--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just felt like, for the kids, teaching…" description: "\"I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a backup plan.\" — Ayo Edebiri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg" --- # I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a… ![“I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a backup plan.” quote by Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg) > “I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a backup plan.” [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education should be a primary passion, not a fallback when other options fail. **In simple terms:** Teaching must be a first choice, not a backup. Key Takeaway Prioritize teaching as a core career. Themes education career choice passion Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom - career planning - mentor training - policy advocacy Key Concepts vocational commitment purpose social impact Questions to Reflect On - What drives your commitment to teaching? - How can society support teachers as primary careers? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints like job security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup/) [Backup plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup-plan/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Just Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-felt/) [Kids Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-teaching-1867179/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-shouldn-4702384/) ## Related quotes > [It just felt wrong that the kids I was teaching didn't have the same access to materials that I did when I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/it-just-felt-wrong-that-the-kids-i-was-teaching-didn-t-have-the-same/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [Teach positively, never abuse kids in the teaching process. I believe it is cowardly to teach in a negative way, to insult players, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-gillespie/teach-positively-never-abuse-kids-in-the-teaching-process-i-believe/) [Gordie Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-gillespie/) > [Connect with supportive people who empower you. The more you jump into your life, the further away from Ed you can get. Don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/connect-with-supportive-people-who-empower-you-the-more-you-jump-into/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [I think that the minute that you have a backup plan, you've admitted that you're not going to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-think-that-the-minute-that-you-have-a-backup-plan-you-ve-admitted/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) > [What I gotta do? Cats don't even have a clue Can't stand to see Me kick a flow so unbelievably And never gave a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon/what-i-gotta-do-cats-don-t-even-have-a-clue-can-t-stand-to-see-me/) [Eamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon/) > [I like to write from scratch most of the time, but I like to have a backup plan just in case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kurstin/i-like-to-write-from-scratch-most-of-the-time-but-i-like-to-have-a/) [Greg Kurstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kurstin/) > [A backup plan means somewhere in my head, I think I might fail and that word is not in my vocabulary. Plus I'm too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/a-backup-plan-means-somewhere-in-my-head-i-think-i-might-fail-and/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“When OSHA fails, social media is the backup plan!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-osha-fails-social-media-is-the-backup-plan/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [A well-defined backup plan is sabotage waiting to happen. Why push through the dip, why take the risk, why blow it all when there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/a-well-defined-backup-plan-is-sabotage-waiting-to-happen-why-push/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Always have a backup plan to the backup plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/always-have-a-backup-plan-to-the-backup-plan/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [My family was always very supportive. Whether you're an actor or not, everybody hears the horror stories of people going to L.A. and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-family-was-always-very-supportive-whether-you-re-an-actor-or-not/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I like to go full bore into something. If you have a backup plan, then you've already admitted defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-like-to-go-full-bore-into-something-if-you-have-a-backup-plan-then/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I thought I would make it (to the NBA). I believed that I would make it. But I had a Plan B. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-thought-i-would-make-it-to-the-nba-i-believed-that-i-would-make-it/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) ## More by Ayo Edebiri > [I found out about Sister Song through Poppy Liu, who's on the show 'Hacks.' Reproductive rights are human rights, and I wanted to shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-found-out-about-sister-song-through-poppy-liu-who-s-on-the-show/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [The reality is that we have all these conflicting truths and none of us knows why we are the way we are, unless you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/the-reality-is-that-we-have-all-these-conflicting-truths-and-none-of/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Right before prom I got my eyebrows waxed for the first time, and we can see these are not waxable eyebrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/right-before-prom-i-got-my-eyebrows-waxed-for-the-first-time-and-we/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Well, I love classic cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/well-i-love-classic-cinema/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I think Austin Butler should win an Oscar for 'Elvis.' You don't have to see it, all you need to know is I'm correct.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-think-austin-butler-should-win-an-oscar-for-elvis-you-don-t-have-to/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I was a weird Black girl. I still am. But growing up, if you get told your interests are weird or not Black enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-was-a-weird-black-girl-i-still-am-but-growing-up-if-you-get-told/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I have so many memories of watching 'Oprah' with my mom after school and really feeling united with the country. Her show was such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-have-so-many-memories-of-watching-oprah-with-my-mom-after-school/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Everyone in the world is an absolute freak and I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/everyone-in-the-world-is-an-absolute-freak-and-i-love-it/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I think there's something that's in the Boston tap water that makes you a fan of Boston teams, regardless of anything. They can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-think-there-s-something-that-s-in-the-boston-tap-water-that-makes/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [In sixth grade, my mom got me a green iPod Nano that she won at a work raffle and I cried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/in-sixth-grade-my-mom-got-me-a-green-ipod-nano-that-she-won-at-a-work/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [SNL' is something that in my bones, I dreamed of as a comedian, as a young kid. That to me is a pinnacle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/snl-is-something-that-in-my-bones-i-dreamed-of-as-a-comedian-as-a/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I get very nervous when people like stuff too much. I feel, like, as a child of the Internet, I know what that's like:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-get-very-nervous-when-people-like-stuff-too-much-i-feel-like-as-a/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I love Sandy Liang; she's a New York girl. I adore Shush/Tong, Martine Rose and Thom Browne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-love-sandy-liang-she-s-a-new-york-girl-i-adore-shush-tong-martine/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I remember always being afraid of the chefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-remember-always-being-afraid-of-the-chefs/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I fell in love with improv but like the good, repressed, immigrant child I am, I bottled that energy up and used it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-fell-in-love-with-improv-but-like-the-good-repressed-immigrant/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) [Explore all 99 Ayo Edebiri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) ## More Backup quotes > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [I thought I would make it (to the NBA). I believed that I would make it. But I had a Plan B. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-thought-i-would-make-it-to-the-nba-i-believed-that-i-would-make-it/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [When we have all data online it will be great for humanity. It is a prerequisite to solving many problems that humankind faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cailliau/when-we-have-all-data-online-it-will-be-great-for-humanity-it-is-a/) [Robert Cailliau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cailliau/) > [But I love singing, and I've been singing backup for friends' bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/but-i-love-singing-and-i-ve-been-singing-backup-for-friends-bands/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I was in 'Seussical,' and I was in a cage onstage in a purple yarn suit singing backup, and I was like: 'I've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-nicholaw/i-was-in-seussical-and-i-was-in-a-cage-onstage-in-a-purple-yarn-suit/) [Casey Nicholaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-nicholaw/) > [I like to go full bore into something. If you have a backup plan, then you've already admitted defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-like-to-go-full-bore-into-something-if-you-have-a-backup-plan-then/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [Life is about falling Living is about getting backup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-hillesland/life-is-about-falling-living-is-about-getting-backup/) [Kari Hillesland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-hillesland/) > [My family was always very supportive. Whether you're an actor or not, everybody hears the horror stories of people going to L.A. and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-family-was-always-very-supportive-whether-you-re-an-actor-or-not/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [“Always have a backup plan to the backup plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/always-have-a-backup-plan-to-the-backup-plan/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [What did Isabelle want?" Jace asked. Alec hesitated. "Isabelle says the Queen of the Seelie Court has requested an audience with us." "Sure," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-did-isabelle-want-jace-asked-alec-hesitated-isabelle-says-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When I was at the 'Philadelphia Inquirer,' I was promoted nine times in my first 13 years. I ultimately went from general assignment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/when-i-was-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-i-was-promoted-nine-times-in/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [You might be a redneck if the dog catcher calls for a backup unit when he visits your house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-the-dog-catcher-calls-for-a-backup-unit/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [As a kid, Terry Bradshaw didn't amaze me. My hero was Steelers backup Terry Hanratty, who nabbed two Super Bowl rings while completing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/as-a-kid-terry-bradshaw-didn-t-amaze-me-my-hero-was-steelers-backup/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [A well-defined backup plan is sabotage waiting to happen. Why push through the dip, why take the risk, why blow it all when there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/a-well-defined-backup-plan-is-sabotage-waiting-to-happen-why-push/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Browse all 161 Backup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a backup plan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ayo Edebiri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-shouldn-t-be-a-backup-plan/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backup" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-shouldn-t-be-a-backup-plan/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/ayo-edebiri-6347_backup_i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-s_2991496.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just felt like, for the kids, teaching shouldn't be a backup plan.” — Ayo Edebiri", "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": "Ayo Edebiri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I just felt like, for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-shouldn-t-be-a-backup-plan/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-just-felt-like-for-the-kids-teaching-shouldn-t-be-a-backup-plan/#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 } } ] } ```