--- 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, and the same teacher invited me back to speak at the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/big-sean-504_away_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1448093.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, and the same teacher invited me back to speak at the school. I don't say that to brag, I just want to be an example.” quote by Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/big-sean-504_away_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1448093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/big-sean-504_away_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1448093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/big-sean-504_away_when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-te_1448093.jpg) > “When I graduated from high school, the teacher said I was throwing my life away following music, and the same teacher invited me back to speak at the school. I don't say that to brag, I just want to be an example.” [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. The speaker reflects on being judged for pursuing music, then later invited to inspire others, showing personal growth and redemption. **In simple terms:** He was once criticized for music, now he returns to motivate. Key Takeaway Use criticism as fuel to inspire others. Themes redemption inspiration music education Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - school assembly - career counseling - music workshops - mentoring youth Key Concepts personal growth public speaking role model Questions to Reflect On - How can past criticism shape your future actions? - What impact does sharing your story have on listeners? A Different Perspective Critics may still doubt your path despite success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [Music teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-teacher/) [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/when-i-graduated-from-high-school-the-teacher-said-i-was-throwing-my-2/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [The boyfriend of the student music teacher came in: "Hey, kids, this is a real Air Force pilot." I asked him something to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/the-boyfriend-of-the-student-music-teacher-came-in-hey-kids-this-is-a/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [“Anyhow, high school is just…The. Worst.” “Funny that you became a high school teacher, then,” I say, and she laughs again. “Something I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-buxbaum/anyhow-high-school-is-just-the-worst-funny-that-you-became-a-high/) [Julie Buxbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-buxbaum/) > [I remember famous people coming in to speak to me when I was in school and being inspired by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-remember-famous-people-coming-in-to-speak-to-me-when-i-was-in/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [I think we have to be more proactive in the people we invite to come and speak in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-schlissel/i-think-we-have-to-be-more-proactive-in-the-people-we-invite-to-come/) Mark Schlissel > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [I love speaking at schools. That's always my favorite because I wish I'd had someone who was like me come speak at my school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-love-speaking-at-schools-that-s-always-my-favorite-because-i-wish-i/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [I made a mil before 25 man and I ain't even no lie bitch I ain't saying that shit to brag neither I'm saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-made-a-mil-before-25-man-and-i-ain-t-even-no-lie-bitch-i-ain-t/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [When I was in fourth grade... this wonderful teacher said you didn't have to write a book report, you could just talk about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didi-conn/when-i-was-in-fourth-grade-this-wonderful-teacher-said-you-didn-t/) [Didi Conn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didi-conn/) > [I remember the first time I saw you. Your hair was in two braids instead of one. And I remember when you... you sang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-remember-the-first-time-i-saw-you-your-hair-was-in-two-braids/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Jonny went on camp and he asked the teacher if he can sleep with her the teacher said NO! And jonny said but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia/jonny-went-on-camp-and-he-asked-the-teacher-if-he-can-sleep-with-her/) [Natalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia/) > [“I wince now to think of when I was a new teacher, and said things like "This is really important stuff" or "You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-dirksen/i-wince-now-to-think-of-when-i-was-a-new-teacher-and-said-things-like/) Julie Dirksen > [You and Teacher,” said Molly. “Yes,” said Peter. “She’s very clever. You’ll like her.” “I’m sure,” said Molly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-and-teacher-said-molly-yes-said-peter-she-s-very-clever-you-ll/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The teacher said define Cultural Diversity and this dude said, 'San Francisco.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-teacher-said-define-cultural-diversity-and-this-dude-said-san/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The simplest comment on my book came from my ballet teacher. She said, "I wish you hadn't made every line funny. It's so depressing."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/the-simplest-comment-on-my-book-came-from-my-ballet-teacher-she-said/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## 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 Away quotes > [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/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't kind of take away, you either do or you don't. If you kind of take away something you're a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/you-can-t-kind-of-take-away-you-either-do-or-you-don-t-if-you-kind-of/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) Browse all 4,933 Away 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, and the same teacher invited me back to speak at the school. 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