---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In high school, a teacher once suggested…"
description: "\"In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math major in college. I thought, 'Me? You've got to be joking!' I mean, in junior high, I used to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png"
---

#  In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math…

![“In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math major in college. I thought, 'Me? You've got to be joking!' I mean, in junior high, I used to come home and cry because I was so afraid of my math homework. Seriously, I was terrified of math.” quote by Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png)

> “In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math major in college. I thought, 'Me? You've got to be joking!' I mean, in junior high, I used to come home and cry because I was so afraid of my math homework. Seriously, I was terrified of math.”

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A childhood fear of math can be overcome by confronting it and persisting despite doubt.

**In simple terms:** Math fear can be beaten with effort.

Key Takeaway

Face challenges head‑on.

Themes

self‑doubt education perseverance

Mood

anxious determined

Type

motivational personal growth

When to use this quote

- school assignments
- college majors
- career choices

Key Concepts

growth mindset confidence building

Questions to Reflect On

- What subject scares you most?
- How can you turn fear into motivation?

A Different Perspective

Fear may persist without supportive mentorship.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afraid Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-math-2089099/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Coming home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-home/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Homework](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homework/) [Junior high](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-high/) [Juniors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juniors/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Math Homework](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-homework-2427556/) [Math Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-major-1876221/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Terrified Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified-math-5649521/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/)

## Related quotes

> [“I am afraid of some math, science, and engineering problems, but I know I can at least read the chapters through and perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wright/i-am-afraid-of-some-math-science-and-engineering-problems-but-i-know/)

[John Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wright/)

> [Most of the time I liked school and got good grades. In junior high, though, I hit a stumbling block with math - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/most-of-the-time-i-liked-school-and-got-good-grades-in-junior-high/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [I think we need more math majors who don't become mathematicians. More math major doctors, more math major high school teachers, more math major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-ellenberg/i-think-we-need-more-math-majors-who-don-t-become-mathematicians-more/)

[Jordan Ellenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-ellenberg/)

> [I thought I was going to be a math major. My parents were both accountants and wanted me to major in business. Math was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-silverblatt/i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-math-major-my-parents-were-both/)

[Michael Silverblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-silverblatt/)

> [I was an undergrad math major and a grad student in computer science. I'm hugely introverted, not atypical of math majors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-faulkner/i-was-an-undergrad-math-major-and-a-grad-student-in-computer-science/)

[Judith Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-faulkner/)

> [There are a lot of jobs in the financial industry that do need a math major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/there-are-a-lot-of-jobs-in-the-financial-industry-that-do-need-a-math/)

[Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/)

> [It keeps me from getting too overwhelmed about the industry when I can just do my math homework.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clairo/it-keeps-me-from-getting-too-overwhelmed-about-the-industry-when-i/)

[Clairo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clairo/)

> [“I would think of a quote, but I have to do my math homework”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wang/i-would-think-of-a-quote-but-i-have-to-do-my-math-homework/)

[Benjamin Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wang/)

> [Teacher: Where the hell is your math homework? Me: It committed suicide, had too many problems!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teacher-where-the-hell-is-your-math-homework-me-it-committed-suicide/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [-Hey Mrs Morgan -WHY ARE YOU TEXTING ME AT 2 IN THE MORNING? you can only text me for Math homework! -Oh sorry... are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryne-brooks/hey-mrs-morgan-why-are-you-texting-me-at-2-in-the-morning-you-can/)

[Sheryne Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryne-brooks/)

> [Almost dove under my desk while I was doing my math homework...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-fuhrman/almost-dove-under-my-desk-while-i-was-doing-my-math-homework/)

[Isabelle Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-fuhrman/)

> [I have a hard time watching the shows now. It is like opening up a yearbook when you were in junior high. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-paul-gosselaar/i-have-a-hard-time-watching-the-shows-now-it-is-like-opening-up-a/)

[Mark-Paul Gosselaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-paul-gosselaar/)

> [Everybody in the world has to compromise. I don't know one person that gets everything they want, so the politicians are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/everybody-in-the-world-has-to-compromise-i-don-t-know-one-person-that/)

[Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/)

> [I hate school at that time. Now, little did I know that actually if I had stayed in school I would've actually really liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-hate-school-at-that-time-now-little-did-i-know-that-actually-if-i/)

[Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/)

> [I remember once in junior high school, on a Friday, my mom came home from work and said to my brother and I, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-dejoria/i-remember-once-in-junior-high-school-on-a-friday-my-mom-came-home/)

[John Paul DeJoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-dejoria/)

## More by Danica McKellar

> [I love surprises - champagne and strawberries, all that pampering, romantic stuff. Guys ought to know how to pamper their women properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-love-surprises-champagne-and-strawberries-all-that-pampering/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [Math proficiency is the gateway to a number of incredible careers that students may never have considered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/math-proficiency-is-the-gateway-to-a-number-of-incredible-careers/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [There seems to be so much shame wrapped up in speech disabilities. It seems very sad and complicated all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/there-seems-to-be-so-much-shame-wrapped-up-in-speech-disabilities-it/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [Look at Michelle Pfeiffer: My God, she's 50 years old, but she is still so sexy. If I were into women, I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/look-at-michelle-pfeiffer-my-god-she-s-50-years-old-but-she-is-still/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/math-is-like-going-to-the-gym-for-your-brain-it-sharpens-your-mind/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [I've been just eating very healthy, all organic, no sugar, white flour, nothing artificial. I'm being so incredibly strict... not a lot of meat!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-ve-been-just-eating-very-healthy-all-organic-no-sugar-white-flour/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [My message is: You don't have to give up being popular, fun, or fashionable in order to be smart; they can go hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/my-message-is-you-don-t-have-to-give-up-being-popular-fun-or/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [There are stereotypes that have been out there for a long time that tell girls that their main asset, the main thing that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/there-are-stereotypes-that-have-been-out-there-for-a-long-time-that/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [If I had caused any trouble worth mentioning, you would have read about it in 'Star' magazine, which is probably why I didn't cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/if-i-had-caused-any-trouble-worth-mentioning-you-would-have-read/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [Most of the time I liked school and got good grades. In junior high, though, I hit a stumbling block with math - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/most-of-the-time-i-liked-school-and-got-good-grades-in-junior-high/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [I love acting. Acting is a true love of mine, acting and math. Although they are both creative, they use very different sides of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-love-acting-acting-is-a-true-love-of-mine-acting-and-math-although/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [It's really cool when a guy tips 20 per cent quickly and effortlessly so that when the check comes, he opens it and signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/it-s-really-cool-when-a-guy-tips-20-per-cent-quickly-and-effortlessly/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [When you know that you can overcome challenges, you do gain that self-respect, and then you won't end up in a situation that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/when-you-know-that-you-can-overcome-challenges-you-do-gain-that-self/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [Math has a lot of negative stereotypes, but it can actually be fun and incredibly empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/math-has-a-lot-of-negative-stereotypes-but-it-can-actually-be-fun-and/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

> [You can be obsessed with makeup and hair products and, you know, your appearance and still be absolutely making smart life decisions and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/you-can-be-obsessed-with-makeup-and-hair-products-and-you-know-your/)

[Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

[Explore all 93 Danica McKellar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/)

## More College quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/)

[Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/)

> [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/)

[K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/)

> [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/)

[Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/)

> [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

> [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/)

[Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/)

> [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

[Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math major in college. I thought, 'Me? You've got to be joking!' I mean, in junior high, I used to come home and cry because I was so afraid of my math homework. Seriously, I was terrified of math.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Danica McKellar"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested-that-i-be-a-math-major-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "College"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested-that-i-be-a-math-major-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f90/danica-mckellar-7192_college_in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested_1525707.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In high school, a teacher once suggested that I be a math major in college. I thought, 'Me? You've got to be…” — Danica McKellar",
                "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": "Danica McKellar",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In high school, a teacher once...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested-that-i-be-a-math-major-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/in-high-school-a-teacher-once-suggested-that-i-be-a-math-major-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
