--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could never have imagined that, so…" description: "\"I could never have imagined that, so early in my career, that I'd be ticking off boxes that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl.\" — Ella Mai" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg" --- # I could never have imagined that, so early in my career… ![“I could never have imagined that, so early in my career, that I'd be ticking off boxes that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl.” quote by Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg) > “I could never have imagined that, so early in my career, that I'd be ticking off boxes that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl.” [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on achieving childhood dreams early in her professional life, highlighting unexpected fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Early career success fulfills childhood dreams. Key Takeaway Celebrate early achievements and stay humble. Themes dreams career achievement gratitude Mood proud reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - career planning - mentorship - goal setting - personal reflection Key Concepts self-actualization goal attainment early success Questions to Reflect On - What childhood dream drives you now? - How do you stay grounded after early success? A Different Perspective Unexpected success can create pressure to maintain high expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Little girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-girl/) ## Related quotes > [They are born, put in a box; they go home to live in a box; they study by ticking boxes; they go to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/they-are-born-put-in-a-box-they-go-home-to-live-in-a-box-they-study/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I don't know a lot of people who achieve what they have really dreamed of as a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garbine-muguruza/i-don-t-know-a-lot-of-people-who-achieve-what-they-have-really/) [Garbine Muguruza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garbine-muguruza/) > [I never dreamed of being Shakespeare or Goethe, and I never expected to hold the great mirror of truth up before the world; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-altenberg/i-never-dreamed-of-being-shakespeare-or-goethe-and-i-never-expected/) [Peter Altenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-altenberg/) > [“In the night, he dreamed about his little flame. It came through the chimney and sat on the ashes in the fireplace." "Who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-marsz/in-the-night-he-dreamed-about-his-little-flame-it-came-through-the/) [Silvia Marsz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-marsz/) > [This is something I dreamed about as a little kid, being back in my hometown (Cincinnati) where I watched so many great players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr-2/this-is-something-i-dreamed-about-as-a-little-kid-being-back-in-my/) [Ken Griffey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr-2/) > [I was just a little girl, alone in my little world, who dreamed of a little house for me... I had a dream(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-smith/i-was-just-a-little-girl-alone-in-my-little-world-who-dreamed-of-a/) [Savannah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-smith/) > [I have dreamed much and have done very little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-have-dreamed-much-and-have-done-very-little/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [I know the NBA is my all-time goal. It's what I dreamed of as a little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/i-know-the-nba-is-my-all-time-goal-it-s-what-i-dreamed-of-as-a-little/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [Don't get me wrong - any team in the league, I'm blessed to be on. But to be the team that you dreamed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/don-t-get-me-wrong-any-team-in-the-league-i-m-blessed-to-be-on-but-to/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [Those dreams I have at night are going to drive me crazy. Last night I dreamed that little red-haired girl and I were eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/those-dreams-i-have-at-night-are-going-to-drive-me-crazy-last-night-i/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Tatiana had imagined her Alexander since she was a child, before she believed that someone like him was even possible. When she was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/tatiana-had-imagined-her-alexander-since-she-was-a-child-before-she/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Disney has been such a big part of my early career. I've done two pilots for Disney, and I've been working with them since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-boldman/disney-has-been-such-a-big-part-of-my-early-career-i-ve-done-two/) [Spencer Boldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-boldman/) > [It's very confusing when fame comes early on in your career. You get a little bit bent out of shape in terms of what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton/it-s-very-confusing-when-fame-comes-early-on-in-your-career-you-get-a/) [Adam Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clayton/) > [I was so lucky and blessed to have gotten 'White Chicks' so early into my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-aytes/i-was-so-lucky-and-blessed-to-have-gotten-white-chicks-so-early-into/) [Rochelle Aytes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-aytes/) > [One of my earlier films is 'Quigley Down Under.' That was early on in my career, and that was horsey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/one-of-my-earlier-films-is-quigley-down-under-that-was-early-on-in-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) ## More by Ella Mai > [There's a lot of young females doing R&B in England who are extremely talented and deserve more light on their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/there-s-a-lot-of-young-females-doing-r-b-in-england-who-are-extremely/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [A lot of my music is about love. And that, of course, is super relatable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/a-lot-of-my-music-is-about-love-and-that-of-course-is-super-relatable/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [There's loads of eyes and expectations. People are almost waiting for you to make a mistake so they can say, 'Oh, she's a one-hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/there-s-loads-of-eyes-and-expectations-people-are-almost-waiting-for/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [From the end of 2015 to the start of 2016, I was always at the studio with Mustard, just figuring out a sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/from-the-end-of-2015-to-the-start-of-2016-i-was-always-at-the-studio/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [When I went into high school, I don't know why - because I've been performing since I was little - but I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/when-i-went-into-high-school-i-don-t-know-why-because-i-ve-been/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [The word 'album' makes you nervous, especially 'debut album.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/the-word-album-makes-you-nervous-especially-debut-album/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [L.A. is so slow. Everyone is so chill, and the weather, of course, makes everything better, but it's just a different vibe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/l-a-is-so-slow-everyone-is-so-chill-and-the-weather-of-course-makes/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [A lot of people say 'Boo'd Up' reminds them of '90s R&B. It has that feeling, which is why I think people take to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/a-lot-of-people-say-boo-d-up-reminds-them-of-90s-r-b-it-has-that/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [I love to color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-love-to-color/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [I was 12 years old when I first moved to New York, and at that age, you're trying to find yourself. It was hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-was-12-years-old-when-i-first-moved-to-new-york-and-at-that-age-you/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [I wanted to show people that I don't just make love songs that are about purely being in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-wanted-to-show-people-that-i-don-t-just-make-love-songs-that-are/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [I always felt like I could go to my mom and speak to her about anything. We have a great relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-always-felt-like-i-could-go-to-my-mom-and-speak-to-her-about/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [Sometimes we misinterpret, sometimes we misunderstand, sometimes we make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/sometimes-we-misinterpret-sometimes-we-misunderstand-sometimes-we/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [People make careers off of Instagram. So in that sense, it's really good, and you can put yourself out there and be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/people-make-careers-off-of-instagram-so-in-that-sense-it-s-really/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [I was a huge Lauryn Hill fan; that was all my mom would listen to in the car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-was-a-huge-lauryn-hill-fan-that-was-all-my-mom-would-listen-to-in/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) [Explore all 50 Ella Mai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) ## More Boxes quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [I could party in a cardboard box with people who are funny and don't care. For me, it's really about who I surround myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-could-party-in-a-cardboard-box-with-people-who-are-funny-and-don-t/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [The minister's brain is often the "poor-box" of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/the-minister-s-brain-is-often-the-poor-box-of-the-church/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A token of love comes in a box because love itself cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binnie-kirshenbaum/a-token-of-love-comes-in-a-box-because-love-itself-cannot-be-contained/) [Binnie Kirshenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binnie-kirshenbaum/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) Browse all 2,146 Boxes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could never have imagined that, so early in my career, that I'd be ticking off boxes that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ella Mai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-early-in-my-career-that-i-d-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boxes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-early-in-my-career-that-i-d-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/ella-mai-13451_boxes_i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-earl_1616841.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I could never have imagined that, so early in my career, that I'd be ticking off boxes that I've dreamed…” — Ella Mai", "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": "Ella Mai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I could never have imagined that,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-early-in-my-career-that-i-d-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/i-could-never-have-imagined-that-so-early-in-my-career-that-i-d-be/#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 } } ] } ```