--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I struggled with being a broke college…" description: "\"I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That's why n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/j-cole-2-3527_broke_i-struggled-with-being-a-broke-college-g_2168992.jpg" --- # I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while… ![“I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That's why now, even when I get tired, I think, 'This is what I asked for.'” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/j-cole-2-3527_broke_i-struggled-with-being-a-broke-college-g_2168992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/j-cole-2-3527_broke_i-struggled-with-being-a-broke-college-g_2168992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/j-cole-2-3527_broke_i-struggled-with-being-a-broke-college-g_2168992.jpg) > “I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That's why now, even when I get tired, I think, 'This is what I asked for.'” [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when exhausted, remembering past struggles keeps motivation alive and frames current effort as deserved. **In simple terms:** Remembering hardships fuels perseverance. Key Takeaway Embrace the grind as part of your journey. Themes perseverance gratitude self‑reflection Mood reflective grateful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - job hunting - career transitions - night shifts - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts motivation career development mindset Questions to Reflect On - What does “this is what I asked for” mean to you? - How can you balance gratitude with self‑care? A Different Perspective Success may require rest and self‑care to avoid burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broke/) [Broke College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broke-college-4635804/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-graduates/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Jobs Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs-tired-4635805/) [Part time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time/) [Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled/) [Struggled Broke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled-broke-1790518/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Tired Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired-think-315640/) ## Related quotes > [When I started out, I struggled, and I was broke a lot. But I'm glad I struggled, and I'm glad I was broke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/when-i-started-out-i-struggled-and-i-was-broke-a-lot-but-i-m-glad-i/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course, sometimes you are tired and everything, but I think the most important thing is the mentality - if you say you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emre-can/of-course-sometimes-you-are-tired-and-everything-but-i-think-the-most/) [Emre Can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emre-can/) > [I'd rather be nauseous than tired, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-simon/i-d-rather-be-nauseous-than-tired-i-think/) [Sam Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-simon/) > [“You are tired, (I think) Of the always puzzle of living and doing; And so am I. Come with me, then, And we’ll leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings-2/you-are-tired-i-think-of-the-always-puzzle-of-living-and-doing-and-so/) [E.E. Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings-2/) > [Id rather be nauseous than tired, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-simon/id-rather-be-nauseous-than-tired-i-think/) [Sam Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-simon/) > [God is a sound people make when they're too tired to think anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/god-is-a-sound-people-make-when-they-re-too-tired-to-think-anymore/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I have completely tired myself out before - but I think that's natural, we all find it difficult to find balance. It's something I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-have-completely-tired-myself-out-before-but-i-think-that-s-natural/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [“What is going on with you, Rev?” He rubs his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m just tired.” I think of how he sat in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/what-is-going-on-with-you-rev-he-rubs-his-eyes-i-don-t-know-i-m-just/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [I don't like going out that much. I'm kind of an old lady. After it's 11, I'm like, 'Don't these kids ever get tired?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-don-t-like-going-out-that-much-i-m-kind-of-an-old-lady-after-it-s/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [If you don't spend the time you need on developing characters and finding stories, complicated stories, the audience gets tired because they think they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kennedy/if-you-don-t-spend-the-time-you-need-on-developing-characters-and/) [Kathleen Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kennedy/) > [It's a long journey and along the journey you'll get tired. But if, when you're very, very tired and you're about to give up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-s-a-long-journey-and-along-the-journey-you-ll-get-tired-but-if/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Ivanov: Once I worked hard and thought a lot but I never got tired; now I do nothing and think of nothing, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/ivanov-once-i-worked-hard-and-thought-a-lot-but-i-never-got-tired-now/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Perhaps I'm old and tired, but I always think that the chances of finding out what really is going on are so absurdly remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/perhaps-i-m-old-and-tired-but-i-always-think-that-the-chances-of/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Perhaps I'm old and tired, but I think that the chances of finding out what's actually going on are so absurdly remote that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/perhaps-i-m-old-and-tired-but-i-think-that-the-chances-of-finding-out/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More by J. Cole > [The same ones you love will bring you pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/the-same-ones-you-love-will-bring-you-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [It's the way I enjoy making art - I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-the-way-i-enjoy-making-art-i-like-sitting-down-and-making-five/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/producing-all-my-own-songs-and-refusing-to-go-to-the-hot-producer/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Sold my soul to Satan. I've been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/sold-my-soul-to-satan-i-ve-been-dancing-with-the-devil-so-when-you/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and-i-set-my-course-and-where-i/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-parents-were-divorced-by-the-time-i-was-even-conscious-like-i-don/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-hate-it-before-you-played-it-i-already-forgave-ya/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/yeah-school-girl-cool-girl-your-dress-is-sexy-and-your-momma-is-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [We got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em, Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/we-got-dreams-and-we-got-the-right-to-chase-em-look-at-the-nation/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs... the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-seen-a-baby-cry-seconds-later-he-laughs-the-beauty-of-life-the-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [If I'm a character, it's a biographical movie. My character is as close to me as possible. As close to being myself as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/if-i-m-a-character-it-s-a-biographical-movie-my-character-is-as-close/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-like-yeah-i-m-doin-all-that-but/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-you-re-headlining-people-are-paying-to-come-see-you-specifically/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) [Explore all 128 J. Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## More Broke quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [At least I'm not a celebrity and if I was, the whole world would have known that I broke up with my girlfriend last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/at-least-i-m-not-a-celebrity-and-if-i-was-the-whole-world-would-have/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [Nothing is really broke, so it's not like I can fix it. I just have to keep trying to find what I'm looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/nothing-is-really-broke-so-it-s-not-like-i-can-fix-it-i-just-have-to/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [You're the one who broke my heart you're the reason my world fell apart you're the one who made me cry and I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-one-who-broke-my-heart-you-re-the-reason-my-world-fell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother loved my father. From my view, she let him get away with too much. It broke my heart to see him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-mother-loved-my-father-from-my-view-she-let-him-get-away-with-too/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I broke up with my first girlfriend because I was out of love. I was crushing so hard on her for a whole year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/i-broke-up-with-my-first-girlfriend-because-i-was-out-of-love-i-was/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [If you sleep now tomorrow you will be broke, Work hard now and sleep later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/if-you-sleep-now-tomorrow-you-will-be-broke-work-hard-now-and-sleep/) [G-Fwea D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-fwea-d/) > [IMAGINE if Facebook, Twitter, and msn all broke at the same time. We might have to actually get lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brown-ladyy/imagine-if-facebook-twitter-and-msn-all-broke-at-the-same-time-we/) [Brown Ladyy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brown-ladyy/) > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The man who begins to speculate in stocks with the intention of making a fortune usually goes broke, whereas the man who trades with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dow/the-man-who-begins-to-speculate-in-stocks-with-the-intention-of/) [Charles Dow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dow/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) [Browse all 2,091 Broke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broke/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I struggled with being a broke college graduate, and while all my friends were getting career jobs, I was working horrible part-time jobs. That's why now, even when I get tired, I think, 'This is what I asked for.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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