---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was so tall in high school that I was…"
description: "\"I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any sport at all, no matter how ha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg"
---

#  I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I…

![“I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any sport at all, no matter how hard they tried to convince me to be on the girls' basketball team as the tallest kid in class.” quote by Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg)

> “I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any sport at all, no matter how hard they tried to convince me to be on the girls' basketball team as the tallest kid in class.”

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Height led to self‑doubt about coordination and athletic ability, causing avoidance of sports despite external encouragement.

**In simple terms:** Tallness made her fear being clumsy and avoid sports.

Key Takeaway

Challenge self‑limiting beliefs about physical ability.

Themes

self‑esteem body image confidence sports participation

Mood

anxious motivated reflective

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- high school
- team tryouts
- gym class
- peer encouragement

Key Concepts

social pressure identity fear of judgment

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you test your actual coordination abilities?
- What steps can you take to build confidence in a new activity?

A Different Perspective

Physical ability is not solely determined by height; skill can be learned.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Athletic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic/) [Athletic Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic-terrified-1922086/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-team/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Uncoordinated Athletic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncoordinated-athletic-1922087/)

## Related quotes

> [A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/a-good-coach-will-make-his-players-see-what-they-can-be-rather-than/)

[Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/)

> [I was all limbs and I was very convinced that I must be uncoordinated, so I didn't want to try any sports. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-all-limbs-and-i-was-very-convinced-that-i-must-be-uncoordinated/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I wanted to take up a sport the real way and see if I actually had athletic ability. And then I happened to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-wanted-to-take-up-a-sport-the-real-way-and-see-if-i-actually-had/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [. . . a jostling scrum of office buildings so mediocre that the only way you ever remember them is by the frustration they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/a-jostling-scrum-of-office-buildings-so-mediocre-that-the-only-way/)

[Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/)

> [My maternal grandmother was a star on her high school basketball team in small-town Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/my-maternal-grandmother-was-a-star-on-her-high-school-basketball-team/)

[Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/)

> [Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/remember-this-the-choices-you-make-in-life-make-you/)

[John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/)

> [A player who makes a team great is better than a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/a-player-who-makes-a-team-great-is-better-than-a-great-player/)

[John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/)

> [I learned early that if I wanted to achieve anything in life, I'd have to do it myself. I learned that I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-learned-early-that-if-i-wanted-to-achieve-anything-in-life-i-d-have/)

[Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/)

> [Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/champions-never-complain-they-are-too-busy-getting-better/)

[John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/)

> [I've always felt that, you know, the Almighty has a lot of things to do other than help my basketball team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-ve-always-felt-that-you-know-the-almighty-has-a-lot-of-things-to-do/)

[Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/)

> [If a director brings a guy to their movie who does improv, they've got to let him do what he does - otherwise it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/if-a-director-brings-a-guy-to-their-movie-who-does-improv-they-ve-got/)

[J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/)

> [If parents are aiming at choosing children who will be good athletes, or great musicians, or who will get into Ivy League schools, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandel/if-parents-are-aiming-at-choosing-children-who-will-be-good-athletes/)

[Michael Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandel/)

> [AS y'all know I'm going for 15 days or so for travelling , so yeah :( You GUYS are my hole-digging, browser-history-erasing, funeral-invitation-only assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila/as-y-all-know-i-m-going-for-15-days-or-so-for-travelling-so-yeah-you/)

[Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila/)

> [President Obama filled in as the coach of his daughter Sasha's basketball team. Sasha evidently listened to her Dad, because all she did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-filled-in-as-the-coach-of-his-daughter-sasha-s/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Praise your kids. Inspire and motivate your players with praise. Ten years from now it won't matter what your record was. Will your kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrick/praise-your-kids-inspire-and-motivate-your-players-with-praise-ten/)

[Jim Harrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrick/)

## More by Geena Davis

> [In advertisements for your favorite products, are women denigrated or objectified in some way? All of that is important. I would rewrite my kids'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/in-advertisements-for-your-favorite-products-are-women-denigrated-or/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Women are in many ways second-class citizens in the United States in 2016, because of the way that we're portrayed in popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/women-are-in-many-ways-second-class-citizens-in-the-united-states-in/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Rosie knows how to play ball. She's an athlete, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/rosie-knows-how-to-play-ball-she-s-an-athlete-for-sure/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I'm very competitive, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-m-very-competitive-i-think/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Film roles really did start to dry up when I got into my 40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/film-roles-really-did-start-to-dry-up-when-i-got-into-my-40s/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [You can't snap your fingers, and suddenly half of Congress is women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/you-can-t-snap-your-fingers-and-suddenly-half-of-congress-is-women/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [On film, you can't do it over again. And you do have to stop shooting at a certain point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/on-film-you-can-t-do-it-over-again-and-you-do-have-to-stop-shooting/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I remember when 'A League of Their Own' was coming out in '92, when I was doing interviews, it seemed like every interviewer at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-remember-when-a-league-of-their-own-was-coming-out-in-92-when-i-was/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Behind the cameras, there's a different problem, which I think is not unconscious gender bias. It's probably categorized more as conscious gender bias. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/behind-the-cameras-there-s-a-different-problem-which-i-think-is-not/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [We all know the huge problem there is with entertainment in general leaving out women. Especially as actors, we know there are fewer great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/we-all-know-the-huge-problem-there-is-with-entertainment-in-general/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [ That's the really frustrating thing, but also the fixable thing. My theory why no one notices is that that's the \[women's roles\] ratio thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/that-s-the-really-frustrating-thing-but-also-the-fixable-thing-my/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I watch very little television, actually. There's so many shows I want to watch and then I know I'll get hooked and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-watch-very-little-television-actually-there-s-so-many-shows-i-want/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I never intended to become a data head. I could never have predicted it would play such an important role in my life. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-never-intended-to-become-a-data-head-i-could-never-have-predicted/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [They called and said, "I know we're not supposed to even tell you, but you've been offered to play the President." And I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/they-called-and-said-i-know-we-re-not-supposed-to-even-tell-you-but/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Certainly 'Wonder Woman' needed to be made, and I'm so beyond thrilled with how it came out. I met Patty Jenkins, and I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/certainly-wonder-woman-needed-to-be-made-and-i-m-so-beyond-thrilled/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

[Explore all 159 Geena Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

## More Athletic quotes

> [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/)

[Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/)

> [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/)

[Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/)

> [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/)

[Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/)

> [I love finding something. For me it's not just about the athletic challenge, it's about finding new things. When I'm not doing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-love-finding-something-for-me-it-s-not-just-about-the-athletic/)

[Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/)

> [Players at the top level are generally more athletic, stronger and more thoughtful. They have a quicker turn of pace but more than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/players-at-the-top-level-are-generally-more-athletic-stronger-and/)

[Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/)

> [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/)

[Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/)

> [I was very, very large as a kid and never athletic, and my home life was a little upside down and I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-was-very-very-large-as-a-kid-and-never-athletic-and-my-home-life/)

[Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/)

> [There are a lot of athletic trends that I don't have. I feel like I have a bigger heart and desire than most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/there-are-a-lot-of-athletic-trends-that-i-don-t-have-i-feel-like-i/)

[Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/)

> [If you only ever give 90% in training then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/if-you-only-ever-give-90-in-training-then-you-will-only-ever-give-90/)

[Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/)

> [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/)

[Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/)

> [I do a lot of things well, I'm very athletic, I play against guys who are also very athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-do-a-lot-of-things-well-i-m-very-athletic-i-play-against-guys-who/)

[Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/)

> [I do have high expectations for Alex Riley. He seems athletic, articulate and intelligent. Only time will tell how far he goes, but Riley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/i-do-have-high-expectations-for-alex-riley-he-seems-athletic/)

[Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/)

> [Love is when you realize that he's as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/love-is-when-you-realize-that-he-s-as-sexy-as-woody-allen-as-smart-as/)

[Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/)

> [The five S's of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-doherty/the-five-s-s-of-sports-training-are-stamina-speed-strength-skill-and/)

[Ken Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-doherty/)

> [Sex, whatever else it is, is an athletic skill. The more you practice, the more you can, the more you want to, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/sex-whatever-else-it-is-is-an-athletic-skill-the-more-you-practice/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

[Browse all 619 Athletic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any sport at all, no matter how hard they tried to convince me to be on the girls' basketball team as the tallest kid in class.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Geena Davis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Athletic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/geena-davis-2583_athletic_i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was_179229.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified…” — Geena Davis",
                "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": "Geena Davis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was so tall in high...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
