/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Cody?” I said. “Why are you dead?” Tact. 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I know that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-fox/i-am-really-looking-for-a-chance-to-direct-i-feel-like-that-s-kind-of/) [Dana Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-fox/) > [You don't think about anything because you just try to playevery game, every point. If you get some chance, you try to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolay-davydenko/you-don-t-think-about-anything-because-you-just-try-to-playevery-game/) [Nikolay Davydenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolay-davydenko/) > [“You always have to try. If you don't try you have a 0% chance, but it you try you at least have 1%. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-ann-lillian-swartz/you-always-have-to-try-if-you-don-t-try-you-have-a-0-chance-but-it/) [Sandra Ann Lillian Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-ann-lillian-swartz/) > [I don't believe in failure, it's just one more chance to try and do it better the next time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-believe-in-failure-it-s-just-one-more-chance-to-try-and-do-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And that was how the Selection did its first act in my favor: if I had her here, at least I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/and-that-was-how-the-selection-did-its-first-act-in-my-favor-if-i-had/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) ## 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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