--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was in chemical engineering at Cornell…" description: "\"I was in chemical engineering at Cornell University. My girlfriend at the time dared me to do a play. I knew there was something I wanted, not necessar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/ato-essandoh-14328_chemical_i-was-in-chemical-engineering-at-cornell_1151670.jpg" --- # I was in chemical engineering at Cornell University. My… ![“I was in chemical engineering at Cornell University. My girlfriend at the time dared me to do a play. I knew there was something I wanted, not necessarily engineering.” quote by Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/ato-essandoh-14328_chemical_i-was-in-chemical-engineering-at-cornell_1151670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/ato-essandoh-14328_chemical_i-was-in-chemical-engineering-at-cornell_1151670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/ato-essandoh-14328_chemical_i-was-in-chemical-engineering-at-cornell_1151670.jpg) > “I was in chemical engineering at Cornell University. My girlfriend at the time dared me to do a play. I knew there was something I wanted, not necessarily engineering.” [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He left chemical engineering for theater after a dare, seeking creative fulfillment over technical work. **In simple terms:** He chose acting over engineering. Key Takeaway Follow creative urges. Themes career change risk creativity Mood determined hopeful Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - entrepreneurship - artistic education - life coaching Key Concepts engineering theatre personal passion dare Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to abandon a stable path? - How do you balance practicality with passion? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Chemical engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-engineering/) [Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cornell/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Girlfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlfriend/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Cornell University will be\] an asylum for Science—where truth shall be sought for truth's sake, not stretched or cut exactly to fit Revealed Religion.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/cornell-university-will-be-an-asylum-for-science-where-truth-shall-be/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [In the winters, I enrolled in the hotel management program at Cornell University. I naively thought that I knew something about sleight-of-hand, entertainment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-jay/in-the-winters-i-enrolled-in-the-hotel-management-program-at-cornell/) [Ricky Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-jay/) > [In the year 1915 a series of trivial incidents led some Chinese students in Cornell University to take up the question of reforming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/in-the-year-1915-a-series-of-trivial-incidents-led-some-chinese/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [“If there was a single event that galvanized conservative donors to try to wrest control of higher education in America, it might have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/if-there-was-a-single-event-that-galvanized-conservative-donors-to/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [Another benefit of going to Cornell is that 90 percent of your friends are doctors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/another-benefit-of-going-to-cornell-is-that-90-percent-of-your/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [“Cornell University Press announced plans for a festschrift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/cornell-university-press-announced-plans-for-a-festschrift/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [At Cornell University, it was well known that after five years on Wall Street, you could expect to be making half a million a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/at-cornell-university-it-was-well-known-that-after-five-years-on-wall/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Movies are a powerful medium. People think you are your character. I've had plenty of people who think I'm Drago. They don't know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/movies-are-a-powerful-medium-people-think-you-are-your-character-i-ve/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [I studied chemical engineering. I was a good student, but these were the hard times of the depression, my scholarship came to an end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-steinberger/i-studied-chemical-engineering-i-was-a-good-student-but-these-were/) [Jack Steinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-steinberger/) > [I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i-went-into-the-army-after-that/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I got my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-got-my-undergraduate-degree-in-chemical-engineering/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [No one can believe I might have a brain. Because I'm really tall, I'm really blonde, I have big muscles, and kill people for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/no-one-can-believe-i-might-have-a-brain-because-i-m-really-tall-i-m/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [I used to be a chemical-engineering student, but I started studying acting, and I went for a cattle call, up against hundreds of people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/i-used-to-be-a-chemical-engineering-student-but-i-started-studying/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [Nobody had anticipated that chemicals was the direction in which Reliance was headed. I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/nobody-had-anticipated-that-chemicals-was-the-direction-in-which/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) > [I wanted to pursue chemical engineering because I thought it was the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/i-wanted-to-pursue-chemical-engineering-because-i-thought-it-was-the/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) ## More by Ato Essandoh > [Just the little bit that I've learned about Judaism, I didn't realize how, dare I say, intense that religion is as far as all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/just-the-little-bit-that-i-ve-learned-about-judaism-i-didn-t-realize/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Macklemore gets a Grammy over Kendrick Lamar. I still can't get over that. But again, it's not Macklemore's fault. It's the way of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/macklemore-gets-a-grammy-over-kendrick-lamar-i-still-can-t-get-over/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [I was a chemical engineer in school. And, randomly, an ex-girlfriend dared me to do a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/i-was-a-chemical-engineer-in-school-and-randomly-an-ex-girlfriend/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [When you're a guest star on a movie or a TV show, I always say it's like being invited to a family reunion, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/when-you-re-a-guest-star-on-a-movie-or-a-tv-show-i-always-say-it-s/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [If you're going to sign a contract, there are things you have to understand you might have to do. If you don't, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/if-you-re-going-to-sign-a-contract-there-are-things-you-have-to/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > ['Copper' is my first period piece. It's funny because I've been doing a lot of episodes of 'Elementary' with Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/copper-is-my-first-period-piece-it-s-funny-because-i-ve-been-doing-a/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Traveling, I've met Ghanaian people who have seen me in minor stuff, but they see the name Ato Essandoh, and they recognize it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/traveling-i-ve-met-ghanaian-people-who-have-seen-me-in-minor-stuff/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [It's funny because as much as I've done Dr. Freeman, I guess because I shave right afterwards, people don't recognize me necessarily as Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/it-s-funny-because-as-much-as-i-ve-done-dr-freeman-i-guess-because-i/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Growing up near Scarsdale, I should have had at least one Jewish girlfriend. Maybe at some point it'll happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/growing-up-near-scarsdale-i-should-have-had-at-least-one-jewish/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [The first time I was onstage, I felt like the audience was breathing with me. I don't know if I was good or not;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/the-first-time-i-was-onstage-i-felt-like-the-audience-was-breathing/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [When 'Goodfellas' is on TNT, and they've taken out all the curse words and put Tide commercials in the middle of it, I'll still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/when-goodfellas-is-on-tnt-and-they-ve-taken-out-all-the-curse-words/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Never would I have thought that I would meet Mick Jagger, much less be working on the same project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/never-would-i-have-thought-that-i-would-meet-mick-jagger-much-less-be/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [I never thought I'd play an orthodox Jewish man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/i-never-thought-i-d-play-an-orthodox-jewish-man/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [Every culture feels like their parents are the most stringent as far as, "We came to this country to work hard, we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/every-culture-feels-like-their-parents-are-the-most-stringent-as-far/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [I see it in a lot of period pieces where everybody is standing and talking, in a stilted, archaic way, instead of being loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/i-see-it-in-a-lot-of-period-pieces-where-everybody-is-standing-and/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) [Explore all 47 Ato Essandoh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. 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