--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My whole mind-set growing up was that I…" description: "\"My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to let myself be one of those Rockford people who didn't pan out. And I carried that chip with me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/fred-vanvleet-6190_college_my-whole-mind-set-growing-up-was-that-i_237382.jpg" --- # My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to… ![“My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to let myself be one of those Rockford people who didn't pan out. And I carried that chip with me to college - that I need to be that one who actually breaks the stigma.” quote by Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/fred-vanvleet-6190_college_my-whole-mind-set-growing-up-was-that-i_237382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/fred-vanvleet-6190_college_my-whole-mind-set-growing-up-was-that-i_237382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/fred-vanvleet-6190_college_my-whole-mind-set-growing-up-was-that-i_237382.jpg) > “My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to let myself be one of those Rockford people who didn't pan out. And I carried that chip with me to college - that I need to be that one who actually breaks the stigma.” [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Determination to defy negative expectations and prove oneself despite background stereotypes. **In simple terms:** Refuse to be a failure; break stereotypes. Key Takeaway Persist and challenge limiting beliefs. Themes determination identity stereotypes Mood motivational resolute Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - college - career - sports - personal growth - overcoming doubt Key Concepts self‑efficacy social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront internalized doubt? - What actions reinforce your self‑belief? A Different Perspective Success may still be hindered by systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I always carried a chip on my shoulder to prove I was better than people thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-always-carried-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-to-prove-i-was-better-than/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [I've carried my chip with me my entire career. I've had to fight and claw for every position I've had. I sat on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-rodgers/i-ve-carried-my-chip-with-me-my-entire-career-i-ve-had-to-fight-and/) [Jordan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-rodgers/) > [I mean, I was one of the best college players in my four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-mean-i-was-one-of-the-best-college-players-in-my-four-years/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## More by Fred VanVleet > [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [We have people who work in regular jobs that come up to us and tell us that they hate their job and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/we-have-people-who-work-in-regular-jobs-that-come-up-to-us-and-tell/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I mean, I was one of the best college players in my four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-mean-i-was-one-of-the-best-college-players-in-my-four-years/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I come from one of those communities that's forgotten about and not paid attention to. Growing up, there were a lot of times where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-come-from-one-of-those-communities-that-s-forgotten-about-and-not/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Our parents busted their butts to make us feel like we weren't broke and in our neighbourhood we were probably more well off than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/our-parents-busted-their-butts-to-make-us-feel-like-we-weren-t-broke/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [You kind of don't know what you can't do until you get out there and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/you-kind-of-don-t-know-what-you-can-t-do-until-you-get-out-there-and/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [There's no other way for me to achieve any of the things I've achieved individually other than to be insanely confident and crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/there-s-no-other-way-for-me-to-achieve-any-of-the-things-i-ve/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I'm not the most amazing athlete - I understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-m-not-the-most-amazing-athlete-i-understand-that/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I was in my share of fights whether I'd be outside or in the house with my brothers, so I've always had quick hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-was-in-my-share-of-fights-whether-i-d-be-outside-or-in-the-house/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [No one expects an 18-year-old kid to know exactly what path they'll take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/no-one-expects-an-18-year-old-kid-to-know-exactly-what-path-they-ll/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Toronto has become my second home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/toronto-has-become-my-second-home/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I've always had the instinct and I always have the mind to make the right play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-ve-always-had-the-instinct-and-i-always-have-the-mind-to-make-the/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I don't have to tell people that I value winning. Look at my story, do your research, I've never been on a losing team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-don-t-have-to-tell-people-that-i-value-winning-look-at-my-story-do/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Early as I can remember, I was always next to the coaches trying to pick their brains and just learn how to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/early-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-next-to-the-coaches-trying-to/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I'll continue to work on my body and find different ways to be creative to be better and be more healthy and be strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-ll-continue-to-work-on-my-body-and-find-different-ways-to-be/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) [Explore all 99 Fred VanVleet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to let myself be one of those Rockford people who didn't pan out. 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