--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was involved in school plays, but when…" description: "\"I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I did a couple of odd jobs as a baker's apprentice and then as a fruit market porter in Manchest..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg" --- # I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I… ![“I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I did a couple of odd jobs as a baker's apprentice and then as a fruit market porter in Manchester” quote by John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg) > “I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I did a couple of odd jobs as a baker's apprentice and then as a fruit market porter in Manchester” [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on a varied early career, moving from school theatre to manual work, illustrating a non‑linear path before acting success. **In simple terms:** He did odd jobs before becoming an actor. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse experiences to build resilience. Themes career resilience non‑linear paths Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal career narrative When to use this quote - early employment - career transition - networking - skill acquisition Key Concepts skill development adaptability social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How did those jobs shape your work ethic? - What skills did you gain that helped acting? A Different Perspective Such jobs may delay artistic progress and offer limited creative growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apprentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprentice/) [Baker Apprentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baker-apprentice-6080893/) [Bakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bakers/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-school/) [Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manchester/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [Odd jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-jobs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-did/) [School plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-plays/) ## Related quotes > [During my years in school, I did try to audition for and partake in school plays. Reason being I was not very inclined towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/during-my-years-in-school-i-did-try-to-audition-for-and-partake-in/) [Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/) > [I hated school. After 15, you went off to college if you were good enough. It didn't appeal to me so I left school.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-iommi/i-hated-school-after-15-you-went-off-to-college-if-you-were-good/) [Tony Iommi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-iommi/) > [When I left school I did far more theatre than anything else and it was exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-bailey/when-i-left-school-i-did-far-more-theatre-than-anything-else-and-it/) [Jonathan Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-bailey/) > [I went to college in Connecticut, which was when I still lived at home. I worked at a video store, a wine store, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-abbott/i-went-to-college-in-connecticut-which-was-when-i-still-lived-at-home/) [Christopher Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-abbott/) > [I was a housepainter and a landscape nursery man, and all these various odd jobs I had, and started doing community theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/i-was-a-housepainter-and-a-landscape-nursery-man-and-all-these/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [I started acting pretty young, so I haven't had too many odd jobs. But I used to sell candy out of my locker in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-started-acting-pretty-young-so-i-haven-t-had-too-many-odd-jobs-but/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [It's an odd job, making decent people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/it-s-an-odd-job-making-decent-people-laugh/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Being a hungry artist, you don't have the luxury of buying whatever you want. There were years of me doing a lot of odd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/being-a-hungry-artist-you-don-t-have-the-luxury-of-buying-whatever/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I wanted to be a therapist if the acting didn't work. I also did a lot waitressing and odd jobs. I'd audition but couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/i-wanted-to-be-a-therapist-if-the-acting-didn-t-work-i-also-did-a-lot/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a guy who was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-jobs-but-i-ve-always-written/) [Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/) > [I had a lot of different jobs between fifteen and nineteen. I'd moved out of my house way, way younger than I should have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-had-a-lot-of-different-jobs-between-fifteen-and-nineteen-i-d-moved/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [“I keep myself busy with odd jobs, but it doesn’t really help. Every nerve, every cell, every sense of my entire being is focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-keep-myself-busy-with-odd-jobs-but-it-doesn-t-really-help-every/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [When I say work I only mean writing. Everything else is just odd jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-laurence/when-i-say-work-i-only-mean-writing-everything-else-is-just-odd-jobs/) [Margaret Laurence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-laurence/) > [When I was writing my first two books I was also freelancing and teaching and doing other odd jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/when-i-was-writing-my-first-two-books-i-was-also-freelancing-and/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [I supported myself by delivering the 'Wall Street Journal' and doing odd jobs. I love plumbing and carpentry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-supported-myself-by-delivering-the-wall-street-journal-and-doing/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) ## More by John Thaw > [Watch the mouth, it reveals what the eyes try to hide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/watch-the-mouth-it-reveals-what-the-eyes-try-to-hide/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [I think Morse's thing about being a poor policeman but a good detective is a very good description of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-think-morse-s-thing-about-being-a-poor-policeman-but-a-good/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [We were using a hand-held camera to film the scene when Morse collapses. The camera wouldn't start. Three times they said action and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/we-were-using-a-hand-held-camera-to-film-the-scene-when-morse/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [In the same way he's fascinated by crosswords, the puzzle of solving the murder is what drives him on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/in-the-same-way-he-s-fascinated-by-crosswords-the-puzzle-of-solving/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [Parts like Morse don't grow on trees. He's a great character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/parts-like-morse-don-t-grow-on-trees-he-s-a-great-character/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [I'm an introspective person. I'm not an extrovert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-m-an-introspective-person-i-m-not-an-extrovert/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [You can't say to someone with a brain like Morse, This is the way you do it, regardless of the circumstances; this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/you-can-t-say-to-someone-with-a-brain-like-morse-this-is-the-way-you/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [I think sadly that Morse thinks that he can exist on his own and he only realises at the end that he can't and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-think-sadly-that-morse-thinks-that-he-can-exist-on-his-own-and-he/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [We all know that somebody did it, but how did they find the answer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/we-all-know-that-somebody-did-it-but-how-did-they-find-the-answer/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [There is no more final end than death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/there-is-no-more-final-end-than-death/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [I'm not an instinctive actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-m-not-an-instinctive-actor/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) [Explore all 12 John Thaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) ## More Apprentice quotes > [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I'm a working-class former apprentice electrician; at the age of 14, if you'd told me I would one day be standing on a stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gordon-sinclair/i-m-a-working-class-former-apprentice-electrician-at-the-age-of-14-if/) [John Gordon Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gordon-sinclair/) > [Thanks to NBC News and thanks to the NBC primetime TV network, Donald Trump has been in living rooms for 11 years being who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/thanks-to-nbc-news-and-thanks-to-the-nbc-primetime-tv-network-donald/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced may be. As is your faith in the dark side of the Force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-in-your-new-apprentice-misplaced-may-be-as-is-your-faith-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When by habit a man cometh to have a bargaining soul, its wings are cut, so that it can never soar. It bindeth reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/when-by-habit-a-man-cometh-to-have-a-bargaining-soul-its-wings-are/) [Sir George Savile, 8th Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/) > [“If Education was a guild, I would still be an apprentice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/if-education-was-a-guild-i-would-still-be-an-apprentice/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [The professional respects his craft. He does not consider himself superior to it. He recognizes the contributions of those who have gone before him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-professional-respects-his-craft-he-does-not-consider-himself/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [You're an Apprentice! You're not ready to think!" Gilan and Halt. The Ruins of Gorlan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-re-an-apprentice-you-re-not-ready-to-think-gilan-and-halt-the/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Had it not been for 'The Apprentice' and Donald Trump, I wouldn't have met my wife through an interview with 'E! News.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/had-it-not-been-for-the-apprentice-and-donald-trump-i-wouldn-t-have/) [Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/) > [The first time I saw Giggsy, he was playing for Salford Boys against United's apprentices. He was thin and wiry but he just glided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-robson/the-first-time-i-saw-giggsy-he-was-playing-for-salford-boys-against/) [Bryan Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-robson/) > [Capitalism is the sorcerer's apprentice: it has summoned up powers which have spun wildly out of control and now threaten to destroy us.The task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/capitalism-is-the-sorcerer-s-apprentice-it-has-summoned-up-powers/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Donald Trump isn't really running for president, come on! This is obviously a new reality show, Celebrity Presidential Apprentice. It ends with the incompetent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/donald-trump-isn-t-really-running-for-president-come-on-this-is/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [Music is my life. The last job I had, I was a bricklayer's apprentice. And I was happy with that job, too, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/music-is-my-life-the-last-job-i-had-i-was-a-bricklayer-s-apprentice/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Every bad joke, every endorsement deal, all of the things that a typical host would normally get creamed for, people don't mind, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/every-bad-joke-every-endorsement-deal-all-of-the-things-that-a/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [I don't regret putting 'The Apprentice' on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/i-don-t-regret-putting-the-apprentice-on-television/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) [Browse all 175 Apprentice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprentice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I did a couple of odd jobs as a baker's apprentice and then as a fruit market porter in Manchester", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Thaw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when-i-left-school-i-did-a-couple/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apprentice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when-i-left-school-i-did-a-couple/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/john-thaw-36822_apprentice_i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when_2412757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was involved in school plays, but when I left school I did a couple of odd jobs as a baker's apprentice…” — John Thaw", "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 Thaw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was involved in school plays,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when-i-left-school-i-did-a-couple/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/i-was-involved-in-school-plays-but-when-i-left-school-i-did-a-couple/#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 } } ] } ```