--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it…" description: "\"When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like going from pre-school to Harvard, and it took a long time to figure stuff out.\" — Bill Hader" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg" --- # When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like… ![“When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like going from pre-school to Harvard, and it took a long time to figure stuff out.” quote by Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg) > “When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like going from pre-school to Harvard, and it took a long time to figure stuff out.” [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning to SNL felt like moving from elementary to elite, requiring adaptation. **In simple terms:** Big step demands adjustment. Key Takeaway Embrace learning when entering new levels. Themes career growth challenge Mood optimistic reflective Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - career coaching - new job onboarding - personal development Key Concepts development skill acquisition culture shock Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help bridge skill gaps? - How to stay resilient during rapid change? A Different Perspective Adjustment takes time and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Pre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-pre-3997711/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Harvard Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-took-3997710/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Pre school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pre-school/) [Saturday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday/) [Saturday night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday-night/) [Saturday night live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday-night-live/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-harvard-2285392/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took/) [Took Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-long/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to pretend I'm someone I'm not. 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I was awestruck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/i-took-a-job-at-the-walt-disney-company-and-after-18-months-decided/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [I applied to American Repertory School up at Harvard at got in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-naidu/i-applied-to-american-repertory-school-up-at-harvard-at-got-in/) [Ajay Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-naidu/) > [I went to graduate school at Harvard for one year I worked in the state legislature in Sacramento for one year. I taught school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-went-to-graduate-school-at-harvard-for-one-year-i-worked-in-the/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [“The one professional school, Harvard, had been founded to provide training for one profession only, the ministry; recently”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-l-starkey/the-one-professional-school-harvard-had-been-founded-to-provide/) [Marion L. Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-l-starkey/) > [It will help at every state along the road to learning. For the pre-school years we will help needy children become aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/it-will-help-at-every-state-along-the-road-to-learning-for-the-pre/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I don't think I have ever done anything for this age of children before, a pre-school audience. Generally speaking, we don't have vivid memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-done-anything-for-this-age-of-children/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [I actually got started in acting when I was in pre-school. I was really into dance and performing, so my mom had me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-gubelmann/i-actually-got-started-in-acting-when-i-was-in-pre-school-i-was/) [Fiona Gubelmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-gubelmann/) > [“In Finland, children do not start formal instruction until grade 1 when they are 7. Pre-school and kindergarten are part of their schooling, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-marselle/in-finland-children-do-not-start-formal-instruction-until-grade-1/) [Terry Marselle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-marselle/) > [In pre-school, I was drawing dinosaurs - I was huge into dinosaurs. I wanted to be a paleontologist, not a cartoonist or a filmmaker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhonen-vasquez/in-pre-school-i-was-drawing-dinosaurs-i-was-huge-into-dinosaurs-i/) [Jhonen Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhonen-vasquez/) > [You know that your toddler needed love and approval but he often seemed not to care whether he got it or not and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-leach/you-know-that-your-toddler-needed-love-and-approval-but-he-often/) [Penelope Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-leach/) > [I like happy things, I'm really calm and peaceful. I like birds, bees, I like people. I like funny things that make me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-like-happy-things-i-m-really-calm-and-peaceful-i-like-birds-bees-i/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [I always enjoyed myself a lot in pre-school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-enjoyed-myself-a-lot-in-pre-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bill Hader > [The first time I met James Franco, he was dressed like James Dean. He was James Dean, literally, filming a biopic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/the-first-time-i-met-james-franco-he-was-dressed-like-james-dean-he/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Let's face it: I look pretty out of shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/let-s-face-it-i-look-pretty-out-of-shape/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [In the U.S., it's like, you start with a great script, and then on set - not everybody, but definitely in the Apatow group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/in-the-u-s-it-s-like-you-start-with-a-great-script-and-then-on-set/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Fred Armisen does a pretty good me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/fred-armisen-does-a-pretty-good-me/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I took Second City out of desperation, and that's what ended up working out. It shows that you should be doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-took-second-city-out-of-desperation-and-that-s-what-ended-up/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [When you're at your absolute, most exhausted... That's when you have to be at the top of your game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-you-re-at-your-absolute-most-exhausted-that-s-when-you-have-to/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [The idea of a Chicago band that wanted to sing songs about California is really funny. Having never been to California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/the-idea-of-a-chicago-band-that-wanted-to-sing-songs-about-california/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [No one knows anything. You're going to make mistakes and you're going to do things that people think are stupid. You can't sit there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/no-one-knows-anything-you-re-going-to-make-mistakes-and-you-re-going/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [George Saunders is a complete genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/george-saunders-is-a-complete-genius/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I think that's the thing I learned at 'Saturday Night Live' - any time I would try and strategize, I would always, always fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-think-that-s-the-thing-i-learned-at-saturday-night-live-any-time-i/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [You learn quickly at 'SNL' you get in trouble if you compare yourself to other people, where they're at, or what other people had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/you-learn-quickly-at-snl-you-get-in-trouble-if-you-compare-yourself/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Turns out typecasting is a real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/turns-out-typecasting-is-a-real-thing/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [You can be the lead in a movie just for the sake of being a lead in a movie, or you can just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/you-can-be-the-lead-in-a-movie-just-for-the-sake-of-being-a-lead-in-a/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I learned a lot just watching people perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-learned-a-lot-just-watching-people-perform/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Fred Willard still makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/fred-willard-still-makes-me-laugh/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) [Explore all 155 Bill Hader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) ## More Figure quotes > [I'm not a classically trained actor, but I've been given a lot of opportunities along the way to kind of figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-m-not-a-classically-trained-actor-but-i-ve-been-given-a-lot-of/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Because YouTube is focused on a lot of different types of content at the same time, it has many opportunities, and the hardest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kyncl/because-youtube-is-focused-on-a-lot-of-different-types-of-content-at/) [Robert Kyncl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kyncl/) > [“Helping undo her Sieve Demi Bra and French Cut Briefs a thural wood patchouli scent spices the air as I am rendered nearly unconscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luca-evola/helping-undo-her-sieve-demi-bra-and-french-cut-briefs-a-thural-wood/) [Luca Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luca-evola/) > [It is what it is, sometimes if you can't find what it is, just believe you will figure out what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/it-is-what-it-is-sometimes-if-you-can-t-find-what-it-is-just-believe/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/having-children-they-re-not-your-property-they-need-to-figure-out/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I did a lot of struggling with my identity trying to figure out who the heck I was. I had to face my demons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/i-did-a-lot-of-struggling-with-my-identity-trying-to-figure-out-who/) [John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/) > [I figured my wife was about to start law school. If that whole baseball pitching thing didn't work out, I had something to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-figured-my-wife-was-about-to-start-law-school-if-that-whole/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [I just write stuff down and pile it up, and when I get enough stuff, I spread it out and look at it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/i-just-write-stuff-down-and-pile-it-up-and-when-i-get-enough-stuff-i/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [I'm a big greens fan. I'm a big vegetable fan. I'm a big whole grains fan. And I exercise a lot. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-a-big-greens-fan-i-m-a-big-vegetable-fan-i-m-a-big-whole-grains/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/) [Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/) > [Competition helps people figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcbride/competition-helps-people-figure-it-out/) [Brian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcbride/) > [I never really cook from recipes. But the worst is when something turns out great and I can't figure out how to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-never-really-cook-from-recipes-but-the-worst-is-when-something/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [At a certain point, we need to figure out how to reward those who choose a path that offers, often, almost no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/at-a-certain-point-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-reward-those-who/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) [Browse all 1,417 Figure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like going from pre-school to Harvard, and it took a long time to figure stuff out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Hader" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was-a-lot-like-going-from-pre/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Figure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was-a-lot-like-going-from-pre/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03e/bill-hader-2662_figure_when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was_1259235.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I got to 'Saturday Night Live,' it was a lot like going from pre-school to Harvard, and it took a long…” — Bill Hader", "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": "Bill Hader", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I got to 'Saturday Night...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was-a-lot-like-going-from-pre/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-i-got-to-saturday-night-live-it-was-a-lot-like-going-from-pre/#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 } } ] } ```