--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I…" description: "\"“When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to school, got my GED, and started working here. I needed to find a new path, forge a future t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg" --- # When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to… ![“When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to school, got my GED, and started working here. I needed to find a new path, forge a future that I could live with. To find some forgiveness for my stupidity.” She waved a hand in the air, swatting away the memories.” quote by J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg) > ““When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to school, got my GED, and started working here. I needed to find a new path, forge a future that I could live with. To find some forgiveness for my stupidity.” She waved a hand in the air, swatting away the memories.”” [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After dropping out, she sought a new direction, confronting past mistakes and seeking self‑forgiveness. **In simple terms:** She rebuilds life after leaving school. Key Takeaway Embrace change and seek redemption. Themes education self‑growth forgiveness Mood hopeful introspective Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career change - GED study - personal counseling - community support Key Concepts resilience identity second chances Questions to Reflect On - What does forgiveness mean to you? - How can you turn past errors into strengths? A Different Perspective Past stigma can linger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [So what's the most atrocious thing you've seen?" He waved his hand: "Man, of course!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-littell/so-what-s-the-most-atrocious-thing-you-ve-seen-he-waved-his-hand-man/) [Jonathan Littell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-littell/) > [“He waved a hand at the ropes. “Do you often sleep tied to the bed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-waved-a-hand-at-the-ropes-do-you-often-sleep-tied-to-the-bed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Rachel waved her hand in dismissal. “Yeah, well, I assume that he was upset, and she was there, he fell, and she caught him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-alexander/rachel-waved-her-hand-in-dismissal-yeah-well-i-assume-that-he-was/) [Monica Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-alexander/) > [“My thanks, Master.” He waved his hand. “It is what I do. If you wish to thank me, do a kindness for someone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/my-thanks-master-he-waved-his-hand-it-is-what-i-do-if-you-wish-to/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“He waved his hand, trying to find the right words. “Lord Arland, sometimes it helps to speak plainly.” “Sword,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-waved-his-hand-trying-to-find-the-right-words-lord-arland/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“I waved my hand like a frantic dust mop fingers spread ludicrously wide apart as if to say “What jolly fun ” What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-waved-my-hand-like-a-frantic-dust-mop-fingers-spread-ludicrously/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [When that white driver stepped back toward us, when he waved his hand and ordered us up and out of our seats, I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/when-that-white-driver-stepped-back-toward-us-when-he-waved-his-hand/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [“He waved a hand. 'Never mind. It doesn't matter. Perhaps I did look guilty there for a while. In any event, it was interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-weaver/he-waved-a-hand-never-mind-it-doesn-t-matter-perhaps-i-did-look/) [Ashley Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-weaver/) > [“Walking to the communications panel next to the door of our quarters, I waved my hand over it, pushed it, stared at it, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-goodwin/walking-to-the-communications-panel-next-to-the-door-of-our-quarters/) [Grace Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-goodwin/) > [“Do I look like I could have thrown a goddamn piano out a window?” She waved her hand. “Does he?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-faust/do-i-look-like-i-could-have-thrown-a-goddamn-piano-out-a-window-she/) [Christa Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-faust/) > [“This first part may be a little rough.' He waved a hand and did his best to appear as if he'd had enormous experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pryor/this-first-part-may-be-a-little-rough-he-waved-a-hand-and-did-his/) [Michael Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pryor/) > [“Because if I'm weird And ostracized and friendless It's not personal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-prendergast/because-if-i-m-weird-and-ostracized-and-friendless-it-s-not-personal/) Gabrielle Prendergast > [No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/no-race-that-has-anything-to-contribute-to-the-markets-of-the-world/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The church didn't know what to do with Ray Charles or Al Green. And so they were kind of ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/the-church-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-ray-charles-or-al-green-and-so/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) ## More by J.T. Ellison > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Quinn gave her a warm smile that belied the master/servant nature of their relationship. “Gabrielle, possiamo avere due Coca Lights, per favore? Grazie.” Gabrielle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/quinn-gave-her-a-warm-smile-that-belied-the-master-servant-nature-of/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“She tried not to think of her father, once a brief inmate of those twenty-foot-high, three-foot-thick crenellated walls. Now”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/she-tried-not-to-think-of-her-father-once-a-brief-inmate-of-those/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“She turned and eyed Jane, her dark eyes cool. Jane could see the thought process. Competition? Nope. Jane was dismissed after a moment without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/she-turned-and-eyed-jane-her-dark-eyes-cool-jane-could-see-the/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Like her name, Jasmine Allôns was dusky and exotic. The woman bled sensuality, as if she were in a constant state of karmic sexuality—a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/like-her-name-jasmine-all-ns-was-dusky-and-exotic-the-woman-bled/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Think of the difficulties facing an exceptionally talented child. A completely controlled existence, a world structured around said child’s genius. Constant work, attention, adulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/think-of-the-difficulties-facing-an-exceptionally-talented-child-a/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“I hope this means you’re getting a new lab?” “I don’t know, T. I gotta run, we’ve got Aiden’s autopsy done and I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/i-hope-this-means-you-re-getting-a-new-lab-i-don-t-know-t-i-gotta-run/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“See, I told you it was crazy. My dad was a lot of things, but I can’t imagine he’d stand by and let something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/see-i-told-you-it-was-crazy-my-dad-was-a-lot-of-things-but-i-can-t/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Taylor didn’t know how the woman stood being the center of so much derision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-didn-t-know-how-the-woman-stood-being-the-center-of-so-much/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Have you been in the room?” “Ain’t but the one key. I tolds ya she didn’t bring it back this mornin’. What’s all this?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/have-you-been-in-the-room-ain-t-but-the-one-key-i-tolds-ya-she-didn-t/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“She turned on her computer, waited for it to boot up. She let her fingers drum a staccato rhythm against her temple. Tap, tap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/she-turned-on-her-computer-waited-for-it-to-boot-up-she-let-her/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“I’ll see you there,” Taylor said, and Richardson nodded. Good humor was gone. They were preparing to delve into the Snow White murders, feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/i-ll-see-you-there-taylor-said-and-richardson-nodded-good-humor-was/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“He grinned at her then, a lupine smile that tore away the handsome, collegian jock and made him look dangerous. “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/he-grinned-at-her-then-a-lupine-smile-that-tore-away-the-handsome/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Taylor followed the team into the entry hall. They were met with no resistance. The place seemed deserted, the dual staircase vaulting toward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-followed-the-team-into-the-entry-hall-they-were-met-with-no/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“Forensics had a field day in the motel room. It was obvious that Christy had been repeatedly stabbed, and that blood added to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/forensics-had-a-field-day-in-the-motel-room-it-was-obvious-that/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) [Explore all 262 J.T. Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) ## More Time quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) [Browse all 215,255 Time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to school, got my GED, and started working here. I needed to find a new path, forge a future that I could live with. To find some forgiveness for my stupidity.” She waved a hand in the air, swatting away the memories.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.T. Ellison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i-stopped-going-to-school-got/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i-stopped-going-to-school-got/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/j-t-ellison-1281_time_when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i_240555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I dropped out, they ostracized me. I stopped going to school, got my GED, and started working here. I…” — J.T. Ellison", "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": "J.T. Ellison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I dropped out, they ostracized...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i-stopped-going-to-school-got/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/when-i-dropped-out-they-ostracized-me-i-stopped-going-to-school-got/#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 } } ] } ```