--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often grow up being told that we can…" description: "\"We often grow up being told that we can do this or that, but if you don't see anybody that looks like you doing it, you don't believe you can do it. Bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/jesse-williams-28184_anybody_we-often-grow-up-being-told-that-we-can_1209826.jpg" --- # We often grow up being told that we can do this or that… ![“We often grow up being told that we can do this or that, but if you don't see anybody that looks like you doing it, you don't believe you can do it. But I had great teachers, and I wanted to be a great teacher.” quote by Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/jesse-williams-28184_anybody_we-often-grow-up-being-told-that-we-can_1209826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/jesse-williams-28184_anybody_we-often-grow-up-being-told-that-we-can_1209826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/jesse-williams-28184_anybody_we-often-grow-up-being-told-that-we-can_1209826.jpg) > “We often grow up being told that we can do this or that, but if you don't see anybody that looks like you doing it, you don't believe you can do it. But I had great teachers, and I wanted to be a great teacher.” [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing role models who resemble us boosts confidence; lacking them can hinder self‑belief. **In simple terms:** Representation fuels confidence. Key Takeaway Seek diverse role models. Themes education representation self‑efficacy Mood motivational hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - classroom - career counseling - community programs Key Concepts social identity theory mentor impact Questions to Reflect On - Who can you mentor to become a role model? - How can institutions increase representation? A Different Perspective Not all environments provide visible role models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Great teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teacher/) [Great teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teachers/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) ## Related quotes > [The teachers are everywhere. What is wanted is a learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-teachers-are-everywhere-what-is-wanted-is-a-learner/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“Students get the message bout what adults want. When 4th graders in a variety of classroomswere asked what their teachers most wanted them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/students-get-the-message-bout-what-adults-want-when-4th-graders-in-a/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [We have had this massive effort on K-12 reform, raising standards, great teachers, great principals, turning around chronically failing schools, raising the bar, huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/we-have-had-this-massive-effort-on-k-12-reform-raising-standards/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Great teachers are usually a little crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/great-teachers-are-usually-a-little-crazy/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Take the teacher not the course. Find out who the great professors are - the great teachers - and take their courses because a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/take-the-teacher-not-the-course-find-out-who-the-great-professors-are/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [I have not seen that standardised tests make the profession less attractive, though some principals respond to them in a way that drives the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kopp/i-have-not-seen-that-standardised-tests-make-the-profession-less/) [Wendy Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kopp/) > [The great teachers are always those who can live the tension. They are not criticizing everybody, they're not complaining. They give young people a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-great-teachers-are-always-those-who-can-live-the-tension-they-are/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/great-teachers-have-high-expectations-for-their-students-but-higher/) Todd Whitaker > [Public libraries are our great teachers and storytellers, and are a vital adjunct to our schools. In this day of standardized and homogenized education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/public-libraries-are-our-great-teachers-and-storytellers-and-are-a/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [There are some great teachers who have had great students, but they themselves can't play a note. I don't understand it, because the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/there-are-some-great-teachers-who-have-had-great-students-but-they/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [The best teachers coach their students and the best coaches are great teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-teaff/the-best-teachers-coach-their-students-and-the-best-coaches-are-great/) Grant Teaff > [Dogs are great teachers. They are at home in the world. They live in the moment, and they force us to stay there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cheever/dogs-are-great-teachers-they-are-at-home-in-the-world-they-live-in/) [Susan Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cheever/) > [Teachers teach and students educate. Students are the only true educators. Historically, every other method of education has failed. Education occurs when students get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/teachers-teach-and-students-educate-students-are-the-only-true/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by Jesse Williams > [We should all have the opportunity to at least get a basic education and feel that you are worthy of something in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/we-should-all-have-the-opportunity-to-at-least-get-a-basic-education/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I thought that if acting didn't work out, I'd have done law school or medical school: probably law to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-thought-that-if-acting-didn-t-work-out-i-d-have-done-law-school-or/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [There's so much material out there that's unnecessarily racist. It takes a shot at what is 'urban' or demonstrates blackness with some sassy, neck-jiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/there-s-so-much-material-out-there-that-s-unnecessarily-racist-it/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I like to take credit for the work that I have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-like-to-take-credit-for-the-work-that-i-have-done/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I always find that really interesting, you know, when I get to see characters that I love in TV and film and theater around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-always-find-that-really-interesting-you-know-when-i-get-to-see/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [Storybooks were always a big part of my imagination, and my childhood and adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/storybooks-were-always-a-big-part-of-my-imagination-and-my-childhood/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I'm kind of in a middle space, being marketed as a biracial actor. Roles are written either stereotypically black, or they're written 'normal,' which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-m-kind-of-in-a-middle-space-being-marketed-as-a-biracial-actor/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [Storytelling is based on the word, being an honorable person of integrity is based on your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/storytelling-is-based-on-the-word-being-an-honorable-person-of/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [You have to be up-front from the very beginning about what your expectations of the other person are, and you can't make any promises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/you-have-to-be-up-front-from-the-very-beginning-about-what-your/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I'm always trying to find the next comedian that just gives me something a little funny to combine with all of the depressing news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-m-always-trying-to-find-the-next-comedian-that-just-gives-me/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [That's why the role that I have on 'Grey's Anatomy' is important to me, because it's a human being. He doesn't have to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/that-s-why-the-role-that-i-have-on-grey-s-anatomy-is-important-to-me/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [Coming from New York, you're kind of indoctrinated with anti-L.A. sentiment, but California is just a really dope state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/coming-from-new-york-you-re-kind-of-indoctrinated-with-anti-l-a/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I download, like, forty songs a day, I'm a big music collector and a big record collector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-download-like-forty-songs-a-day-i-m-a-big-music-collector-and-a-big/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [I'm an athletic junkie - I play in all the celebrity all-star games, and I've become buddies with a bunch of athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/i-m-an-athletic-junkie-i-play-in-all-the-celebrity-all-star-games-and/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) > [Staying true to our goals, Question Bridge as a company and as a project is not singularly about black males. One of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-williams/staying-true-to-our-goals-question-bridge-as-a-company-and-as-a/) [Jesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) [Explore all 19 Jesse Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-williams/) ## More Anybody quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I would never refuse to work with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-would-never-refuse-to-work-with-anybody/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [Take control of who you report to, what you do, what you create. Or start a business on the side. Deliver some value, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/take-control-of-who-you-report-to-what-you-do-what-you-create-or/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [I don't know anybody that doesn't own a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-don-t-know-anybody-that-doesn-t-own-a-gun/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [There's no recovery on Main Street, I can tell you that for sure. And in a re - in an economy like this, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/there-s-no-recovery-on-main-street-i-can-tell-you-that-for-sure-and/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [With what all these people are saying, do you think that anybody wants to be around me? They all think that I did this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/with-what-all-these-people-are-saying-do-you-think-that-anybody-wants/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [I'll fight anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-ll-fight-anybody/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [The problem men seem to have, and women, too, is that they have this very structured idea that we should find a partner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/the-problem-men-seem-to-have-and-women-too-is-that-they-have-this/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [I've done more impeachments than anybody else in the history of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/i-ve-done-more-impeachments-than-anybody-else-in-the-history-of-the/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) Browse all 1,177 Anybody quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We often grow up being told that we can do this or that, but if you don't see anybody that looks like you doing it, you don't believe you can do it. 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