--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Started by missionaries in 1841…" description: "\"...Started by missionaries in 1841, Punahou Academy had grown into a prestigious prep school, an incubator for island elites...It hadn't been easy to g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/barack-obama-17_academy_started-by-missionaries-in-1841-punahou_1572091.jpg" --- # ...Started by missionaries in 1841, Punahou Academy had… ![“...Started by missionaries in 1841, Punahou Academy had grown into a prestigious prep school, an incubator for island elites...It hadn't been easy to get me in, my grandparents told her (my mother); there was a long waiting list, and I was considered only because of the intervention of Gramps'…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/barack-obama-17_academy_started-by-missionaries-in-1841-punahou_1572091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/barack-obama-17_academy_started-by-missionaries-in-1841-punahou_1572091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/barack-obama-17_academy_started-by-missionaries-in-1841-punahou_1572091.jpg) > “...Started by missionaries in 1841, Punahou Academy had grown into a prestigious prep school, an incubator for island elites...It hadn't been easy to get me in, my grandparents told her (my mother); there was a long waiting list, and I was considered only because of the intervention of Gramps' boss, who was an alumnus (my first experience with affirmative action, it seems, had little to do with race).” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on personal privilege, networking, and affirmative action, emphasizing that success often hinges on connections and opportunities beyond merit alone. **In simple terms:** Success often depends on who you know and chance opportunities. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of networks in achievement. Themes privilege networking affirmative action social mobility Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type personal societal inspirational When to use this quote - college admissions - career advancement - policy discussions - personal reflection Key Concepts social capital meritocracy elite formation Questions to Reflect On - How have your connections shaped your path? - What reforms could make opportunity more equitable? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic inequities and overemphasize individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Alumni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alumni/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Grandparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparent/) [Intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervention/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Long wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-wait/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I came from a prep school in New Jersey, so I get that when I got to FSU, some people weren't sure about me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-rolle/i-came-from-a-prep-school-in-new-jersey-so-i-get-that-when-i-got-to/) [Myron Rolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-rolle/) > [“The world according to Heidegger is like a prep school for Calvinists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scheler/the-world-according-to-heidegger-is-like-a-prep-school-for-calvinists/) [Max Scheler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scheler/) > [I love St. John's Prep as a school. I like the people there, it's a great school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-love-st-john-s-prep-as-a-school-i-like-the-people-there-it-s-a/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I definitely think I'm kind of more of an East Coast player than a West Coast player. But I knew at a young age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-dudley/i-definitely-think-i-m-kind-of-more-of-an-east-coast-player-than-a/) [Jared Dudley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-dudley/) > [I was in a university prep school in Canada, and the way that particular place worked was, you chose at a very young age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-hope/i-was-in-a-university-prep-school-in-canada-and-the-way-that/) [Leslie Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-hope/) > [When I was 11, at prep school, I was starring in the school play, editing the school magazine and standing as Conservative candidate for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/when-i-was-11-at-prep-school-i-was-starring-in-the-school-play/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [I first decided that I wanted to act when I was 9. And I was at a very bizarre prep school at the time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-first-decided-that-i-wanted-to-act-when-i-was-9-and-i-was-at-a-very/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [“When I first entered the school, I was all set to tie my hair in a ponytail, get a fake tan, and write my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-allison/when-i-first-entered-the-school-i-was-all-set-to-tie-my-hair-in-a/) [Jennifer Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-allison/) > [Because I did well at the prep school, I got to have more options as some different universities gave me offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuta-watanabe/because-i-did-well-at-the-prep-school-i-got-to-have-more-options-as/) [Yuta Watanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuta-watanabe/) > [“Bellingham Academy: everything you always wanted in a prep school and less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-dermont/bellingham-academy-everything-you-always-wanted-in-a-prep-school-and/) [Amber Dermont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-dermont/) > [I went to prep school, Eton and Oxford. When people hear that, they think they know you, and you think: 'No, you don't.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lloyd/i-went-to-prep-school-eton-and-oxford-when-people-hear-that-they/) [Harry Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lloyd/) > [My father passed away when I was 12, so it was very difficult. But I was always the class clown. I don't know why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/my-father-passed-away-when-i-was-12-so-it-was-very-difficult-but-i/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [I went to boarding school from the age of eight - first to prep school, then to Eton. One thing that kind of education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-went-to-boarding-school-from-the-age-of-eight-first-to-prep-school/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I remember seeing 'Dead Poet's Society,' and it made it appealing in a way that I actually went to prep school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-remember-seeing-dead-poet-s-society-and-it-made-it-appealing-in-a/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I went to prep school for one year in Arizona. It was called Orme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-went-to-prep-school-for-one-year-in-arizona-it-was-called-orme/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Academy quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Step Up Academy offers a conducive, encouraging, comfortable environment for children to step up their learning and achieve success. Our students progress within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerthiga-manokumar/step-up-academy-offers-a-conducive-encouraging-comfortable/) Kerthiga Manokumar > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [Few years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/few-years-ago-i-said-something-about-the-academy-being-very-white/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“Fuck Briarcrest Academy, and fuck you all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-madden-mills/fuck-briarcrest-academy-and-fuck-you-all/) [Ilsa Madden-Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-madden-mills/) > [I don't really look forward to movie stardom or doing a $200-million movie or winning an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-don-t-really-look-forward-to-movie-stardom-or-doing-a-200-million/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. You're not going to see me at the Academy Awards 'Vanity Fair' party any time soon. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-am-an-outsider-looking-in-absolutely-you-re-not-going-to-see-me-at/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [In all our academies we attempt far too much. ... 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