--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember growing up thinking that…" description: "\"I remember growing up thinking that astronauts and their job was the coolest thing you could possibly do... But I absolutely couldn't identify with the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/david-m-brown-47726_astronaut_i-remember-growing-up-thinking-that-astr_1878346.jpg" --- # I remember growing up thinking that astronauts and their… ![“I remember growing up thinking that astronauts and their job was the coolest thing you could possibly do... But I absolutely couldn't identify with the people who were astronauts. I thought they were movie stars.” quote by David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/david-m-brown-47726_astronaut_i-remember-growing-up-thinking-that-astr_1878346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/david-m-brown-47726_astronaut_i-remember-growing-up-thinking-that-astr_1878346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/david-m-brown-47726_astronaut_i-remember-growing-up-thinking-that-astr_1878346.jpg) > “I remember growing up thinking that astronauts and their job was the coolest thing you could possibly do... But I absolutely couldn't identify with the people who were astronauts. I thought they were movie stars.” [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early fascination with astronauts as glamorous figures can clash with personal identity, highlighting the need for relatable role models. **In simple terms:** Astronauts seemed like stars, not relatable. Key Takeaway Seek role models you can personally connect with. Themes identity role models inspiration Mood thoughtful motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - education outreach - mentor programs - media representation - career counseling Key Concepts media influence career aspirations Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires you beyond fame? - How can media portray diverse career paths? A Different Perspective Idealized images may obscure realistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) [Astronauts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Movie star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-star/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Most people here don't have a wide emotional range. It's just the type of people astronauts are, they're required to be level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/most-people-here-don-t-have-a-wide-emotional-range-it-s-just-the-type/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [Just in case God isn't dead, our astronauts carry sidearms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/just-in-case-god-isn-t-dead-our-astronauts-carry-sidearms/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [The astronauts who came in with me in my astronaut class - my class had 29 men and 6 women - those men were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/the-astronauts-who-came-in-with-me-in-my-astronaut-class-my-class-had/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [The Americans are still the leaders in human space flight. I feel we have a danger here of kind of stagnating. We're kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/the-americans-are-still-the-leaders-in-human-space-flight-i-feel-we/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I'm Chinese-American, of course, and so it's very interesting to see China actually launch their own astronauts, becoming the third nation, following the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-m-chinese-american-of-course-and-so-it-s-very-interesting-to-see/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [President Obama is launching a new $6 billion space policy that will ultimately take astronauts to Mars. Of course, it's $6 billion and $45…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/president-obama-is-launching-a-new-6-billion-space-policy-that-will/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [From day one, I have been told I am no different from the male astronauts. As a pilot, I flew in the sky. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yang/from-day-one-i-have-been-told-i-am-no-different-from-the-male/) [Liu Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yang/) > [During the first few minutes in lift-off, the astronauts were strictly controlled and were powerfully buffeted by the forces of nature struggling to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/during-the-first-few-minutes-in-lift-off-the-astronauts-were-strictly/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Astronauts are very professional and when they're preparing for launch, they prepare for it as the most serious endeavor of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/astronauts-are-very-professional-and-when-they-re-preparing-for/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [I’m not a risk taker. But astronauts are professionals, so you get out on the field and play ball. I tried to take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/story-musgrave/i-m-not-a-risk-taker-but-astronauts-are-professionals-so-you-get-out/) [Story Musgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/story-musgrave/) > [In a big picture sense, it's more national prestige that we're risking. You know, we are proud of our space program, but as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/in-a-big-picture-sense-it-s-more-national-prestige-that-we-re-risking/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Astronauts have been stuck in low-Earth orbit, boldly going nowhere. American attempts to kick-start a new phase of lunar exploration have stalled amid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/astronauts-have-been-stuck-in-low-earth-orbit-boldly-going-nowhere/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [For the first time American astronauts on the International Space Station ate vegetables grown in space. In other words, even space is getting more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/for-the-first-time-american-astronauts-on-the-international-space/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [More astronauts have been to the moon than farmers who paid the inheritance tax in 2013.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/more-astronauts-have-been-to-the-moon-than-farmers-who-paid-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by David M. Brown > [Although as a boy I had dreamed about going into space, I had completely forgotten about that until one day I received a call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/although-as-a-boy-i-had-dreamed-about-going-into-space-i-had/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [I was interested in flying beginning at age 7, when a close family friend took me in his little airplane. And I remember looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/i-was-interested-in-flying-beginning-at-age-7-when-a-close-family/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [As a physician and as a pilot, I think it lets me be a pretty good translator having one foot in the medical world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/as-a-physician-and-as-a-pilot-i-think-it-lets-me-be-a-pretty-good/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [The views of the Earth are really beautiful. If you've ever seen a space IMAX movie, that's really what it looks like. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/the-views-of-the-earth-are-really-beautiful-if-you-ve-ever-seen-a/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [Ambitious and thought-provoking, Higher Education in America represents an informed and informative addition to ongoing debates at the national, state, and institutional levels about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/ambitious-and-thought-provoking-higher-education-in-america/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [As much as we've enjoyed it up here, we're also starting to look forward to seeing all the people back on Earth that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/as-much-as-we-ve-enjoyed-it-up-here-we-re-also-starting-to-look/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) > [The great thing about being an astronaut is you kind of get to do a little bit of everything. I mean, we're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-brown/the-great-thing-about-being-an-astronaut-is-you-kind-of-get-to-do-a/) [David M. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) [Explore all 8 David M. Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-brown/) ## More Astronaut quotes > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I think the astronaut job is the best job in the world. I realized when I was older and started applying for it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/i-think-the-astronaut-job-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-realized/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [NASA is developing space taxis to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. And just like New York taxis, they're all going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/nasa-is-developing-space-taxis-to-shuttle-astronauts-to-the/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sometimes-when-people-find-out-i-m-an-astronaut-they-ask-so-what-do/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Rugby has surprisingly helped me a lot as an astronaut and when I'm training in the space suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/rugby-has-surprisingly-helped-me-a-lot-as-an-astronaut-and-when-i-m/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“My experiences in the Astronaut Corps had taught me that you never know what will happen from day to day. It’s best to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/my-experiences-in-the-astronaut-corps-had-taught-me-that-you-never/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/as-a-kid-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-either-a-cartoonist-or-an-astronaut/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-think-it-s-good-to-have-competition-now-we-have-a-third-country/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-leonov/the-earth-was-small-light-blue-and-so-touchingly-alone-our-home-that/) Alexey Leonov > [“Whilst my mother couldn't give me access to the world, she at least made sure to let me know it existed. A kid cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/whilst-my-mother-couldn-t-give-me-access-to-the-world-she-at-least/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) [Browse all 463 Astronaut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember growing up thinking that astronauts and their job was the coolest thing you could possibly do... But I absolutely couldn't identify with the people who were astronauts. I thought they were movie stars.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David M. 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