--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I graduated college valedictorian, got an…" description: "\"I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of twenty-two, and still couldn't answer the q..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg" --- # I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from… ![“I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of twenty-two, and still couldn't answer the question 'What do you want to do with your life?'” quote by Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg) > “I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of twenty-two, and still couldn't answer the question 'What do you want to do with your life?'” [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving academic success does not automatically clarify life purpose; personal direction requires introspection beyond accolades. **In simple terms:** Success doesn't guarantee purpose. Key Takeaway Reflect on values beyond achievements. Themes identity purpose career education Mood contemplative uncertain Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - job search - career counseling - personal development - mentoring Key Concepts self‑actualization existential questioning Questions to Reflect On - What defines your fulfillment beyond titles? - How can you explore passions without pressure? A Different Perspective External validation can't replace inner clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [College Valedictorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-valedictorian-4759669/) [Graduated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated/) [Graduated College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated-college/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Valedictorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valedictorian-374367/) [Valedictorian Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valedictorian-got-4765432/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that the only way to get into a good college was to be valedictorian or salutatorian. So that was my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/i-realized-that-the-only-way-to-get-into-a-good-college-was-to-be/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [I got into medical school at the University of California in San Francisco and did well. A lot of smart kids in medical school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-got-into-medical-school-at-the-university-of-california-in-san/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [When I graduated from college, I thought that I would probably never be an actor because it seemed like everyone was big by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-thought-that-i-would-probably-never/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [“A few years ago, I graduated college, diploma in one hand, margarita in the other, completely oblivious to the shit storm that was coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alida-nugent/a-few-years-ago-i-graduated-college-diploma-in-one-hand-margarita-in/) [Alida Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alida-nugent/) > [When we graduated from college and law school, we had a mountain of debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/when-we-graduated-from-college-and-law-school-we-had-a-mountain-of/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [I ended up going to college for visual arts but moved up to New York after I graduated from college in 2006 and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-jacobson/i-ended-up-going-to-college-for-visual-arts-but-moved-up-to-new-york/) [Abbi Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-jacobson/) > [I don't have a college degree, and my father didn't have a college degree, so when my son, Zachary, graduated from college, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-don-t-have-a-college-degree-and-my-father-didn-t-have-a-college/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I remember those days right after I graduated from college. All I had to do was wake up in the morning and think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-turner/i-remember-those-days-right-after-i-graduated-from-college-all-i-had/) [Josh Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-turner/) > [From the time I was 16, I wanted to live in Paris. When I graduated college and didn't have a job, I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-chiquet/from-the-time-i-was-16-i-wanted-to-live-in-paris-when-i-graduated/) [Maureen Chiquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-chiquet/) > [I graduated from college with a 3.92 GPA with a degree in computer programming and a BFA in fine arts and animation. My first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwoww/i-graduated-from-college-with-a-3-92-gpa-with-a-degree-in-computer/) [JWoww](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwoww/) > [“Look at yourself on the day that you graduated from college, then look at yourself today. I did that recently and it was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/look-at-yourself-on-the-day-that-you-graduated-from-college-then-look/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When I graduated college I had a series of just humiliating jobs that I couldn't believe I was at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/when-i-graduated-college-i-had-a-series-of-just-humiliating-jobs-that/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [When I graduated from college, I was told I could do great things and be great, but I didn't know what that meant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-was-told-i-could-do-great-things-and/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [When I graduated from college I thought I was over with show business and was pursuing other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chlumsky/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-thought-i-was-over-with-show-business/) [Anna Chlumsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chlumsky/) > [I graduated from college and went straight into a job with MTV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/i-graduated-from-college-and-went-straight-into-a-job-with-mtv/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) ## More by Jedediah Bila > [I honestly didn't always want kids - for a very long time, it just wasn't a path I saw myself on. I wasn't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-honestly-didn-t-always-want-kids-for-a-very-long-time-it-just-wasn/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [Melissa McCarthy makes everything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/melissa-mccarthy-makes-everything-better/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [Yes, the mainstream media is painfully biased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/yes-the-mainstream-media-is-painfully-biased/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [There are objective people, there are opinion people, and in my opinion that makes for a better America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/there-are-objective-people-there-are-opinion-people-and-in-my-opinion/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [The opportunity to co-host a program within the 'Fox & Friends' franchise is truly an incredible milestone in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/the-opportunity-to-co-host-a-program-within-the-fox-friends-franchise/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [Redistribution depends on three things, amnesia,meaning you don't remember the murderous paths of these beliefs. Envy, you hate the successful in the present and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/redistribution-depends-on-three-things-amnesia-meaning-you-don-t/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [I understand why people could look at things that Donald Trump says and be deeply offended by them and feel that he is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-understand-why-people-could-look-at-things-that-donald-trump-says/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [We're in this industry, we feel like we need to be plugged into a news cycle all day long. You feel like if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/we-re-in-this-industry-we-feel-like-we-need-to-be-plugged-into-a-news/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [The media does not love Hillary Clinton left, right or center.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/the-media-does-not-love-hillary-clinton-left-right-or-center/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [I think Donald Trump's language and the way that he presents things oftentimes is not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-think-donald-trump-s-language-and-the-way-that-he-presents-things/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [Donald Trump should be focused on how to fix the country, not an award show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/donald-trump-should-be-focused-on-how-to-fix-the-country-not-an-award/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [We don't reinvest in the American people. We don't put enough money into American education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/we-don-t-reinvest-in-the-american-people-we-don-t-put-enough-money/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [Yes, the Obama administration has and will continue to use Hollywood and the entertainment industry to push its agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/yes-the-obama-administration-has-and-will-continue-to-use-hollywood/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [I don't like watchingpeople get shot so I would be a little skittish about that - squeamish, but I must say, I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-don-t-like-watchingpeople-get-shot-so-i-would-be-a-little-skittish/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [I wanted something that was really 'us,' but not typical engagement photos in any way. We're not a fancy couple. More jeans and T-shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-wanted-something-that-was-really-us-but-not-typical-engagement/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) [Explore all 49 Jedediah Bila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [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/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of twenty-two, and still couldn't answer the question 'What do you want to do with your life?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jedediah Bila" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an-m-a-from-columbia-university/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an-m-a-from-columbia-university/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4e/jedediah-bila-13720_age_i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an_579363.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of…” — Jedediah Bila", "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": "Jedediah Bila", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I graduated college valedictorian, got an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an-m-a-from-columbia-university/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-graduated-college-valedictorian-got-an-m-a-from-columbia-university/#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 } } ] } ```