--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm different. Like, I recognize that…" description: "\"I'm different. Like, I recognize that, and I need to make sure that I am as prepared, that I understand, that I've done everything I can, knowing that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jessica-mendoza-5349_belong_i-m-different-like-i-recognize-that-and_832514.jpg" --- # I'm different. Like, I recognize that, and I need to make… ![“I'm different. Like, I recognize that, and I need to make sure that I am as prepared, that I understand, that I've done everything I can, knowing that people are gonna wanna say, 'She doesn't belong.' I wanna prove to them I do.” quote by Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jessica-mendoza-5349_belong_i-m-different-like-i-recognize-that-and_832514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jessica-mendoza-5349_belong_i-m-different-like-i-recognize-that-and_832514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jessica-mendoza-5349_belong_i-m-different-like-i-recognize-that-and_832514.jpg) > “I'm different. Like, I recognize that, and I need to make sure that I am as prepared, that I understand, that I've done everything I can, knowing that people are gonna wanna say, 'She doesn't belong.' I wanna prove to them I do.” [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She asserts the need to prepare thoroughly to counter doubts about her belonging. **In simple terms:** Prepare well to prove critics wrong. Key Takeaway Show competence through preparation. Themes determination identity confidence Mood motivational reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - professional sports - career advancement - public scrutiny - team dynamics Key Concepts self‑advocacy performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help overcome external skepticism? - How does preparation affect self‑confidence? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic biases beyond personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) [Different Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-like-570721/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Like Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-recognize-570720/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Sure Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure-prepared-570722/) ## Related quotes > [“I have set my mind to make sure I am prepared to accept success, whatever the trials ahead, whatever the work required.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/i-have-set-my-mind-to-make-sure-i-am-prepared-to-accept-success/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [When you're thrust into litigation, you obviously have to make sure you're prepared to deal with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-goodell/when-you-re-thrust-into-litigation-you-obviously-have-to-make-sure/) [Roger Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-goodell/) > [I will usually be in denial about that, too, because I really don't like that. Sometimes I will recognize it and sometimes someone will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-will-usually-be-in-denial-about-that-too-because-i-really-don-t/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [It does not matter where we come from or what we look like. If we recognize our abilities, are willing to learn and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-does-not-matter-where-we-come-from-or-what-we-look-like-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can just sense some eyes, some people kinda stare a little bit like they recognize me but don't quite know for sure kinda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-can-just-sense-some-eyes-some-people-kinda-stare-a-little-bit-like/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [Our heavenly bodies are going to be similar to our present ones, only better. We'll look enough like we do now to recognize and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/our-heavenly-bodies-are-going-to-be-similar-to-our-present-ones-only/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [Casting is sort of like looking at paintings. You don't know what you'll like, but you recognize it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bochco/casting-is-sort-of-like-looking-at-paintings-you-don-t-know-what-you/) [Steven Bochco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bochco/) > [Dancing's not always stressful, but I always make sure that I'm prepared as I can be, both physically, mentally, and practically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/dancing-s-not-always-stressful-but-i-always-make-sure-that-i-m/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [I wanted to be good but I wasn't sure if I was prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-aboulela/i-wanted-to-be-good-but-i-wasn-t-sure-if-i-was-prepared/) [Leila Aboulela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-aboulela/) > [That's gonna be something I always work on, just make sure I'm prepared when I'm on out there on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/that-s-gonna-be-something-i-always-work-on-just-make-sure-i-m/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [We're doing our homework to make sure we're prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gait/we-re-doing-our-homework-to-make-sure-we-re-prepared/) [Gary Gait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gait/) > [When my opportunity comes, I just have to make sure I'm prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/when-my-opportunity-comes-i-just-have-to-make-sure-i-m-prepared/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [The Lord's timing is always perfect. Make sure you're prepared when he throws opportunity your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsepiso-makhubedu/the-lord-s-timing-is-always-perfect-make-sure-you-re-prepared-when-he/) [Tsepiso Makhubedu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsepiso-makhubedu/) > [I was for sure not prepared for fame when it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-paradis/i-was-for-sure-not-prepared-for-fame-when-it-happened/) [Vanessa Paradis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-paradis/) > [I know that people are going to recognize my voice as being different and they are going to be saying, 'Let me listen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-know-that-people-are-going-to-recognize-my-voice-as-being-different/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) ## More by Jessica Mendoza > [I got my masters in social sciences and education at Stanford, and initially - this is back in 2002 or 2003 when I graduated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-got-my-masters-in-social-sciences-and-education-at-stanford-and/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [As much as I want to be like, It's just baseball, I'm just another person,' unfortunately it's not that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/as-much-as-i-want-to-be-like-it-s-just-baseball-i-m-just-another/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [Instead of just being the person that's like: 'Gosh, that's cool that people are doing stuff and good luck. Do you need me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/instead-of-just-being-the-person-that-s-like-gosh-that-s-cool-that/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [Doubt is what I see with a lot of women, we doubt ourselves. Whether it's because we think we're too fat or ugly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/doubt-is-what-i-see-with-a-lot-of-women-we-doubt-ourselves-whether-it/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [Having a father as a football and a baseball coach, I grew up around college baseball players, college football players, like, I just knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/having-a-father-as-a-football-and-a-baseball-coach-i-grew-up-around/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I grew up in a big Mexican family and... we always were so comfortable in our own skin. So society, the stuff that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-grew-up-in-a-big-mexican-family-and-we-always-were-so-comfortable/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I had a baseball swing my whole life. When I was growing up, everyone had a different, very specific softball swing that was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-had-a-baseball-swing-my-whole-life-when-i-was-growing-up-everyone/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I know I might be a little crazy, but I love working out. It has a way of lifting my mood like nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-know-i-might-be-a-little-crazy-but-i-love-working-out-it-has-a-way/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I think when you're really passionate about something, and maybe not every person is like this, but I think there's a large group that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-think-when-you-re-really-passionate-about-something-and-maybe-not/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [If anyone knows women, we like a lot of different things and we're not predictable. We definitely don't fall into a cookie-cutter mold. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/if-anyone-knows-women-we-like-a-lot-of-different-things-and-we-re-not/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [When you're successful at something, you think that you need to continue to do what you're doing to get the same result. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/when-you-re-successful-at-something-you-think-that-you-need-to/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [For Jennie Finch, she's a stud on the field and everyone's going to love her while she's playing, but no one is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/for-jennie-finch-she-s-a-stud-on-the-field-and-everyone-s-going-to/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I don't care about Joe Schmo with two Twitter followers saying bad things to me, but if the guy I'm sitting next to on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-don-t-care-about-joe-schmo-with-two-twitter-followers-saying-bad/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I found that I can never know enough, and that many times the best form of education is through communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-found-that-i-can-never-know-enough-and-that-many-times-the-best/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [Becoming baseball analyst was really important for me to not just be one of the first, but to literally break open the door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/becoming-baseball-analyst-was-really-important-for-me-to-not-just-be/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) [Explore all 101 Jessica Mendoza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) ## More Belong quotes > [How come I end up where I started How come I end up where I belong... You used to be alright What happened?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/how-come-i-end-up-where-i-started-how-come-i-end-up-where-i-belong/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I hate this feeling. Like Im here. But, Im not. Like someone cares. But, they dont. Like I belong somewhere else, anywhere but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-this-feeling-like-im-here-but-im-not-like-someone-cares-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you know, in America there's no rights for the artist, so whatever films I've made kind of belong to the studio, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/as-you-know-in-america-there-s-no-rights-for-the-artist-so-whatever/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [God has a purpose for us. If he didn't we wouldn't be alive in the first place. We have a calling. We are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-janssen/god-has-a-purpose-for-us-if-he-didn-t-we-wouldn-t-be-alive-in-the/) [Kenny Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-janssen/) > [I thought of how many places there are in the world that belong in this way to someone, who has it in his blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/i-thought-of-how-many-places-there-are-in-the-world-that-belong-in/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I belong to a Bohri Muslim family, and for us, food is our biggest celebration. We are used to elaborate five- to six-course meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-belong-to-a-bohri-muslim-family-and-for-us-food-is-our-biggest/) [Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/) > [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. You need to be free and detached from things and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/you-need-to-belong-to-yourself-and-let-others-belong-to-themselves/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [I want all of my films to belong to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-want-all-of-my-films-to-belong-to-me/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) > [Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/earth-does-not-belong-to-us-we-belong-to-earth/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [I think I know where you belong. I think I know its not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-where-you-belong-i-think-i-know-its-not-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a compelling reason why I belong in the Hall of Fame, but I understand the argument against me. My career didn't go like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/there-s-a-compelling-reason-why-i-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame-but-i/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) [Browse all 1,571 Belong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm different. Like, I recognize that, and I need to make sure that I am as prepared, that I understand, that I've done everything I can, knowing that people are gonna wanna say, 'She doesn't belong.' 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