--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left college, nobody expected much…" description: "\"When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.\" — John Rocha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png" --- # When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor… ![“When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.” quote by John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png) > “When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.” [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving college, low expectations from others and self can shape motivation and self‑definition. **In simple terms:** People doubted me, and I doubted myself. Key Takeaway Use doubt as fuel for personal growth. Themes self‑esteem expectations motivation Mood determined hopeful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career start - personal goal setting - overcoming stigma Key Concepts Self‑concept external validation Questions to Reflect On - How did you overcome others' low expectations? - What internal drives helped you succeed? A Different Perspective External expectations may limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [“People expected something for nothing, that’s why they did nothing so beautifully these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hood/people-expected-something-for-nothing-that-s-why-they-did-nothing-so/) [Holly Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hood/) > [But when’s the last time you took a chance? Or didn’t do what someone else expected of you? Or did something you really wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/but-when-s-the-last-time-you-took-a-chance-or-didn-t-do-what-someone/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) > [I just became a vegetable for three months. I couldn't talk to people. I was very ill and that was part of the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-just-became-a-vegetable-for-three-months-i-couldn-t-talk-to-people/) Adam Ant > [I have a lot of brothers and sisters, and each movie has helped pay for tuition. And then I was like, I only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-have-a-lot-of-brothers-and-sisters-and-each-movie-has-helped-pay/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [...since I was a little boy, she had always wanted me to go. She was always sending me off on a bus someplace, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/since-i-was-a-little-boy-she-had-always-wanted-me-to-go-she-was/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [I had kind of left college. I wanted to study to be a sports teacher, but I had that little inner voice within me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesha-dixon/i-had-kind-of-left-college-i-wanted-to-study-to-be-a-sports-teacher/) [Alesha Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesha-dixon/) > [I had a very turbulent and painful childhood, like many people. I left for college when I was 16 years old and up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/i-had-a-very-turbulent-and-painful-childhood-like-many-people-i-left/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“You left me over college tuition? Seriously? You left me broken and crying over money?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nm-facile/you-left-me-over-college-tuition-seriously-you-left-me-broken-and/) [NM Facile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nm-facile/) > [I'm a self-made man since I left college at the age of 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-kundra/i-m-a-self-made-man-since-i-left-college-at-the-age-of-18/) [Raj Kundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-kundra/) > [When I left college, I was out of work for three years. I had this dream of being on 'SNL,' and that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gad/when-i-left-college-i-was-out-of-work-for-three-years-i-had-this/) [Josh Gad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gad/) > [By the time we left college, I had become my own image: a dandelion in the flower bed of society. Kinda cute, but still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/by-the-time-we-left-college-i-had-become-my-own-image-a-dandelion-in/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“I never once thought I wanted to be a soldier. I wanted to be a teacher. As soon as I left college, though, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-never-once-thought-i-wanted-to-be-a-soldier-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I was very lucky. I left college, and Richard Eyre was in charge of the National Theatre. I was offered the lead in 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/i-was-very-lucky-i-left-college-and-richard-eyre-was-in-charge-of-the/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [I left college with a deep sense that I needed to understand poverty more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/i-left-college-with-a-deep-sense-that-i-needed-to-understand-poverty/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [When I left for college, I put Miami behind me and tried to have a life of the mind. I got a graduate degree.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/when-i-left-for-college-i-put-miami-behind-me-and-tried-to-have-a/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) ## More by John Rocha > [I never set out to do interior design; I just do what I do, and some people come along and want me to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-never-set-out-to-do-interior-design-i-just-do-what-i-do-and-some/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [Guys want to be cool without appearing to be bothered about trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/guys-want-to-be-cool-without-appearing-to-be-bothered-about-trends/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [My Chinese grandmother was a dressmaker, so I always enjoyed dressing up and looking cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/my-chinese-grandmother-was-a-dressmaker-so-i-always-enjoyed-dressing/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I'm interested in beauty more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-m-interested-in-beauty-more-than-anything-else/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I think my love of form is especially informed by my background, whether this is creating a wonderful silhouette in a dress or finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-think-my-love-of-form-is-especially-informed-by-my-background/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I want to explore my design philosophy in different mediums, and I'm very interested in architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-want-to-explore-my-design-philosophy-in-different-mediums-and-i-m/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I dress pop stars, and I dress my doctor. It's about attitude. I do what I love, and I'm lucky to do it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/i-dress-pop-stars-and-i-dress-my-doctor-it-s-about-attitude-i-do-what/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [As I get older and older, people like my work more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/as-i-get-older-and-older-people-like-my-work-more-and-more/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) > [I'm like a conductor. I come up with ideas, and I get all these people to make great music together. 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Now you might call it child labour, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/at-primary-school-we-would-pick-up-plastic-petals-on-the-way-home-to/) [John Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) [Explore all 72 John Rocha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/) ## 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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I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. 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. 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/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Rocha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much-of-me-and-nor-did-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much-of-me-and-nor-did-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/john-rocha-9445_college_when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much_465466.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.” — John Rocha", "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": "John Rocha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rocha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I left college, nobody expected...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much-of-me-and-nor-did-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rocha/when-i-left-college-nobody-expected-much-of-me-and-nor-did-i/#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 } } ] } ```