--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: College is hardly 'just being a kid.'…" description: "\"College is hardly 'just being a kid.' It's really hard…I was such a nerd. I was nerdier than most of the other students. My best friend would get so fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/claire-danes-2119_best-friend_college-is-hardly-just-being-a-kid-it-s_1905688.jpg" --- # College is hardly 'just being a kid.' It's really hard…I… ![“College is hardly 'just being a kid.' It's really hard…I was such a nerd. I was nerdier than most of the other students. My best friend would get so frustrated with me, because I was quite anal and would get so obsessive over papers and exams. I took it all so seriously. It was as if I was…” quote by Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/claire-danes-2119_best-friend_college-is-hardly-just-being-a-kid-it-s_1905688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/claire-danes-2119_best-friend_college-is-hardly-just-being-a-kid-it-s_1905688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/claire-danes-2119_best-friend_college-is-hardly-just-being-a-kid-it-s_1905688.jpg) > “College is hardly 'just being a kid.' It's really hard…I was such a nerd. I was nerdier than most of the other students. My best friend would get so frustrated with me, because I was quite anal and would get so obsessive over papers and exams. I took it all so seriously. It was as if I was sustaining a 100 million dollar movie or something.” [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) ## 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 describes how academic pressure made college feel like a high‑stakes production, leading to obsessive perfectionism and social friction. **In simple terms:** College felt like a high‑pressure job, causing obsessive work habits. Key Takeaway Recognize balance and set realistic expectations. Themes education perfectionism social dynamics stress identity Mood anxious determined reflective Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - exam preparation - group projects - career planning - mental health management Key Concepts psychology performance pressure self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain high standards without burnout? - What strategies help you relax during intense study periods? A Different Perspective Obsessive focus can harm relationships and well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [When in college, I would hardly attend classes. In fact, we would go to other colleges and hang out there. Every six months, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emraan-hashmi/when-in-college-i-would-hardly-attend-classes-in-fact-we-would-go-to/) [Emraan Hashmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emraan-hashmi/) > [“Other people's children went off to college, which for years Ronald had interpreted as a positive thing. Lately, though, he wasn't so sure. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-baum/other-people-s-children-went-off-to-college-which-for-years-ronald/) [Dan Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-baum/) > [I'm just a big old nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-m-just-a-big-old-nerd/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I was a pretty nerdy kid. I was pretty nerdy. I'm still kind of nerdy. I have all of the worst qualities of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-a-pretty-nerdy-kid-i-was-pretty-nerdy-i-m-still-kind-of-nerdy-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I get hired more then I get seen more. I get seen more then maybe celebrity and fame happens but at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/i-get-hired-more-then-i-get-seen-more-i-get-seen-more-then-maybe/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [We are for aiding our allies by sharing of our material blessings with those nations which share in our fundamental beliefs, but we're against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-are-for-aiding-our-allies-by-sharing-of-our-material-blessings/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Harold Camping, an 89 year-old evangelist with a 100 million dollar ministry, heard in 61 different languages around the world, is certain (again!) that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/harold-camping-an-89-year-old-evangelist-with-a-100-million-dollar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a million dollar figure ... but it's all loose change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-a-million-dollar-figure-but-it-s-all-loose-change/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [ \[People asked me\] "Where is your million-dollar shirt?" I'm like, "It's underneath these $25 Hanes T-shirts I've got on." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-smith/people-asked-me-where-is-your-million-dollar-shirt-i-m-like-it-s/) [J. R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-smith/) > [At the end of the day, it's all one version of telling a story. I treated this as if it was a two million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-all-one-version-of-telling-a-story-i/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [When you only have a million dollar annual budget and a Super Bowl ad costs $4 million, you have to do something very creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-st-pierre/when-you-only-have-a-million-dollar-annual-budget-and-a-super-bowl-ad/) Allen St. Pierre > [I feel like when I reach my 500-million-dollar goal, then no other woman in rap will ever feel like they can't do what these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/i-feel-like-when-i-reach-my-500-million-dollar-goal-then-no-other/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [The Irish Six Million Dollar man only cost three quid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/the-irish-six-million-dollar-man-only-cost-three-quid/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) > [“You don´t need a million dollar business, you just need a million dollar team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/you-don-t-need-a-million-dollar-business-you-just-need-a-million/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Def Jam on my heels, should I sign to it? Million dollar advance for me to rhyme fluent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/def-jam-on-my-heels-should-i-sign-to-it-million-dollar-advance-for-me/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) ## More by Claire Danes > [My character was kidnapped by the Terminator and I was kidnapped by the Terminator production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/my-character-was-kidnapped-by-the-terminator-and-i-was-kidnapped-by/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I hadn't been free from adult responsibilities since I was 12, and I needed to experience that. I really needed to just be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-hadn-t-been-free-from-adult-responsibilities-since-i-was-12-and-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Growing up in New York with artist parents - a very liberal environment, where we were always encouraged to challenge the status quo -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/growing-up-in-new-york-with-artist-parents-a-very-liberal-environment/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I was told that going to college wouldn't be good for my career, but I think that's nonsense. It's good to empower yourself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-told-that-going-to-college-wouldn-t-be-good-for-my-career-but-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I exercise more for mental relaxation than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-exercise-more-for-mental-relaxation-than-anything-else/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I could truly have gone through life thinking that women were these venomous creatures. Turns out, they're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-could-truly-have-gone-through-life-thinking-that-women-were-these/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I do feel like I've gotten younger as I've aged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-do-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-younger-as-i-ve-aged/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Voice over can be tricky. It can be dangerous because it's over-used or inappropriately used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/voice-over-can-be-tricky-it-can-be-dangerous-because-it-s-over-used/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them get frightened that if they challenge an audience they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-people-who-make-movies-and-have-invested-a-lot-of-money-in/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I was a pretty nerdy kid. I was pretty nerdy. I'm still kind of nerdy. I have all of the worst qualities of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-a-pretty-nerdy-kid-i-was-pretty-nerdy-i-m-still-kind-of-nerdy-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I care about being formally physically attractive in my life, and I think that I am quite vain about my performance. I'm just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-care-about-being-formally-physically-attractive-in-my-life-and-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [When I was younger, like 14...I was desperate to find that 'true love' experience, but really, if you have to ask yourself if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-i-was-younger-like-14-i-was-desperate-to-find-that-true-love/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [However, I'm at a very comfortable place in my career and celebrity, in that I don't have to audition as extensively as I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/however-i-m-at-a-very-comfortable-place-in-my-career-and-celebrity-in/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) [Explore all 185 Claire Danes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/) Shelly Yang > [A best friend isn't someone who's just always there for you.Its someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-best-friend-isn-t-someone-who-s-just-always-there-for-you-its/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) Aviation > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Sometimes the right people can make your day. They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) Lisa's Voice [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "College is hardly 'just being a kid.' It's really hard…I was such a nerd. I was nerdier than most of the other students. 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