--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before discovering theater, I was…" description: "\"Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't have any passion for school. Then I couldn't get enough. All of a sudden, I was getting good..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png" --- # Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't… ![“Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't have any passion for school. Then I couldn't get enough. All of a sudden, I was getting good parts in all of these plays. I just loved it. I started getting A's in acting, directing and technical theater. I found something that clicked.” quote by Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png) > “Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't have any passion for school. Then I couldn't get enough. All of a sudden, I was getting good parts in all of these plays. I just loved it. I started getting A's in acting, directing and technical theater. I found something that clicked.” [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He found a passion for theater that transformed his academic performance and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Theater sparked his enthusiasm and improved his grades. Key Takeaway Explore interests that ignite motivation. Themes passion education personal growth Mood enthusiastic reflective Type inspirational personal development When to use this quote - school - theater programs - career counseling Key Concepts self‑actualization motivation skill development Practical Applications - Personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What activity could you pursue to boost engagement? - How does passion affect academic success? A Different Perspective be limited by external expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Clicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clicked/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Discovering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovering/) [Discovering Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovering-theater-5293779/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Getting Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-acting-417992/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-parts/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/off/) [Parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parts/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Sudden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden/) [Technical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technical/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Clicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-clicked-5293780/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) ## Related quotes > [When I first started getting into acting, I was doing improv in acting class, and I had done a serious monologue and everyone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/when-i-first-started-getting-into-acting-i-was-doing-improv-in-acting/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [I'm looking to immerse myself more in the entertainment community and possibly get into doing some acting. Music is my first love, what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/i-m-looking-to-immerse-myself-more-in-the-entertainment-community-and/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [I remember getting out of acting school and friends of mine talking about, like, 'You know, I don't think I'm gonna do TV.' Like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-remember-getting-out-of-acting-school-and-friends-of-mine-talking/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [Most of my confidence came from being with ladies, because I certainly wasn't getting any acting jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/most-of-my-confidence-came-from-being-with-ladies-because-i-certainly/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [It always surprised me that I was getting acting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lynn-rajskub/it-always-surprised-me-that-i-was-getting-acting-work/) [Mary Lynn Rajskub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lynn-rajskub/) > [I always love performing live, and that's what I was doing that started getting me acting parts, so I still find time do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lynn-rajskub/i-always-love-performing-live-and-that-s-what-i-was-doing-that/) [Mary Lynn Rajskub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lynn-rajskub/) > [My parents were struggling actors who had a hard time getting work. That's why I hesitated about getting into acting, I had seen them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/my-parents-were-struggling-actors-who-had-a-hard-time-getting-work/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [You never really think about what happens after the Olympics - you're just like, 'I want to compete. I want to do well' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckayla-maroney/you-never-really-think-about-what-happens-after-the-olympics-you-re/) [McKayla Maroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mckayla-maroney/) > [After Bottle Rocket, I started getting acting work. People started offering me roles in movies. It wasn't something that I thought about as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/after-bottle-rocket-i-started-getting-acting-work-people-started/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I love modeling, and I missed fashion and my friends and family in fashion and the creativity that I'm able to express through it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-valletta/i-love-modeling-and-i-missed-fashion-and-my-friends-and-family-in/) [Amber Valletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-valletta/) > [Getting into acting was a challenge for me as I belonged to a political family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwajeet-pradhan/getting-into-acting-was-a-challenge-for-me-as-i-belonged-to-a/) [Vishwajeet Pradhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwajeet-pradhan/) > [I'm getting out of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-m-getting-out-of-acting/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [Originally, I wanted to do humanitarian work. I actually feel that getting into acting, which fate has led me to, is my window and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/originally-i-wanted-to-do-humanitarian-work-i-actually-feel-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I haven't really focused so much on getting acting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-tilton/i-haven-t-really-focused-so-much-on-getting-acting-work/) [Charlene Tilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-tilton/) > [Don't leave your job without getting an acting offer. Very few people in the industry are lucky to get a film without much struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parineeti-chopra/don-t-leave-your-job-without-getting-an-acting-offer-very-few-people/) [Parineeti Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parineeti-chopra/) ## More by Gary Sinise > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Careers, like rockets, don't always take off on time. The trick is to always keep the engine running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/careers-like-rockets-don-t-always-take-off-on-time-the-trick-is-to/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I have a band that I started with a buddy of mine, a Vietnam veteran pal named Kimo Williams from Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-a-band-that-i-started-with-a-buddy-of-mine-a-vietnam-veteran/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I have veterans in my family. But I didn't know anything about DAV, Disabled American Veterans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-veterans-in-my-family-but-i-didn-t-know-anything-about-dav/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I think you're lucky if you discover what you really love at a young age. College wasn't something I was going to do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-think-you-re-lucky-if-you-discover-what-you-really-love-at-a-young/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/while-we-can-never-do-enough-to-show-gratitude-to-our-nation-s/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/freedom-and-security-are-precious-gifts-that-we-as-americans-should/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Careers, like rockets, don't always take off on schedule. The key is to keep working the engines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/careers-like-rockets-don-t-always-take-off-on-schedule-the-key-is-to/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Well, I've been to Iraq twice now. I was in Baghdad in June and then north of Baghdad in November.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/well-i-ve-been-to-iraq-twice-now-i-was-in-baghdad-in-june-and-then/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Its a way for you to support the children by sending pencils, beanie babies or soccer balls. That all started because of one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/its-a-way-for-you-to-support-the-children-by-sending-pencils-beanie/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [My wife's a loving, funny, Irish-spirited person, and I'm still surprised at some of the things she says. She makes me laugh every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/my-wife-s-a-loving-funny-irish-spirited-person-and-i-m-still/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [The University of Southern California has a wonderful social work department, and I was thrilled to find out that they have a whole veterans'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/the-university-of-southern-california-has-a-wonderful-social-work/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [The chance to play a romantic character who kisses somebody onscreen was one of the elements that made me want to do 'The Stand.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/the-chance-to-play-a-romantic-character-who-kisses-somebody-onscreen/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [But I've got more to learn, too. I don't feel like I'm done or I know it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/but-i-ve-got-more-to-learn-too-i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-done-or-i-know/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Wherever I go for the military, they always call me Lt. Dan. They just can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/wherever-i-go-for-the-military-they-always-call-me-lt-dan-they-just/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) [Explore all 47 Gary Sinise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [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/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [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/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't have any passion for school. Then I couldn't get enough. All of a sudden, I was getting good parts in all of these plays. I just loved it. I started getting A's in acting, directing and technical theater. I found something that clicked.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Sinise" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughing-off-and-didn-t-have-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughing-off-and-didn-t-have-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/gary-sinise-14265_acting_before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughi_2275954.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before discovering theater, I was sloughing off and didn't have any passion for school. Then I couldn't get…” — Gary Sinise", "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": "Gary Sinise", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before discovering theater, I was sloughing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughing-off-and-didn-t-have-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/before-discovering-theater-i-was-sloughing-off-and-didn-t-have-any/#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 } } ] } ```