--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I left school the day I turned 16, the…" description: "\"I left school the day I turned 16, the earliest day I legally could. Determined to follow a life on stage, preferably with some dance connection, I app..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/celia-imrie-21072_connections_i-left-school-the-day-i-turned-16-the-ea_2173553.jpg" --- # I left school the day I turned 16, the earliest day I… ![“I left school the day I turned 16, the earliest day I legally could. Determined to follow a life on stage, preferably with some dance connection, I applied for and won a place at the local drama school. I was on my way.” quote by Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/celia-imrie-21072_connections_i-left-school-the-day-i-turned-16-the-ea_2173553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/celia-imrie-21072_connections_i-left-school-the-day-i-turned-16-the-ea_2173553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/celia-imrie-21072_connections_i-left-school-the-day-i-turned-16-the-ea_2173553.jpg) > “I left school the day I turned 16, the earliest day I legally could. Determined to follow a life on stage, preferably with some dance connection, I applied for and won a place at the local drama school. I was on my way.” [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She left school at the earliest legal age to pursue a career in performance, showing early commitment to her passion. **In simple terms:** She quit school at 16 to chase stage dreams. Key Takeaway Take bold steps toward your passion early. Themes determination career arts education Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type personal career When to use this quote - applying to drama school - starting a performance career - overcoming parental expectations Key Concepts self‑actualization risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are you willing to make for your art? - How do you balance risk and security? A Different Perspective Early decisions can limit later options if not carefully considered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [16 Earliest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/16-earliest-4663878/) [Applied Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applied-won-4663877/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-school/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-school/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Turned 16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-16-763359/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When I turned 16, I thought I was a man. I needed the money. When you don't have it, crazy thoughts go through your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/when-i-turned-16-i-thought-i-was-a-man-i-needed-the-money-when-you/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [By the time I turned 16, I'd played more than 300 games outside high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/by-the-time-i-turned-16-i-d-played-more-than-300-games-outside-high/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'll never forget the first time I met Arsene Wenger. I was 16 years old. Just turned 16, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-gnabry/i-ll-never-forget-the-first-time-i-met-arsene-wenger-i-was-16-years/) [Serge Gnabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-gnabry/) > [When I turned 16 and got my license, the Chevy Blazer was passed down from my sister, so it was very much a starter car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-purdy/when-i-turned-16-and-got-my-license-the-chevy-blazer-was-passed-down/) [Amy Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-purdy/) > [I counted down the days until I turned 16 when I'd be allowed to straighten my 'crazy, frizzy hair,' as the other girls had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-counted-down-the-days-until-i-turned-16-when-i-d-be-allowed-to/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [I spent many years not knowing where my dad was... Not knowing if my dad was alive, even. He turned up when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/i-spent-many-years-not-knowing-where-my-dad-was-not-knowing-if-my-dad/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) > [I just turned 16 !!! yesterday was my birthday :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/i-just-turned-16-yesterday-was-my-birthday/) [Mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [By the time I turned 16, I had modeled for 48 ads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/by-the-time-i-turned-16-i-had-modeled-for-48-ads/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [I'll never forget when I was 12 years old. I couldn't wait until the day I was 16 and could drive a car. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-ll-never-forget-when-i-was-12-years-old-i-couldn-t-wait-until-the/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [The day I turned 16, I moved into my own flat. My parents had just broken up, and I didn't want to go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/the-day-i-turned-16-i-moved-into-my-own-flat-my-parents-had-just/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [The year I turned 16, I spent the weeks before Christmas dropping hints to my parents about how much I wanted - no, needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-robards/the-year-i-turned-16-i-spent-the-weeks-before-christmas-dropping/) [Karen Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-robards/) > [When I got signed, I had just turned 16. I felt like I had to continuously have these confrontations with older men who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/when-i-got-signed-i-had-just-turned-16-i-felt-like-i-had-to/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [When I turned 16, I got my driver's license like the rest of my classmates, but I also got an extra present: a two-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/when-i-turned-16-i-got-my-driver-s-license-like-the-rest-of-my/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [I'm a bit of a fraud, really, as I didn't study acting at a drama school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-m-a-bit-of-a-fraud-really-as-i-didn-t-study-acting-at-a-drama-school/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I was born in a council house, my father left school at the age of 11, had his teeth out without anaesthetic at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-was-born-in-a-council-house-my-father-left-school-at-the-age-of-11/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) ## More by Celia Imrie > [There are actresses who've had expensive work done and look great, so I'm not holier-than-thou about it. But it wouldn't be for me, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/there-are-actresses-who-ve-had-expensive-work-done-and-look-great-so/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [Pat Phoenix kept that amazing sassy look. I always wonder, was that because she was thrilled with that look, and thought it looked marvellous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/pat-phoenix-kept-that-amazing-sassy-look-i-always-wonder-was-that/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [The thing about members of your family is that if you met them for the first time at a party, you might not bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/the-thing-about-members-of-your-family-is-that-if-you-met-them-for/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [Anyone who goes on the stage is a show-off, aren't they? Acting's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/anyone-who-goes-on-the-stage-is-a-show-off-aren-t-they-acting-s-weird/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I've made great friends through acting. When I'm with Victoria Wood and Julie Walters, we have grand fun. We can make each other howl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-ve-made-great-friends-through-acting-when-i-m-with-victoria-wood/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I love Monet - I've nicknamed him King Blob. When you go up to the painting, it's a series of blobs - amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-love-monet-i-ve-nicknamed-him-king-blob-when-you-go-up-to-the/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I long for the day where we don't have to talk about our age as actresses,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-long-for-the-day-where-we-don-t-have-to-talk-about-our-age-as/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [Single by choice, just not my choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/single-by-choice-just-not-my-choice/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [If I ever married, I know I would dread the daily sound of the key in the door and the casual expectancy of 'Hello!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/if-i-ever-married-i-know-i-would-dread-the-daily-sound-of-the-key-in/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I have a horror of boring someone or, worse still, of someone boring me. I said to my mother when I was seven, 'But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-have-a-horror-of-boring-someone-or-worse-still-of-someone-boring-me/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I love not knowing what's going to happen next. With work, you never know. You rehearse and strive and get it right sometimes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-love-not-knowing-what-s-going-to-happen-next-with-work-you-never/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I landed the role of Bravo 5, the only female fighter pilot in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.' I did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-landed-the-role-of-bravo-5-the-only-female-fighter-pilot-in-star/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [If I look back, my mother was always out. I can remember the perfume and her scarlet chiffon dress and crystal beads, going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/if-i-look-back-my-mother-was-always-out-i-can-remember-the-perfume/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [I was never a pretty girl, so I wasn't the one to get the boy. I used to cast myself as a good sport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-was-never-a-pretty-girl-so-i-wasn-t-the-one-to-get-the-boy-i-used/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [My first job was in pantomime; I was a chorus girl in 'Dick Whittington' at 16. I got the part by ringing the director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/my-first-job-was-in-pantomime-i-was-a-chorus-girl-in-dick-whittington/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) [Explore all 30 Celia Imrie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) ## More Connections quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [Suffering did different things to different people...Some souls became tempered, unshakable in their faith, while others became twisted and mis-shapen, throwing off all connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ragen/suffering-did-different-things-to-different-people-some-souls-became/) [Naomi Ragen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ragen/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I wouldn't want to play a normal princess who always walks around in nice dresses. I never had a connection to it when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-wouldn-t-want-to-play-a-normal-princess-who-always-walks-around-in/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [If our homes should provide anything, they should provide a sense of who we are and how we got here, a sense of connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-conran/if-our-homes-should-provide-anything-they-should-provide-a-sense-of/) [Terence Conran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-conran/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I love using the latest technologies to make life more efficient, but I don't want to advocate that technology replaces the need to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-webb/i-love-using-the-latest-technologies-to-make-life-more-efficient-but/) [Maynard Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-webb/) > [Synchronicity reveals the meaningful connections between the subjective and objective world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/synchronicity-reveals-the-meaningful-connections-between-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Half of the pleasure of painting and feeling the joy of the creative act is sharing it with others and the feeling of connection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/half-of-the-pleasure-of-painting-and-feeling-the-joy-of-the-creative/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [On the road, I try to maintain my connections with friends and family as much as I possibly can. 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Become a soul, look around, and you’ll be amazed-all the beings around you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/souls-love-that-s-what-souls-do-egos-don-t-but-souls-do-become-a-soul/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) [Browse all 2,951 Connections quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I left school the day I turned 16, the earliest day I legally could. Determined to follow a life on stage, preferably with some dance connection, I applied for and won a place at the local drama school. 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