---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I graduated from high school, the…"
description: "\"When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music.\" — Big Sean"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg"
---

#  When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was…

![“When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music.” quote by Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg)

> “When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music.”

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A teacher discouraged his musical path, seeing it as wasteful.

**In simple terms:** External judgments can undermine personal dreams.

Key Takeaway

Stay true to your passion despite criticism.

Themes

self‑discovery music education

Mood

motivational hopeful

Type

career creative

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- creative pursuits
- mentor relationships

Key Concepts

career choice self‑esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- Who supports your artistic journey?
- How do you handle negative feedback?

A Different Perspective

Not all advice is harmful; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/)

## Related quotes

> [When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music, and the same teacher invited me back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [“Yeah. Of course I can do simple math. I graduated high school, ya know.” “What an accomplishment. No one has ever done that before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-stovall/yeah-of-course-i-can-do-simple-math-i-graduated-high-school-ya-know/)

S.A. Stovall

> [By the time I graduated from high school in Vancouver, I already had a whole support network set up for me in Los Angeles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/by-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-in-vancouver-i-already-had-a/)

[Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/)

> [I graduated from high school in 1962.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/i-graduated-from-high-school-in-1962/)

[Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/)

> [I graduated from high school in 1963. There were no computers, cell phones, Internet, credit cards, cassette tapes or cable TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/i-graduated-from-high-school-in-1963-there-were-no-computers-cell/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [I've always been a creative speller and never achieved good grades in school. I graduated from high school but didn't have the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/i-ve-always-been-a-creative-speller-and-never-achieved-good-grades-in/)

[Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/)

> [I grew up with nothing and nobody ever told me I could do anything. I never knew my father, and my mother wasnt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-grew-up-with-nothing-and-nobody-ever-told-me-i-could-do-anything-i/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I tried to get as far away from home as possible after I graduated from high school because I had a hard time being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-opie/i-tried-to-get-as-far-away-from-home-as-possible-after-i-graduated/)

[Catherine Opie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-opie/)

> [I wanted to be a marine biologist my whole life until I graduated high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-wanted-to-be-a-marine-biologist-my-whole-life-until-i-graduated/)

[Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/)

> [I broke out of my shell once I graduated from high school and got into college in my first year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/i-broke-out-of-my-shell-once-i-graduated-from-high-school-and-got/)

[Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/)

> [My son graduated high school and went to Haiti to work for his dad's organization and then extended his stay. It's incredible what he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/my-son-graduated-high-school-and-went-to-haiti-to-work-for-his-dad-s/)

[Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/)

> [My girlfriend Rhonda, who's now my wife, I graduated from high school, she got pregnant. My grandfather said, 'You've got to do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/my-girlfriend-rhonda-who-s-now-my-wife-i-graduated-from-high-school/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [I always wanted to have my own album recorded and released before I graduated high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-always-wanted-to-have-my-own-album-recorded-and-released-before-i/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [So basically, I graduated high school a semester early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-szohr/so-basically-i-graduated-high-school-a-semester-early/)

[Jessica Szohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-szohr/)

> [Yeah my brother graduated from high school(: yea(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/yeah-my-brother-graduated-from-high-school-yea/)

[CLARE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/)

## More by Big Sean

> [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [B.I.G I'm the mayor in the bitch. Ol' fur coat looking like a bear in this bitch. OH! fuck is you wearing? That's embarrassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/b-i-g-i-m-the-mayor-in-the-bitch-ol-fur-coat-looking-like-a-bear-in/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Tequila glasses, shots to the head cuz some memories they need assassins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/tequila-glasses-shots-to-the-head-cuz-some-memories-they-need/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [I got this tiger head ring that's similar to a Cartier ring. I had my jeweler Sean from Detroit make it similar to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-got-this-tiger-head-ring-that-s-similar-to-a-cartier-ring-i-had-my/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [People who tend to listen to my music have come back and said, 'Yo, this is my anthem. This is what I live by.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/people-who-tend-to-listen-to-my-music-have-come-back-and-said-yo-this/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Headaches every night a nigga get it from the drama, man if she don't make that money, she gon' take that money not from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/headaches-every-night-a-nigga-get-it-from-the-drama-man-if-she-don-t/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Man, I made myself a boss and then I gave me a promotion and I step into the booth and change the world like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/man-i-made-myself-a-boss-and-then-i-gave-me-a-promotion-and-i-step/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [You're gonna make it too hard for me. I wish you were ugly. It wouldn't be so hard to leave. Cause baby I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/you-re-gonna-make-it-too-hard-for-me-i-wish-you-were-ugly-it-wouldn-t/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [These lil niggas can't hang. Big shit popping bitch and big my first name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/these-lil-niggas-can-t-hang-big-shit-popping-bitch-and-big-my-first/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Man these hoes, take your money and I take their virginity. Im high, I split an O in half, now its a parenthesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/man-these-hoes-take-your-money-and-i-take-their-virginity-im-high-i/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Bitch I am a monster I belong on district 9.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/bitch-i-am-a-monster-i-belong-on-district-9/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Woah, Im sipping on whatever I get handed. Throwing house parties so crazy that my crib look like a campus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/woah-im-sipping-on-whatever-i-get-handed-throwing-house-parties-so/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [They say I'm too fake, fuck it I'm paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/they-say-i-m-too-fake-fuck-it-i-m-paid/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It just makes you a better artist when you're with people who are great artists themselves. Being around Kanye, soaking up all the knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/it-just-makes-you-a-better-artist-when-you-re-with-people-who-are/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

[Explore all 508 Big Sean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

## More Following quotes

> [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/)

[Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/)

> [Opportunities change, strategies change, but people and psychology do not change. If trend-following systems don’t work well, something else will. There’s always money being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-blake/opportunities-change-strategies-change-but-people-and-psychology-do/)

[Gil Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-blake/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [Good leaders being scarce, following yourself is allowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/good-leaders-being-scarce-following-yourself-is-allowed/)

[Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/)

> [Making a movie is about following characters and embarking on an adventure with them, seeing their reactions, and seeing what they do, having empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-khalfoun/making-a-movie-is-about-following-characters-and-embarking-on-an/)

Franck Khalfoun

> [No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/no-half-heartedness-and-no-worldly-fear-must-turn-us-aside-from/)

[J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/)

> [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [Some people are great at dieting and train somewhat inconsistently - for those people, getting on a great training program and following it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romaniello/some-people-are-great-at-dieting-and-train-somewhat-inconsistently/)

[John Romaniello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romaniello/)

> [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/)

[Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/)

> [I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets. So I try to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-try-to-live-my-life-where-i-end-up-at-a-point-where-i-have-no/)

[Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/)

> [Following the Noble Path is like entering a dark room with a light in the hand; the darkness will all be cleared away, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/following-the-noble-path-is-like-entering-a-dark-room-with-a-light-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A ship's engine far away on the water expands the summer-night horizon. Both joy and sorrow swell in the dew's magnifying glass. Without really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-transtromer/a-ship-s-engine-far-away-on-the-water-expands-the-summer-night/)

[Tomas Transtromer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-transtromer/)

> [Practice following your intuition in everyday things, trusting your gut feelings moment by moment and acting on them as best you can. As you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/practice-following-your-intuition-in-everyday-things-trusting-your/)

[Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/)

> [Following the creation concept that creation processes differed from preservation processes, it is suggested that God endowed each created kind, at the time of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lang/following-the-creation-concept-that-creation-processes-differed-from/)

[Walter Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lang/)

> [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/)

[Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/)

Browse all 2,527 Following quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Big Sean"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Following"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/big-sean-504_following_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1910607.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music.” — Big Sean",
                "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": "Big Sean",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I graduated from high school,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
