--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left university with a history…" description: "\"When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of accidentally ending up in the wrong career.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg" --- # When I left university with a history degree, I had no… ![“When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of accidentally ending up in the wrong career.” quote by Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg) > “When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of accidentally ending up in the wrong career.” [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt uncertain about career direction after studying history, fearing a mismatch between education and work. **In simple terms:** Uncertain about career after history degree. Key Takeaway Explore options and gain experience. Themes career uncertainty education self‑discovery Mood anxious hopeful Type advice reflective When to use this quote - internships - informational interviews - skill workshops - career counseling Key Concepts career alignment risk aversion Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to test career interests? - How might a history degree be valuable in unexpected fields? A Different Perspective Fear of commitment can limit exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ending/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-degree-2234905/) [Left University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-university-290925/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Terrified Accidentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified-accidentally-2234904/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Wrong Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-career-1288952/) ## Related quotes > [I'm really interested in modern history, but to fulfill a History degree at Brown you have to do modern and pre-modern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-m-really-interested-in-modern-history-but-to-fulfill-a-history/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I did a history degree once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thomas/i-did-a-history-degree-once/) [Joe Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thomas/) > [I used my history degree about twice a year whether I needed to or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-used-my-history-degree-about-twice-a-year-whether-i-needed-to-or-not/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I had studied history at Brown and didn't feel like doing anything with it. What does one do with a history degree besides become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-neel/i-had-studied-history-at-brown-and-didn-t-feel-like-doing-anything/) [Elizabeth Neel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-neel/) > [I think I made the wrong career choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-think-i-made-the-wrong-career-choice/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [I hate being looked at. Can't stand it. I know, I know - I picked the wrong career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/i-hate-being-looked-at-can-t-stand-it-i-know-i-know-i-picked-the-2/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I hate being looked at. Can't stand it. I know, I know - I picked the wrong career. I should have been a doctor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/i-hate-being-looked-at-can-t-stand-it-i-know-i-know-i-picked-the/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [It is unrealistic to expect an entire profession to be completely good. There are bound to be some individuals who are stressed, who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/it-is-unrealistic-to-expect-an-entire-profession-to-be-completely/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I think you chose the wrong career path. You should have gone into acting because you're so good at pretending to be something you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-you-chose-the-wrong-career-path-you-should-have-gone-into/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was coming up, if you were on a TV show, that meant something was wrong with your career. Now it means something's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-if-you-were-on-a-tv-show-that-meant-something/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [A lot of money with the wrong career is not going to make you happy. If you have money without happiness, it doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/a-lot-of-money-with-the-wrong-career-is-not-going-to-make-you-happy/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [When I left the University of Notre Dame, I honestly felt I would never coach again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/when-i-left-the-university-of-notre-dame-i-honestly-felt-i-would/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [I left the University of Chicago's creative writing program for a tenure-track job at DePauw University in Indiana, then left DePauw in 2010 for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/i-left-the-university-of-chicago-s-creative-writing-program-for-a/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) > [I went to the University of Minnesota to study art. I left the university to come to New York and live in Soho. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-went-to-the-university-of-minnesota-to-study-art-i-left-the/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [When I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist, pretty much to the left. But not when I left the university. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/when-i-was-a-sophomore-at-usc-i-was-a-socialist-pretty-much-to-the/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) ## More by Jane Fallon > [One thing that was drummed into me when I was younger is that you have to make your own way in life, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/one-thing-that-was-drummed-into-me-when-i-was-younger-is-that-you/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [Painting my nails is the easiest way to look as though I've made an effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/painting-my-nails-is-the-easiest-way-to-look-as-though-i-ve-made-an/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I'm such a sucker for the Tiffany blue box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-m-such-a-sucker-for-the-tiffany-blue-box/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [If someone tells me something and asks me to keep it a secret, I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/if-someone-tells-me-something-and-asks-me-to-keep-it-a-secret-i/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [Luckily my own life is uncomplicated, which lets me really enjoy other people's complicated messes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/luckily-my-own-life-is-uncomplicated-which-lets-me-really-enjoy-other/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [Our Siamese cat, Ollie, is like a dog in a cat's body because she is really loyal and very chatty, following me around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/our-siamese-cat-ollie-is-like-a-dog-in-a-cat-s-body-because-she-is/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [What I find weird is that the term 'chick lit' is used to encompass literally anything a woman writes about relationships. It's the assumption…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/what-i-find-weird-is-that-the-term-chick-lit-is-used-to-encompass/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [Whenever I'm out, I have a bit of a yearning to be in my house, to be able to shut the door on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/whenever-i-m-out-i-have-a-bit-of-a-yearning-to-be-in-my-house-to-be/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I never show my books to Ricky. His writing is very different, and anyway, he's only read one novel in his life: 'The Catcher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-never-show-my-books-to-ricky-his-writing-is-very-different-and/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I think a lot of people assume you need to be born into a special creative family to have a career as a writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-think-a-lot-of-people-assume-you-need-to-be-born-into-a-special/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I've always been a glass-half-empty sort of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-ve-always-been-a-glass-half-empty-sort-of-person/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs are great for exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/the-killers-and-kaiser-chiefs-are-great-for-exercise/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [In the winter, my failsafe dinner party menu has to be my roast chicken or a creamy fish pie with mashed potatoes on top,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/in-the-winter-my-failsafe-dinner-party-menu-has-to-be-my-roast/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [Everyone has bits of dysfunction in their families, but I actually have a very nice, happy one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/everyone-has-bits-of-dysfunction-in-their-families-but-i-actually/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I was never one of those little girls who played with baby dolls and picked names for her firstborn. I was playing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-was-never-one-of-those-little-girls-who-played-with-baby-dolls-and/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) [Explore all 78 Jane Fallon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of accidentally ending up in the wrong career.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Fallon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/when-i-left-university-with-a-history-degree-i-had-no-idea-what-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/when-i-left-university-with-a-history-degree-i-had-no-idea-what-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/jane-fallon-8683_career_when-i-left-university-with-a-history-de_218126.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I left university with a history degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was terrified of…” — Jane Fallon", "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": "Jane Fallon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I left university with a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/when-i-left-university-with-a-history-degree-i-had-no-idea-what-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/when-i-left-university-with-a-history-degree-i-had-no-idea-what-i/#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 } } ] } ```