--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In middle school, I started to draw, and…" description: "\"In middle school, I started to draw, and my pencil sketches were huge. They were these 4ft by 3ft drawings, and I got a lot of attention for that, so t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/jeff-kinney-4064_attention_in-middle-school-i-started-to-draw-and-m_99861.png" --- # In middle school, I started to draw, and my pencil… ![“In middle school, I started to draw, and my pencil sketches were huge. They were these 4ft by 3ft drawings, and I got a lot of attention for that, so that was very validating. But I didn't start cartooning until I was in college.” quote by Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/jeff-kinney-4064_attention_in-middle-school-i-started-to-draw-and-m_99861.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/jeff-kinney-4064_attention_in-middle-school-i-started-to-draw-and-m_99861.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/457/jeff-kinney-4064_attention_in-middle-school-i-started-to-draw-and-m_99861.png) > “In middle school, I started to draw, and my pencil sketches were huge. They were these 4ft by 3ft drawings, and I got a lot of attention for that, so that was very validating. But I didn't start cartooning until I was in college.” [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early large‑scale sketches gave him confidence, but his true creative direction—cartooning—emerged later in college. **In simple terms:** Early validation fuels later specialization. Key Takeaway Recognition can steer artistic evolution. Themes creativity validation artistic development career path Mood nostalgic optimistic Type personal narrative career insight When to use this quote - Choosing a college major - Transitioning from hobby to profession - Developing a personal brand Key Concepts self‑efficacy skill transfer Practical Applications - Seek feedback early to shape direction - Leverage early successes for portfolio building Questions to Reflect On - How does early validation affect long‑term creative risk? - What strategies help pivot from one medium to another? A Different Perspective Early praise may create pressure to repeat past styles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Cartooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartooning/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Middle school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sketches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketches/) [Validating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validating/) ## Related quotes > [The most interesting studio work, and perhaps the most practicable, is painting from pencil sketches and notes... It ensures the elimination of all facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/the-most-interesting-studio-work-and-perhaps-the-most-practicable-is/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [The kitchen was bright, cheerful yellow, the walls decorated with framed chalk and pencil sketches Simon and Rebecca had done in grade school. Rebecca…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-kitchen-was-bright-cheerful-yellow-the-walls-decorated-with/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't believe in making pencil sketches and then painting landscape in your studio. You must be right under the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-merritt-chase/i-don-t-believe-in-making-pencil-sketches-and-then-painting-landscape/) [William Merritt Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-merritt-chase/) > [Religion is the sole technique for the validating of values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/religion-is-the-sole-technique-for-the-validating-of-values/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [“Validating My User-Submitted Settings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandyk/validating-my-user-submitted-settings/) VanDyk > [In my life, looking at other women who have been pregnant while writing, I always feel like it's kind of their most musical or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/in-my-life-looking-at-other-women-who-have-been-pregnant-while/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [The whole HTML validation exercise is questionable, but validating as XHTML is flat-out masochism. Only recommended for those that enjoy pain. Or programmers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-atwood/the-whole-html-validation-exercise-is-questionable-but-validating-as/) [Jeff Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-atwood/) > [It's very validating when you are new in the industry to get awards. It boosts your self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-easton/it-s-very-validating-when-you-are-new-in-the-industry-to-get-awards/) [Sheena Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-easton/) > [The dissolution of the Oslo Accords would serve as the official act validating what we already know - that this failed framework is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-danon/the-dissolution-of-the-oslo-accords-would-serve-as-the-official-act/) [Danny Danon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-danon/) > [It is always so, I guess, validating when you meet somebody that you esteem -- and then they turn out to be everything \[you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/it-is-always-so-i-guess-validating-when-you-meet-somebody-that-you/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [It is one of the most validating things for an artist like me, to have people sing along to your songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-shelton/it-is-one-of-the-most-validating-things-for-an-artist-like-me-to-have/) [Blake Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-shelton/) > [You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-are-validating-my-inherent-mistrust-of-strangers/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [For my whole career, I've been a singer-slash-songwriter, even though I'm very thankfully known for my voice. Songwriting has always been a joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-nettles/for-my-whole-career-i-ve-been-a-singer-slash-songwriter-even-though-i/) [Jennifer Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-nettles/) > [It's one of the most validating things you can do for a product is go out there and get them to commit to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/it-s-one-of-the-most-validating-things-you-can-do-for-a-product-is-go/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [“Validating User-Submitted Settings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandyk/validating-user-submitted-settings/) VanDyk ## More by Jeff Kinney > [Kids can sniff out when they are being preached to, and they don't like it. 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