--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I realized I was having trouble…" description: "\"When I realized I was having trouble reading, I was too embarrassed to ask for help. Some teachers believed in me, but I just wasn't focused on school ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/fantasia-barrino-11037_ask-for-help_when-i-realized-i-was-having-trouble-rea_1845479.jpg" --- # When I realized I was having trouble reading, I was too… ![“When I realized I was having trouble reading, I was too embarrassed to ask for help. Some teachers believed in me, but I just wasn't focused on school - I was into the music and trying to please my dad.” quote by Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/fantasia-barrino-11037_ask-for-help_when-i-realized-i-was-having-trouble-rea_1845479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/fantasia-barrino-11037_ask-for-help_when-i-realized-i-was-having-trouble-rea_1845479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/fantasia-barrino-11037_ask-for-help_when-i-realized-i-was-having-trouble-rea_1845479.jpg) > “When I realized I was having trouble reading, I was too embarrassed to ask for help. Some teachers believed in me, but I just wasn't focused on school - I was into the music and trying to please my dad.” [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embarrassment hinders seeking help; passion for music and parental approval distracts from school focus. **In simple terms:** Shame stops asking for help; music and dad pull focus. Key Takeaway Overcome shame, seek support, balance interests. Themes education family music self‑esteem Mood vulnerable determined Type personal growth When to use this quote - school - music practice - family discussions - counseling Key Concepts learning disability parental expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can you create a safe space for asking help? - What balances passion with responsibility? A Different Perspective Help may not be readily offered; fear of judgment persists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [“Is that you? When you fail, are you too humiliated or ashamed to ask for help? When you suffer, are you too embarrassed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-berg/is-that-you-when-you-fail-are-you-too-humiliated-or-ashamed-to-ask/) [Art Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-berg/) > [“I almost felt embarrassed to have to ask. Alex had defied logic and time. I was lucky to have gotten past my junior year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-a-fuller/i-almost-felt-embarrassed-to-have-to-ask-alex-had-defied-logic-and/) [Tara A. Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-a-fuller/) > [I ask Google all the questions I'm too embarrassed to ask other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ask-google-all-the-questions-i-m-too-embarrassed-to-ask-other-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“a lot of young viewers, but I also have a lot of older viewers. This chapter is for my older fans—those of you who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/a-lot-of-young-viewers-but-i-also-have-a-lot-of-older-viewers-this/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [About 15 years ago I went though a period of a year or so when I just couldn't find anything good. My wife noticed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/about-15-years-ago-i-went-though-a-period-of-a-year-or-so-when-i-just/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [I have trouble reading modern Hebrew. In the 1950s, I could read anything. I don't know how much experience you've had with contemporary Hebrew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-have-trouble-reading-modern-hebrew-in-the-1950s-i-could-read/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'm dyslexic, which means I have trouble reading and writing. So images really speak to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-m-dyslexic-which-means-i-have-trouble-reading-and-writing-so-images/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I had no intention of becoming an academic. How could a person who was having trouble reading become an academic?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-fox-piven/i-had-no-intention-of-becoming-an-academic-how-could-a-person-who-was/) [Frances Fox Piven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-fox-piven/) > [Teachers can use technology-based assessments to inform their instruction. These assessments can quickly produce data and surface patterns that help teachers identify where students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-can-use-technology-based-assessments-to-inform-their/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [Teachers all over the nation are doing the job they are asked to do, but one they are not really prepared to do. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/teachers-all-over-the-nation-are-doing-the-job-they-are-asked-to-do/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Education should be one of our top funding priorities; talking about it does not help the teachers and students who desperately need promises fulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/education-should-be-one-of-our-top-funding-priorities-talking-about/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/you-can-get-help-from-teachers-but-you-are-going-to-have-to-learn-a/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Even when educators survey grade school texts and create new bibliographies to help teachers include Asians, Eskimos, and other Americans, females in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/even-when-educators-survey-grade-school-texts-and-create-new/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [My colleagues and I would spend a lot of our own money on copy, paper, and pencils. I just figured there are people out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/my-colleagues-and-i-would-spend-a-lot-of-our-own-money-on-copy-paper/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [I am not embarrassed to say that when I was at my worst I took anti-depressants because I think people need to hear that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-am-not-embarrassed-to-say-that-when-i-was-at-my-worst-i-took-anti/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) ## More by Fantasia Barrino > [I knew exactly what I was doing. You can't accidentally take a whole bottle of pills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-knew-exactly-what-i-was-doing-you-can-t-accidentally-take-a-whole/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I could NEVER stop giving God all the praises for he has been better to me than I have been to myself. My worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-could-never-stop-giving-god-all-the-praises-for-he-has-been-better/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [Have a little faith. Don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/have-a-little-faith-don-t-give-up/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I wanted people to know that I've been through the rain. I've been broken into pieces; I had a daughter at such a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-wanted-people-to-know-that-i-ve-been-through-the-rain-i-ve-been/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I like to play dress up, I'm in love with fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-like-to-play-dress-up-i-m-in-love-with-fashion/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I'm a true country Southern girl that has always been built around family, cookouts and gatherings and being together on the holidays, singing together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-m-a-true-country-southern-girl-that-has-always-been-built-around/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I'm grateful for my fans, friends, & my enemies for they all are a part of my testimonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-m-grateful-for-my-fans-friends-my-enemies-for-they-all-are-a-part/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [You can't tell me that dreams don't come true. My life is proof that they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/you-can-t-tell-me-that-dreams-don-t-come-true-my-life-is-proof-that/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I stopped going to church for awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-stopped-going-to-church-for-awhile/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I caught a lot of flak for being a young mama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-caught-a-lot-of-flak-for-being-a-young-mama/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [God didn't give up on me. I am somebody in God's eyes... Let me be a prime example of how I've been through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/god-didn-t-give-up-on-me-i-am-somebody-in-god-s-eyes-let-me-be-a/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [My main thing is family first. This industry can get you so caught up that you're so busy chasing, wanting to be number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/my-main-thing-is-family-first-this-industry-can-get-you-so-caught-up/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I always want people to, to get the message that I'm trying to send out. You know, I've been through some things, so when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-always-want-people-to-to-get-the-message-that-i-m-trying-to-send/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I am going to always be a blessing to people as long as God gives me the strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-am-going-to-always-be-a-blessing-to-people-as-long-as-god-gives-me/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [I always tell people, 'Stop coming to me and telling what people are saying about me.' I don't care anymore. I always get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/i-always-tell-people-stop-coming-to-me-and-telling-what-people-are/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) [Explore all 62 Fantasia Barrino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) ## More Ask for help quotes > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Is this okay with you, Jenna? For him to stay here?" "Yeah," I said. "It's good. You have no idea what it takes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/is-this-okay-with-you-jenna-for-him-to-stay-here-yeah-i-said-it-s/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [“Weep and ask for help. Lean on me with your runny nose. Cry when you feel like crying. Laugh when you feel like laughing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorachi-hideaki/weep-and-ask-for-help-lean-on-me-with-your-runny-nose-cry-when-you/) [Sorachi Hideaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorachi-hideaki/) > [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I used to think I was tough, but there's a difference between bravado and courage, and I only started to show courage when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-i-was-tough-but-there-s-a-difference-between-bravado/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [“Telling a true friend that you need something makes it unnecessary for you to ask them for that thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/telling-a-true-friend-that-you-need-something-makes-it-unnecessary/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > ["A closed mouth doesn't get fed." Oftentimes, we feel not worthy or we don't want to bother people. We forget to ask for help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-daniels/a-closed-mouth-doesn-t-get-fed-oftentimes-we-feel-not-worthy-or-we/) [Kevin Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-daniels/) > [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. 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