--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around eighth grade I decided I wanted to…" description: "\"Around eighth grade I decided I wanted to be a composer and that's what I went to college for. Just a few years back, I switched out of composition and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/joanna-newsom-11563_college_around-eighth-grade-i-decided-i-wanted-t_1440274.jpg" --- # Around eighth grade I decided I wanted to be a composer… ![“Around eighth grade I decided I wanted to be a composer and that's what I went to college for. Just a few years back, I switched out of composition and into creative writing so I could work with words.” quote by Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/joanna-newsom-11563_college_around-eighth-grade-i-decided-i-wanted-t_1440274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/joanna-newsom-11563_college_around-eighth-grade-i-decided-i-wanted-t_1440274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/joanna-newsom-11563_college_around-eighth-grade-i-decided-i-wanted-t_1440274.jpg) > “Around eighth grade I decided I wanted to be a composer and that's what I went to college for. Just a few years back, I switched out of composition and into creative writing so I could work with words.” [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recounts shifting from music composition to creative writing, highlighting a pursuit of storytelling through words. **In simple terms:** Changed career from music to writing. Key Takeaway Follow your evolving passions. Themes career change creativity self‑discovery Mood reflective inspirational Type career personal growth When to use this quote - college majors - career transitions - artistic projects Key Concepts artistic identity discipline narrative Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to change fields? - How do skills transfer? A Different Perspective Risk of losing musical expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-writing/) [Eighth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighth-grade/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Music composition was a creative call for me, and it gives me a kick. 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I'd never be the smartest or the hottest or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-would-never-be-popular-i-didn-t-want-to-be-i-liked-being-shy-i-d/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [In eighth grade, I went to home school, but it was a program meant for stay-at-home moms, and both my parents worked, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-lago/in-eighth-grade-i-went-to-home-school-but-it-was-a-program-meant-for/) [Scotty Lago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-lago/) > [“But back then we had to amuse ourselves, and fighting seemed to be all we had. Looking back, it was good for us. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/but-back-then-we-had-to-amuse-ourselves-and-fighting-seemed-to-be-all/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [When I was in school, in eighth grade, someone recognized something in me. She was an English teacher, and we read a play out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/when-i-was-in-school-in-eighth-grade-someone-recognized-something-in/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) > [She had observed that the more education they got, the less they could do. Their father had gone to a one-room schoolhouse through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/she-had-observed-that-the-more-education-they-got-the-less-they-could/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [In eighth grade, when I was just the school weirdo, my drama teacher put me in a play, and we came up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/in-eighth-grade-when-i-was-just-the-school-weirdo-my-drama-teacher/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [“If the day had gone as planned, it would have faded into the sky unmarked, swallowed without a trace along with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-day-had-gone-as-planned-it-would-have-faded-into-the-sky/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was in eighth grade, I got the nickname Bean. It was from one of the seniors on the team. She called me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/when-i-was-in-eighth-grade-i-got-the-nickname-bean-it-was-from-one-of/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) ## More by Joanna Newsom > [I never thought people would be mortally offended by the sounds I was making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-never-thought-people-would-be-mortally-offended-by-the-sounds-i-was/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [It broke my heart when I learned the moon had been passing the sun’s light off as its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/it-broke-my-heart-when-i-learned-the-moon-had-been-passing-the-sun-s/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I wasn't born of a whistle or milked from a thistle at twilight No I was all horns and thorns sprung out fully formed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-wasn-t-born-of-a-whistle-or-milked-from-a-thistle-at-twilight-no-i/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [Lyrics are very different. There is a clear line between that and a poem. Something that has been a source of great excitement and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/lyrics-are-very-different-there-is-a-clear-line-between-that-and-a/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I'm not a wanderer, which is funny because I'm on tour half the time. I'm a home, hearth and family kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-m-not-a-wanderer-which-is-funny-because-i-m-on-tour-half-the-time-i/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I am producing sounds that people are not used to hearing from the harp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-am-producing-sounds-that-people-are-not-used-to-hearing-from-the/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I didn't sing for years and years, but I started playing harp when I was maybe 9 or 10. I had actually wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-didn-t-sing-for-years-and-years-but-i-started-playing-harp-when-i/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I have a voice that's obviously untrained - and I think untrainable - so I kind of secreted it away for a long time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-have-a-voice-that-s-obviously-untrained-and-i-think-untrainable-so/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [There's something fundamental to the harp that has retained its appeal my whole life. It's an instrument I am just in love with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/there-s-something-fundamental-to-the-harp-that-has-retained-its/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I don't think I'm abnormal and I think that lets people down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-don-t-think-i-m-abnormal-and-i-think-that-lets-people-down/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I can bear a lot but not that pall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-can-bear-a-lot-but-not-that-pall/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [What a woman does is open doors. And it is not a question of locking or unlocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/what-a-woman-does-is-open-doors-and-it-is-not-a-question-of-locking/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I am always trying to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-am-always-trying-to-write/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [I recorded harp first or singing first. I recorded it all together. Part of the reason is that I don't know how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/i-recorded-harp-first-or-singing-first-i-recorded-it-all-together/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) > [You should listen to a lot of different music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-newsom/you-should-listen-to-a-lot-of-different-music/) [Joanna Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) [Explore all 59 Joanna Newsom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-newsom/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. 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They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. 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