--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad told me when I went into high…" description: "\"My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg" --- # My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not… ![“My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's when you've made a lasting impression.” quote by Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg) > “My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's when you've made a lasting impression.” [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True impact is measured by actions after leaving, not just first impressions upon arrival. **In simple terms:** What you do after leaving matters more than first impressions. Key Takeaway Focus on lasting contributions, not just initial presence. Themes leadership legacy personal growth Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career retrospectives - mentoring - community service Key Concepts post‑departure actions long‑term influence reputation management Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure lasting impact? - What habits reinforce positive exits? A Different Perspective Leaving can be overlooked despite its importance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Lasting impressions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting-impressions/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [Every woman I have ever known has made a lasting impression on my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-known-has-made-a-lasting-impression-on-my-soul/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Anything with your name should leave a lasting impression!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-brown/anything-with-your-name-should-leave-a-lasting-impression/) Marcia Brown > [“No, I noticed just about every girl, but none of them made a lasting impression but you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/no-i-noticed-just-about-every-girl-but-none-of-them-made-a-lasting/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I've been hit hard a few times, been hit really hard a few times, but I don't think I've ever left a memorable, lasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yzerman/i-ve-been-hit-hard-a-few-times-been-hit-really-hard-a-few-times-but-i/) [Steve Yzerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yzerman/) > [It is a point that I repeat over and over again in teaching public speaking. It is not so much what you say as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-a-point-that-i-repeat-over-and-over-again-in-teaching-public/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Everything that we experience every day leaves a long-lasting impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/everything-that-we-experience-every-day-leaves-a-long-lasting/) [Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/) > [There are many people that we meet in our lives. But only a very few will make a lasting impression on our minds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-polis-schutz/there-are-many-people-that-we-meet-in-our-lives-but-only-a-very-few/) [Susan Polis Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-polis-schutz/) > [To me, the lasting impression of any good wine is the thought of its maker. Those whose efforts transformed the fruits of the soil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chambers/to-me-the-lasting-impression-of-any-good-wine-is-the-thought-of-its/) Dave Chambers > [The first day, week and month of an employees experience carries a lasting impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/the-first-day-week-and-month-of-an-employees-experience-carries-a/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [Funny how someone can come into your life for such a brief time but leave such a lasting impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/funny-how-someone-can-come-into-your-life-for-such-a-brief-time-but/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [The book that made a lasting impression was the one my mother gave each of us when she decided we were ready for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-ephron/the-book-that-made-a-lasting-impression-was-the-one-my-mother-gave/) [Hallie Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-ephron/) > [Everything that happens to us, good and bad, leaves a lasting impression in our souls. You take one part of that out, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/everything-that-happens-to-us-good-and-bad-leaves-a-lasting/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [People will walk in and walk out of your life, but the one whose footstep made a long lasting impression is the one you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-walk-in-and-walk-out-of-your-life-but-the-one-whose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a 10-year-old girl, I would listen to my grandmother discuss issues, and she made a lasting impression on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/as-a-10-year-old-girl-i-would-listen-to-my-grandmother-discuss-issues/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [The one man other than my father who made the most lasting impression was an uncle, Serge B. Benson. He taught me in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-one-man-other-than-my-father-who-made-the-most-lasting-impression/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More by Jim Thome > [ The passion is my favorite part of the city \[Philadelphia\]. You go from 'we love you' to 'we hate you' back to 'you walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/the-passion-is-my-favorite-part-of-the-city-philadelphia-you-go-from/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [I don't really like filling my brain with a lot of stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/i-don-t-really-like-filling-my-brain-with-a-lot-of-stuff/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [When do you know it's time to say, 'OK, that's it?' That is the most difficult part of any decision like that because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/when-do-you-know-it-s-time-to-say-ok-that-s-it-that-is-the-most/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [You always want to get at-bats. You always want to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/you-always-want-to-get-at-bats-you-always-want-to-contribute/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [My favorite thing to do is still to go back to Peoria, go to my cabin and hunt with the boys. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-favorite-thing-to-do-is-still-to-go-back-to-peoria-go-to-my-cabin/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [It's tough to strike out. Believe me. I hate striking out. It's no fun. It's embarrassing. But there really isn't anything I can do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/it-s-tough-to-strike-out-believe-me-i-hate-striking-out-it-s-no-fun/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [If I had to give advice about parents, it would be this: Value your relationships with them. Those relationships are what you stand for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/if-i-had-to-give-advice-about-parents-it-would-be-this-value-your/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Not playing every day, I kind of healed up a little bit from the little injuries that I had the year before. Then, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/not-playing-every-day-i-kind-of-healed-up-a-little-bit-from-the/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [This is a tremendous honor (winning the 2002 Roberto Clemente Award), to be considered in the same class as Roberto Clemente. He is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/this-is-a-tremendous-honor-winning-the-2002-roberto-clemente-award-to/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [My family has loved Minnesota and that was one of the big reasons we decided to come back. For me, family decisions were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-family-has-loved-minnesota-and-that-was-one-of-the-big-reasons-we/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Every player that plays for any organization, having great fans on your side every night is a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/every-player-that-plays-for-any-organization-having-great-fans-on/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [The strongest thing I put into my body is steak and eggs. I just eat. I'm not a supplement guy. Steroids are not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/the-strongest-thing-i-put-into-my-body-is-steak-and-eggs-i-just-eat-i/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Charisma's good every night. Something special is always about to happen. You've got to believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/charisma-s-good-every-night-something-special-is-always-about-to/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [I sign every autograph I can for kids because I remember myself at that age. I think it's ridiculous that some guys won't sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/i-sign-every-autograph-i-can-for-kids-because-i-remember-myself-at/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/is-my-ability-what-it-was-at-say-25-or-30-years-old-probably-not-but/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) [Explore all 21 Jim Thome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's when you've made a lasting impression.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Thome" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-school-it-s-not-what-you-do-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-school-it-s-not-what-you-do-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/jim-thome-26505_dad_my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-sch_2996033.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters…” — Jim Thome", "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": "Jim Thome", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My dad told me when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-school-it-s-not-what-you-do-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-dad-told-me-when-i-went-into-high-school-it-s-not-what-you-do-when/#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 } } ] } ```