--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be totally candid, it was really born…" description: "\"To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized I wasn't going to grad..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/ed-helms-4996_able_to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born_361195.png" --- # To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic… ![“To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized I wasn't going to graduate in four years unless I somehow managed to glue together all the courses I'd taken. That said, I'm really glad I did it, 'cause it was really…” quote by Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/ed-helms-4996_able_to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born_361195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/ed-helms-4996_able_to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born_361195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/ed-helms-4996_able_to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born_361195.png) > “To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized I wasn't going to graduate in four years unless I somehow managed to glue together all the courses I'd taken. That said, I'm really glad I did it, 'cause it was really fun, and I was able to just take whatever the hell I wanted.” [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a crisis that forced him to restructure his academic plan, turning panic into a creative, self‑directed learning experience. **In simple terms:** A panic attack led to a flexible, fun study path. Key Takeaway Embrace crises as opportunities to redesign goals. Themes education self‑direction creativity stress management Mood reflective inspirational Type personal motivational When to use this quote - college planning - career change - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts personal growth learning strategies mental health Questions to Reflect On - What crisis has reshaped your approach to work? - How can you balance fun with responsibility? A Different Perspective Risk of neglecting long‑term goals for short‑term fun. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candid/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Junior year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-year/) [Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic/) [Panic attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic-attacks/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) ## Related quotes > [Chapman pushes internships a lot, and starting the summer of sophomore year we started interning because we knew that was the best way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/chapman-pushes-internships-a-lot-and-starting-the-summer-of-sophomore/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [Allow yourself to graduate, every five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/allow-yourself-to-graduate-every-five-years/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [To graduate in four years as a student-athlete with no summer school is quite a feat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/to-graduate-in-four-years-as-a-student-athlete-with-no-summer-school/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [And then I graduate two years later, in 1998, with my class. And, since then I've been here in Houston for training basically. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-guidoni/and-then-i-graduate-two-years-later-in-1998-with-my-class-and-since/) [Umberto Guidoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-guidoni/) > [It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-four-years-and-it-s-not/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [At first, after my freshman year, it was kind of a joke, going into my sophomore year like, 'Hey, I wanna graduate in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/at-first-after-my-freshman-year-it-was-kind-of-a-joke-going-into-my/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree-has-served-neither-taxpayers/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [It wasn't until I'd turned 50 and had been in the business 25 years that I realized I might actually have a career as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/it-wasn-t-until-i-d-turned-50-and-had-been-in-the-business-25-years/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [It wasn't until after living in California for many years that I realized that you don't believe what anybody says, ever. Whatever they say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-wasn-t-until-after-living-in-california-for-many-years-that-i/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was only through the years that I realized what an absolutely extraordinarily thoughtful person Dr. King was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/it-was-only-through-the-years-that-i-realized-what-an-absolutely/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [I played the guitar for ten years before I realized it wasn't a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-played-the-guitar-for-ten-years-before-i-realized-it-wasn-t-a-weapon/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [After a couple of years, I realized that this was actually true, that his gave me the ability to go to a different place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/after-a-couple-of-years-i-realized-that-this-was-actually-true-that/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [After a few years, we realized that you did have to put some work into it. That's why the bimbo comments make me angry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/after-a-few-years-we-realized-that-you-did-have-to-put-some-work-into/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [FNM didn't really become one of my favorite all-time bands until after I'd had all their records for a couple of years. And realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/fnm-didn-t-really-become-one-of-my-favorite-all-time-bands-until/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Over the years I have realized that the mistakes and forgetfulness is what makes live shows more endearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-prettyman/over-the-years-i-have-realized-that-the-mistakes-and-forgetfulness-is/) [Tristan Prettyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-prettyman/) ## More by Ed Helms > [First there was the New Hampshire primary, and we had nearly a year leading up to it. And now, look! Three primaries in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/first-there-was-the-new-hampshire-primary-and-we-had-nearly-a-year/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [The biggest thing that comes out of improv that gets built on is just character traits. You know, for me the singing was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/the-biggest-thing-that-comes-out-of-improv-that-gets-built-on-is-just/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [When you're playing a fictional character reacting to the real world, it's incredibly difficult and confusing and kind of messes with your values a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-playing-a-fictional-character-reacting-to-the-real-world/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ It was never tough \[ being the new guy\]. It's just the warmest group of people \[The Office stuff\] you could ever hope to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/it-was-never-tough-being-the-new-guy-it-s-just-the-warmest-group-of/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ What's cool is that in the story of the movie \[The Hangover\] our characters are also really kind of getting to know each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/what-s-cool-is-that-in-the-story-of-the-movie-the-hangover-our/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [Sometimes you just create a joke out of thin air in the editing room. I'm really glad I've had that experience. It gives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/sometimes-you-just-create-a-joke-out-of-thin-air-in-the-editing-room/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I love travel. I love to go spend time in new places. And even though I got horribly sick in Thailand, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-love-travel-i-love-to-go-spend-time-in-new-places-and-even-though-i/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ One of the biggest breaks we had actually, one of the biggest, the hardest I laughed on the movie \[The Hangover\] was the baby… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/one-of-the-biggest-breaks-we-had-actually-one-of-the-biggest-the/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [ Todd \[Phillips\] doesn't care. That's part of his genius as a director, he will say anything to anybody. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/todd-phillips-doesn-t-care-that-s-part-of-his-genius-as-a-director-he/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you're on the right track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/so-long-as-your-desire-to-explore-is-greater-than-your-desire-to-not/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [People now genuinely respond to it and associate me with music. It's really fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/people-now-genuinely-respond-to-it-and-associate-me-with-music-it-s/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I'm a very jaded and cynical person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/i-m-a-very-jaded-and-cynical-person/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [When you're in New York City or Los Angeles, even if you're not dealing with show business, there's still this sense that it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-in-new-york-city-or-los-angeles-even-if-you-re-not/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [That's actually a rare thing to be on a set full of people that you admire and make you laugh all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/that-s-actually-a-rare-thing-to-be-on-a-set-full-of-people-that-you/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [People who grew up in New York City or Los Angeles tend not to even understand what goes on in the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/people-who-grew-up-in-new-york-city-or-los-angeles-tend-not-to-even/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) [Explore all 104 Ed Helms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized I wasn't going to graduate in four years unless I somehow managed to glue together all the courses I'd taken. 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