--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time I graduated, I was the drum…" description: "\"By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.\" — Joe Morton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png" --- # By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the… ![“By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.” quote by Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png) > “By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.” [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving multiple leadership roles shows ambition and capability. **In simple terms:** Multiple leadership roles show drive. Key Takeaway Leverage diverse experiences for growth. Themes leadership achievement ambition Mood inspirational pragmatic Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - military - education - public speaking Key Concepts career development self-efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize responsibilities? - What trade-offs are acceptable? A Different Perspective Balancing many roles can dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Drum major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drum-major/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“And he simply would not tolerate any other high-ranking officer, commissioned or noncommissioned, reaming out one of his guys. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/and-he-simply-would-not-tolerate-any-other-high-ranking-officer/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [The Metropolitan Police Service is still, despite what people think, a working-class organisation and as such rejects totally the notion of an officer class.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-metropolitan-police-service-is-still-despite-what-people-think-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-was-a-drum-major-for-justice-peace-and-righteousness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Another picture I hope to be remembered by is this one of the drum major rehearsing at the University of Michigan. It was early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/another-picture-i-hope-to-be-remembered-by-is-this-one-of-the-drum/) [Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/) > [Old-fashioned types used to mutter about whether someone was officer-class material. It's a phrase stuck firmly in the 1950s, but it expresses an underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/old-fashioned-types-used-to-mutter-about-whether-someone-was-officer/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-i-can-help-somebody-as-i-pass-along-if-i-can-cheer-somebody-with-a/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-just-want-to-be-there-in-love-and-in-justice-and-in-truth-and-in/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Mr. Rush slapped Drew on the back of the head. "You pay attention, Morrow. There'll be hell to pay if you hurt my drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/mr-rush-slapped-drew-on-the-back-of-the-head-you-pay-attention-morrow/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“Your parents, presumably, love you very much and think you are perhaps the most adorable, talented thing ever to prance upon this earth. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-williams-brown/your-parents-presumably-love-you-very-much-and-think-you-are-perhaps/) [Kelly Williams Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-williams-brown/) > [We all have the drum major instinct. We all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-all-have-the-drum-major-instinct-we-all-want-to-be-important-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/yes-if-you-want-to-say-that-i-was-a-drum-major-say-that-i-was-a-drum-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/yes-if-you-want-to-say-that-i-was-a-drum-major-say-that-i-was-a-drum/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [Wise kings wear shabby clothes, and leave the gold lace to the drum major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/wise-kings-wear-shabby-clothes-and-leave-the-gold-lace-to-the-drum/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [If you want to be important-wonderful. If you want to be recognized-wonderful. If you want to be great-wonderful. But recognize that he who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-you-want-to-be-important-wonderful-if-you-want-to-be-recognized/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Joe Morton > [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I love doing theater. Despite the fact that out of theater, film, and TV, theater is the hardest thing to do. It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The more you know about the world, the more resources you have in terms of things that can inform your character or the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-more-you-know-about-the-world-the-more-resources-you-have-in/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Basically, the actor's job is to pay attention to the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/basically-the-actor-s-job-is-to-pay-attention-to-the-script/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [One of the beauties of working in Shondaland is that they make an effort to get to know who you are, so they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/one-of-the-beauties-of-working-in-shondaland-is-that-they-make-an/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think the greatest lesson that power has to teach us is, once you've had it, once you are a part of it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-the-greatest-lesson-that-power-has-to-teach-us-is-once-you-ve/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Republicans in the South... are trying to find ways, not so much to block black and brown people from voting, but to block black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/republicans-in-the-south-are-trying-to-find-ways-not-so-much-to-block/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [You make up your mind what part you want to read for and why. It's kept me focused - on what's important, what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/you-make-up-your-mind-what-part-you-want-to-read-for-and-why-it-s/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Race prejudice has nothing to do with color. It has to do with being the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/race-prejudice-has-nothing-to-do-with-color-it-has-to-do-with-being/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [It's important to know, whether you're pro or anti the current president and what he's doing, that he's doing what he thinks is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/it-s-important-to-know-whether-you-re-pro-or-anti-the-current/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think that, unfortunately, it appears that Donald Trump is trampling all over the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-that-unfortunately-it-appears-that-donald-trump-is-trampling/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think many villains have the burden of not being very human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-many-villains-have-the-burden-of-not-being-very-human/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The argument for '12 Years a Slave' was that - yes, it's a beautiful film. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted. It's a real story, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-argument-for-12-years-a-slave-was-that-yes-it-s-a-beautiful-film/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) [Explore all 119 Joe Morton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Morton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-major-the-highest-ranking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-major-the-highest-ranking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/joe-morton-3905_class_by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-m_1611308.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the time I graduated, I was the drum major, the highest-ranking officer, and third in my class.” — Joe Morton", "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": "Joe Morton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By the time I graduated, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-major-the-highest-ranking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/by-the-time-i-graduated-i-was-the-drum-major-the-highest-ranking/#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 } } ] } ```