--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew comedy was the thing for me when I…" description: "\"I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only Asian kid in high school... who failed math.\" — Dat Phan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/dat-phan-37618_asian_i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when_353748.png" --- # I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only… ![“I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only Asian kid in high school... who failed math.” quote by Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/dat-phan-37618_asian_i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when_353748.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/dat-phan-37618_asian_i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when_353748.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/dat-phan-37618_asian_i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when_353748.png) > “I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only Asian kid in high school... who failed math.” [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized comedy suited him despite being an Asian student who struggled academically. **In simple terms:** Comedy fit his identity despite academic challenges. Key Takeaway Embrace unique strengths even when they contrast with expectations. Themes identity humor stereotypes education self‑discovery Mood humorous inspirational Type personal career When to use this quote - school environment - career pivot - creative pursuit - overcoming stereotypes Key Concepts Cultural studies psychology of humor identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How does humor reshape cultural expectations? - What role does failure play in creative discovery? A Different Perspective May face typecasting or audience bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I hope you didn't bring the Asian kid along thinking he's a computer genius. 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If only I could tell you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/if-only-you-knew-comedy-boy-if-only-i-could-tell-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [In elementary school, I did well in science, but I was a poor writer. When I got to high school, I failed all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/in-elementary-school-i-did-well-in-science-but-i-was-a-poor-writer/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/school-failed-me-and-i-failed-the-school-it-bored-me-the-teachers/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I feel that if I had not had an art program in my school, I would have failed in a big way. My teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-small/i-feel-that-if-i-had-not-had-an-art-program-in-my-school-i-would-have/) [David Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-small/) ## More by Dat Phan > [Money comes and goes. I'm thankful I have money. I'm trying to save up more. I would like more money. But it's not happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/money-comes-and-goes-i-m-thankful-i-have-money-i-m-trying-to-save-up/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I was doing gigs to stay alive. I worked two or three jobs at a time, there were times when I stayed up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-was-doing-gigs-to-stay-alive-i-worked-two-or-three-jobs-at-a-time/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [And I come from a small Vietnamese family. We're really close too, all ten of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/and-i-come-from-a-small-vietnamese-family-we-re-really-close-too-all/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [It's a constant battle between what your heart tells you, and what your brain tells you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/it-s-a-constant-battle-between-what-your-heart-tells-you-and-what/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [When you grow up poor, you have to either work really hard to try and get where you want to be, or you'll just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/when-you-grow-up-poor-you-have-to-either-work-really-hard-to-try-and/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I learned that money's not happiness. 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I was shocked when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-was-living-under-a-desk-in-west-hollywood-it-was-a-closet-that-i/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [Vietnam, we take over by doing pedicure! That's how we take over. We take over one foot at a time, damn it - that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/vietnam-we-take-over-by-doing-pedicure-that-s-how-we-take-over-we/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [Us Asians look like we're twenty until we're fifty. Once we're fifty, we look like Yoda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/us-asians-look-like-we-re-twenty-until-we-re-fifty-once-we-re-fifty/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) [Explore all 12 Dat Phan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. 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I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. 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