--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around the time I graduated from high…" description: "\"Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided better to underachieve and have friendship than to overachieve and be alone.\" — Evangeline Lilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png" --- # Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided… ![“Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided better to underachieve and have friendship than to overachieve and be alone.” quote by Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png) > “Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided better to underachieve and have friendship than to overachieve and be alone.” [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing personal relationships over solitary success can lead to a more fulfilling life. **In simple terms:** Friends matter more than solo achievement. Key Takeaway Prioritize connection over competition. Themes friendship balance values loneliness achievement Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice personal development When to use this quote - high school graduation - career planning - college decisions - workplace dynamics Key Concepts social psychology personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What would you give up for deeper friendships? - How do you define success beyond accolades? A Different Perspective May sacrifice long‑term goals for short‑term comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Underachieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-underachieve-3100715/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Overachieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-overachieve-3100716/) [Graduated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated/) [Graduated High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated-high-355696/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Underachieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underachieve-2071366/) [Underachieve Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underachieve-friendship-3100714/) ## Related quotes > [Yeah my brother graduated from high school(: yea(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/yeah-my-brother-graduated-from-high-school-yea/) [CLARE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [“Yeah. Of course I can do simple math. I graduated high school, ya know.” “What an accomplishment. No one has ever done that before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-stovall/yeah-of-course-i-can-do-simple-math-i-graduated-high-school-ya-know/) [S.A. Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-stovall/) > [By the time I graduated from high school in Vancouver, I already had a whole support network set up for me in Los Angeles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/by-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-in-vancouver-i-already-had-a/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) > [I graduated from high school in 1962.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/i-graduated-from-high-school-in-1962/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I graduated from high school in 1963. There were no computers, cell phones, Internet, credit cards, cassette tapes or cable TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/i-graduated-from-high-school-in-1963-there-were-no-computers-cell/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [I've always been a creative speller and never achieved good grades in school. I graduated from high school but didn't have the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/i-ve-always-been-a-creative-speller-and-never-achieved-good-grades-in/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [I grew up with nothing and nobody ever told me I could do anything. I never knew my father, and my mother wasnt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-grew-up-with-nothing-and-nobody-ever-told-me-i-could-do-anything-i/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [I tried to get as far away from home as possible after I graduated from high school because I had a hard time being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-opie/i-tried-to-get-as-far-away-from-home-as-possible-after-i-graduated/) [Catherine Opie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-opie/) > [I wanted to be a marine biologist my whole life until I graduated high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-wanted-to-be-a-marine-biologist-my-whole-life-until-i-graduated/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [I broke out of my shell once I graduated from high school and got into college in my first year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/i-broke-out-of-my-shell-once-i-graduated-from-high-school-and-got/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [My son graduated high school and went to Haiti to work for his dad's organization and then extended his stay. It's incredible what he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/my-son-graduated-high-school-and-went-to-haiti-to-work-for-his-dad-s/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [My girlfriend Rhonda, who's now my wife, I graduated from high school, she got pregnant. My grandfather said, 'You've got to do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/my-girlfriend-rhonda-who-s-now-my-wife-i-graduated-from-high-school/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I always wanted to have my own album recorded and released before I graduated high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-always-wanted-to-have-my-own-album-recorded-and-released-before-i/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [So basically, I graduated high school a semester early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-szohr/so-basically-i-graduated-high-school-a-semester-early/) [Jessica Szohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-szohr/) > [My parents... has always wanted all their kids to go to at least one year of Bible college after high school. I always knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-r-white/my-parents-has-always-wanted-all-their-kids-to-go-to-at-least-one/) [David A. R. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-r-white/) ## More by Evangeline Lilly > [You can't have a movie with a group of people that are significant players in the story, that push forward the plot, without introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/you-can-t-have-a-movie-with-a-group-of-people-that-are-significant/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm a very stubborn woman and I'm from a very stubborn family of headstrong women. I have sisters, so the women rule the coop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-a-very-stubborn-woman-and-i-m-from-a-very-stubborn-family-of/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People initially think I'm a snob because I'm intensely private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/people-initially-think-i-m-a-snob-because-i-m-intensely-private/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I actually write as a passion, as something I actually am more passionate about than acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-actually-write-as-a-passion-as-something-i-actually-am-more/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I like to be around people who make me laugh. It's one of my favorite things on a set. I hate it when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-like-to-be-around-people-who-make-me-laugh-it-s-one-of-my-favorite/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I am kind of prudish and I have very strict standards about how I present myself. But one of the things that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-am-kind-of-prudish-and-i-have-very-strict-standards-about-how-i/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Outside of acting, the person that I admire the most is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/outside-of-acting-the-person-that-i-admire-the-most-is-my-mother/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Truthfully, I love being in the jungle. I love it when the make-up artists come to set, they come equipped with dirt and sweat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/truthfully-i-love-being-in-the-jungle-i-love-it-when-the-make-up/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I was a massive Tolkien fan. 'The Hobbit' was... my favorite book as a little girl, and the Silvan Elves were my favorite characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-was-a-massive-tolkien-fan-the-hobbit-was-my-favorite-book-as-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm not stressed out about where my next paycheck is coming from, or what I am doing with the rest of my life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-not-stressed-out-about-where-my-next-paycheck-is-coming-from-or/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Hollywood is the Sodom and Gomorrah of today. It's a world I avoid because it's destroying our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/hollywood-is-the-sodom-and-gomorrah-of-today-it-s-a-world-i-avoid/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've been astounded to discover how good to their teams and crew that Marvel are. They're so collaborative, so smart with their stories. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-ve-been-astounded-to-discover-how-good-to-their-teams-and-crew-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I changed jobs like I changed shirts. It was something I just like to do - I like trying my hand at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-changed-jobs-like-i-changed-shirts-it-was-something-i-just-like-to/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I always wear something slightly masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-always-wear-something-slightly-masculine/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) [Explore all 280 Evangeline Lilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/) [Luckybannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luckybannu/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided better to underachieve and have friendship than to overachieve and be alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evangeline Lilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-i-decided-better-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-i-decided-better-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/evangeline-lilly-1168_alone_around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-sc_1942012.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Around the time I graduated from high school, I decided better to underachieve and have friendship than to…” — Evangeline Lilly", "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": "Evangeline Lilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Around the time I graduated from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-i-decided-better-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/around-the-time-i-graduated-from-high-school-i-decided-better-to/#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 } } ] } ```