--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, I was overly studious, overly…" description: "\"As a kid, I was overly studious, overly serious, very academically driven. It was important to me on a cellular level to do well. And then I went to co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/claire-saffitz-6148_college_as-a-kid-i-was-overly-studious-overly-se_1696725.jpg" --- # As a kid, I was overly studious, overly serious, very… ![“As a kid, I was overly studious, overly serious, very academically driven. It was important to me on a cellular level to do well. And then I went to college at Harvard, and I relaxed a little bit.” quote by Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/claire-saffitz-6148_college_as-a-kid-i-was-overly-studious-overly-se_1696725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/claire-saffitz-6148_college_as-a-kid-i-was-overly-studious-overly-se_1696725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/claire-saffitz-6148_college_as-a-kid-i-was-overly-studious-overly-se_1696725.jpg) > “As a kid, I was overly studious, overly serious, very academically driven. It was important to me on a cellular level to do well. And then I went to college at Harvard, and I relaxed a little bit.” [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Academic drive can dominate early life, but balance and relaxation are essential for long‑term fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Studying hard is good, but relax too. Key Takeaway Find a healthy balance between work and play. Themes education balance growth Mood reflective calm Type personal reflective When to use this quote - college life - career planning - personal development - stress management Key Concepts Self‑care mindset Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to ease off? - What activities help you recharge? A Different Perspective Over‑focus on achievement can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I went to college at Harvard, then did three years of graduate school at Yale. At both places I studied comparative literature. People find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-went-to-college-at-harvard-then-did-three-years-of-graduate-school/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [If I went to any other college, I probably would have been pre-med. But I felt like I had freedom to do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-adeyemi/if-i-went-to-any-other-college-i-probably-would-have-been-pre-med-but/) [Tomi Adeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-adeyemi/) > [I wasn't academically successful. And maybe I've spent a lot of my career trying to make up for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-wasn-t-academically-successful-and-maybe-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-my/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/both-my-parents-wanted-me-to-excel-academically-like-every-other/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) ## More by Claire Saffitz > [Replacing white flour with whole wheat generally makes baked goods denser, drier, and more crumbly because the germ and bran in whole wheat absorbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/replacing-white-flour-with-whole-wheat-generally-makes-baked-goods/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Usually, turkey burger recipes result in something so lifeless and tasteless that drowning one in ketchup (that most perfect and delicious of condiments) doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/usually-turkey-burger-recipes-result-in-something-so-lifeless-and/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Always bake in the center of the oven. A pan placed too close to the bottom of the oven will receive more heat radiating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/always-bake-in-the-center-of-the-oven-a-pan-placed-too-close-to-the/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Cooking has always been work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/cooking-has-always-been-work/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Lame blades can dull relatively quickly, so after slashing several loaves the blade won't slice through the dough with tremendous ease. (When this happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/lame-blades-can-dull-relatively-quickly-so-after-slashing-several/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Always use liquid measuring cups to measure liquid and dry measuring cups to measure dry. Especially when measuring flour, accuracy is important, so using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/always-use-liquid-measuring-cups-to-measure-liquid-and-dry-measuring/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [I've always just operated with the attitude that if I work just as hard as I can, everything will be fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/i-ve-always-just-operated-with-the-attitude-that-if-i-work-just-as/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Depending on when vegetables are picked, they might take different lengths of time to cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/depending-on-when-vegetables-are-picked-they-might-take-different/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Poached quince are so tender, aromatic, and rosy that you'd hardly believe the raw fruit is white, fibrous, and hard as a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/poached-quince-are-so-tender-aromatic-and-rosy-that-you-d-hardly/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [True marshmallow - and I'm not talking about those ones from a bag - is nothing more than an Italian meringue set with gelatin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/true-marshmallow-and-i-m-not-talking-about-those-ones-from-a-bag-is/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [The mild creaminess of cottage cheese makes it a perfect blank canvas for almost any flavor combination, savory or sweet. Since it's so soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/the-mild-creaminess-of-cottage-cheese-makes-it-a-perfect-blank-canvas/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [One thing I hear a lot is that people feel less stressed out after they watch 'Gourmet Makes.' There's a transference of their stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/one-thing-i-hear-a-lot-is-that-people-feel-less-stressed-out-after/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [I don't like a too-perfect cake. You want people to know it came from your kitchen and not the cake case in the bakery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/i-don-t-like-a-too-perfect-cake-you-want-people-to-know-it-came-from/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [For reasons that aren't quite clear I derive a weird and almost inappropriate pleasure from making a cake that looks like a decomposing log.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/for-reasons-that-aren-t-quite-clear-i-derive-a-weird-and-almost/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [Simmering vegetables in a covered pot over low heat so that they steam in their own liquid - a French technique called a l'etouffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/simmering-vegetables-in-a-covered-pot-over-low-heat-so-that-they/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) [Explore all 100 Claire Saffitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) ## More Academically quotes > [I never felt I was quite the ticket academically. I always felt I had to put in an enormous amount of effort not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/i-never-felt-i-was-quite-the-ticket-academically-i-always-felt-i-had/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [Colgate is the epitome of having it both ways. Academically, it ranks in the top twenty schools in the country, but it is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/colgate-is-the-epitome-of-having-it-both-ways-academically-it-ranks/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [“I broke with the academic style because I decided that life is very short, very mysterious, and I didn't have the time to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mev-puleo/i-broke-with-the-academic-style-because-i-decided-that-life-is-very/) [Mev Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mev-puleo/) > [I was very academically inclined. But my inner life was in such turmoil. I'd go home and my home life was so miserable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-sohn/i-was-very-academically-inclined-but-my-inner-life-was-in-such/) [Sonja Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-sohn/) > [I have never gotten a B in my life. I would honestly be mortified if I got a B. I'm so academically driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/i-have-never-gotten-a-b-in-my-life-i-would-honestly-be-mortified-if-i/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I've always enjoyed real work more than schoolwork. My mother will attest to that - she was always concerned about me academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ulevitch/i-ve-always-enjoyed-real-work-more-than-schoolwork-my-mother-will/) [David Ulevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ulevitch/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/both-my-parents-wanted-me-to-excel-academically-like-every-other/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I wasn't academically successful. And maybe I've spent a lot of my career trying to make up for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-wasn-t-academically-successful-and-maybe-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-my/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [Kids who don't play are not just at greater risk of falling behind academically, but also of becoming overweight or obese, failing to integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/kids-who-don-t-play-are-not-just-at-greater-risk-of-falling-behind/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [Some people are academically inclined, some vocationally and we shouldn't penalise the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/some-people-are-academically-inclined-some-vocationally-and-we/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) Browse all 55 Academically quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a kid, I was overly studious, overly serious, very academically driven. 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