--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Academically I was never that great and I…" description: "\"Academically I was never that great and I was not really into school. I don't know, I just really had a problem focusing but singing always came natura..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/ari-lennox-14093_always_academically-i-was-never-that-great-and_1738443.jpg" --- # Academically I was never that great and I was not really… ![“Academically I was never that great and I was not really into school. I don't know, I just really had a problem focusing but singing always came naturally.” quote by Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/ari-lennox-14093_always_academically-i-was-never-that-great-and_1738443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/ari-lennox-14093_always_academically-i-was-never-that-great-and_1738443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/ari-lennox-14093_always_academically-i-was-never-that-great-and_1738443.jpg) > “Academically I was never that great and I was not really into school. I don't know, I just really had a problem focusing but singing always came naturally.” [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She struggled academically but found natural talent in singing, highlighting that strengths can lie outside formal education. **In simple terms:** She excelled in music despite school challenges. Key Takeaway Embrace innate talents over conventional metrics. Themes self‑discovery talent education Mood reflective optimistic Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - school difficulties - music practice - career planning - self‑esteem building Key Concepts neurodiversity creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What hidden strengths might you overlook? - How can you nurture them alongside formal learning? A Different Perspective Academic success isn’t the only path to fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academically/) [Academically Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academically-great-1498059/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Focusing Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focusing-singing-1498057/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-came-1498058/) ## Related quotes > [There was a time when I was in the South, singing, and someone came to me before the show and said, 'There's been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/there-was-a-time-when-i-was-in-the-south-singing-and-someone-came-to/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I love singing, and I came to absolutely adore it in the later part of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-love-singing-and-i-came-to-absolutely-adore-it-in-the-later-part-of/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [Singing always came naturally but the writing side is something I have always had to work hard at to get from good songs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ripp/singing-always-came-naturally-but-the-writing-side-is-something-i/) [Andrew Ripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ripp/) > [Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/both-my-parents-wanted-me-to-excel-academically-like-every-other/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) ## More by Ari Lennox > [But yeah, so many people are just not very genuine online. I caught myself looking for my ex, and a lot of these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/but-yeah-so-many-people-are-just-not-very-genuine-online-i-caught/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I'm so thankful for 'Backseat' because it's doing so much. It's almost at two million listens on Spotify. It's changed my life. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-m-so-thankful-for-backseat-because-it-s-doing-so-much-it-s-almost/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [People will appreciate who you are when you're naturally being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/people-will-appreciate-who-you-are-when-you-re-naturally-being-who/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [And I always was getting fired and quitting jobs, so I was not going to ruin Public Storage, and I was excited about Public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/and-i-always-was-getting-fired-and-quitting-jobs-so-i-was-not-going/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I'm going to fight for what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-m-going-to-fight-for-what-i-want/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [My life would've been so different if my parents listened to Korn. That would've been fire!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/my-life-would-ve-been-so-different-if-my-parents-listened-to-korn/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [My best writing is not outside of the beat. I'm 99 percent influenced by the beat first, and then the words just flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/my-best-writing-is-not-outside-of-the-beat-i-m-99-percent-influenced/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I was scared of planes and then also just got this job. It was $10 an hour. To me, that was way more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-was-scared-of-planes-and-then-also-just-got-this-job-it-was-10-an/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [When it comes to creativity, or my artistry, when it comes to how I wear my hair and what I'm dressing like, some things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/when-it-comes-to-creativity-or-my-artistry-when-it-comes-to-how-i/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [Yeah, I believe in all the wild, witchcraft stuff. I don't like to dabble in that, but I believe they all know something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/yeah-i-believe-in-all-the-wild-witchcraft-stuff-i-don-t-like-to/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I knew I wanted to sing and maybe I had a chance at it, so I just started recording myself maybe five or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-knew-i-wanted-to-sing-and-maybe-i-had-a-chance-at-it-so-i-just/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [Artists tend to get this thing called demo-itis, and I'm extremely guilty of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/artists-tend-to-get-this-thing-called-demo-itis-and-i-m-extremely/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [There are a lot of incredible producers out there. But that doesn't mean when you get in the studio that the vibe is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/there-are-a-lot-of-incredible-producers-out-there-but-that-doesn-t/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [I never had an apartment before, so just finally having my own place. And it was magical. It was gorgeous - beautiful tub. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-never-had-an-apartment-before-so-just-finally-having-my-own-place/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [At the end of the day, I was getting really close to quitting. I was starting to accept that maybe I'm just going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-was-getting-really-close-to-quitting-i-was/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) [Explore all 48 Ari Lennox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) ## More Academically quotes > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/both-my-parents-wanted-me-to-excel-academically-like-every-other/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I wasn't academically successful. And maybe I've spent a lot of my career trying to make up for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-wasn-t-academically-successful-and-maybe-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-my/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing to integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/kids-who-don-t-play-are-not-just-at-greater-risk-of-falling-behind/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Some people are academically inclined, some vocationally and we shouldn't penalise the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/some-people-are-academically-inclined-some-vocationally-and-we/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) [Browse all 55 Academically quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academically/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Academically I was never that great and I was not really into school. 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