--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In primary school I was terrible. I don't…" description: "\"In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I started to apply myself.\" — Jonathan LaPaglia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg" --- # In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was… ![“In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I started to apply myself.” quote by Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg) > “In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I started to apply myself.” [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early academic struggles can be overcome through self‑discipline and a shift in personal priorities, leading to improved behavior and performance. **In simple terms:** Self‑discipline changes outcomes. Key Takeaway Apply effort to improve. Themes growth self‑improvement education Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - school - career development - personal projects Key Concepts behavioral change motivation habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What habits will you change now? - How does accountability affect your progress? A Different Perspective Change may be slow and requires consistent support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply/) [Behaved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaved/) [Behaved High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaved-high-5652265/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particularly/) [Primary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primary/) [Primary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primary-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-started-345932/) [School Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-terrible-1413040/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-apply-5652264/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [I had done some acting in high school. I was terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-had-done-some-acting-in-high-school-i-was-terrible/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was terrible because I would put my hand up to answer things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/when-i-came-to-england-in-86-my-first-week-of-school-was-terrible/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-terrible-at-algebra-and-arithmetic-but-i/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I couldn't really be a part of high school, because I have a terrible time doing things that I don't want to do. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-couldn-t-really-be-a-part-of-high-school-because-i-have-a-terrible/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [“I’m slowly beginning to realise how ironic it is that I’m so good at learning lessons inside school, and so terrible at learning any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-smale/i-m-slowly-beginning-to-realise-how-ironic-it-is-that-i-m-so-good-at/) [Holly Smale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-smale/) > [High school was terrible for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/high-school-was-terrible-for-us/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [“School is a terrible place, I have decided. There is nothing good about it except for math class. Everything else is a total waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-horn/school-is-a-terrible-place-i-have-decided-there-is-nothing-good-about/) [Dara Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-horn/) > [I started performing in high school. There was a pretty great drama department at my school, and that's when I started doing plays and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missi-pyle/i-started-performing-in-high-school-there-was-a-pretty-great-drama/) [Missi Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missi-pyle/) > [I finished school, because I started when I was thirteen, so basically around 16 or 17, I just focused on finishing high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhene-aiko/i-finished-school-because-i-started-when-i-was-thirteen-so-basically/) [Jhene Aiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhene-aiko/) > [I started acting when I was in high school, started writing when I got to New York in 1975.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bogosian/i-started-acting-when-i-was-in-high-school-started-writing-when-i-got/) [Eric Bogosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bogosian/) > [My parents made me finish high school before I started acting, and I did, like, two weeks of fine arts college before I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/my-parents-made-me-finish-high-school-before-i-started-acting-and-i/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [As an actress, I never went to film school, and I think if I had gone to film school, I would have started with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/as-an-actress-i-never-went-to-film-school-and-i-think-if-i-had-gone/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [I started Stripe with my brother John Collison while we were in school together. We first started off building iPhone apps together and using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-started-stripe-with-my-brother-john-collison-while-we-were-in/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I had always enjoyed playing characters and dressing up, but it wasn't until I got to school and I started getting on stage for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-gleeson/i-had-always-enjoyed-playing-characters-and-dressing-up-but-it-wasn-t/) [Brian Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-gleeson/) > [I wish school started at like...never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-school-started-at-like-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jonathan LaPaglia > [I have an old car that I've rebuilt myself - a 1973 Dodge Challenger - and I also have a 1967 Pontiac GTO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/i-have-an-old-car-that-i-ve-rebuilt-myself-a-1973-dodge-challenger/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [Acting for me was hard enough without having to think of the accent. And also, when I was auditioning for stuff I would walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/acting-for-me-was-hard-enough-without-having-to-think-of-the-accent/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [I thought I was clever by greeting casting agents in my Australian accent and then switching to an American one during the performance. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/i-thought-i-was-clever-by-greeting-casting-agents-in-my-australian/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [I just couldn't imagine hitting a child. But in 'The Slap' it's an extreme situation. You have to ask yourself - would you step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/i-just-couldn-t-imagine-hitting-a-child-but-in-the-slap-it-s-an/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [Shortly after I started working as a doctor, I decided to listen to the voice inside me before it was too late. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/shortly-after-i-started-working-as-a-doctor-i-decided-to-listen-to/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [When I was at school, you had to choose; there was a lot of pressure to assimilate. You were an Aussie, or you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/when-i-was-at-school-you-had-to-choose-there-was-a-lot-of-pressure-to/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [I think it's unreasonable to expect kids at 17 to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. And actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/i-think-it-s-unreasonable-to-expect-kids-at-17-to-know-what-they-want/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [As an actor, you want new challenges. U.S. TV can be very formulaic. So when something gets a reaction, as 'The Slap' has, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/as-an-actor-you-want-new-challenges-u-s-tv-can-be-very-formulaic-so/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [The movie industry has collapsed into two types of film - the $100 million blockbuster or the small independent film of $1 million or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/the-movie-industry-has-collapsed-into-two-types-of-film-the-100/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) > [Unfortunately, I have two facets to my makeup, and that is both scientific and artistic. By doing medicine, I was only answering one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/unfortunately-i-have-two-facets-to-my-makeup-and-that-is-both/) [Jonathan LaPaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) [Explore all 11 Jonathan LaPaglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/) ## More Apply quotes > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then...do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/apply-yourself-get-all-the-education-you-can-but-then-do-something/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-you-get-older-you-learn-certain-life-lessons-you-apply-that/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“they (rules) will always apply, even if you don't agree with them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-coelho/they-rules-will-always-apply-even-if-you-don-t-agree-with-them/) [Paolo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-coelho/) > [Spend time reflecting on your emotional and physical existence and how that applies to the voice. You have to apply that wisdom and experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/spend-time-reflecting-on-your-emotional-and-physical-existence-and/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [There is a natural link between the effective running of my businesses and the effective direction of philanthropic funds. I apply business principles to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/there-is-a-natural-link-between-the-effective-running-of-my/) [Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/) > ['Boardwalk' has kind of exposed me to a different demographic. And it upped my skills in terms of the speed with which I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/boardwalk-has-kind-of-exposed-me-to-a-different-demographic-and-it/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [I have a good advice to other but I can't apply it to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/i-have-a-good-advice-to-other-but-i-can-t-apply-it-to-me/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [There is a simple rule here, a rule of legislation, a rule of business, a rule of life: beyond a certain point, complexity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-a-simple-rule-here-a-rule-of-legislation-a-rule-of-business/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Before Dream Theater took off I used to teach a lot, and one of the things my students often asked me was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/before-dream-theater-took-off-i-used-to-teach-a-lot-and-one-of-the/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [The idea that laws don't apply to the law-makers is for despotic regimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/the-idea-that-laws-don-t-apply-to-the-law-makers-is-for-despotic/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [We can't keep thinking in a limited way about what cinema is. We still don't know what cinema is. Maybe cinema could only really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/we-can-t-keep-thinking-in-a-limited-way-about-what-cinema-is-we-still/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [The task of a judge is not to make the law - it is to apply the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/the-task-of-a-judge-is-not-to-make-the-law-it-is-to-apply-the-law/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Being in a relationship is a full-time job. So don't apply if you're not ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-in-a-relationship-is-a-full-time-job-so-don-t-apply-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 387 Apply quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I started to apply myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan LaPaglia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t-think-i-was-particularly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apply" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t-think-i-was-particularly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/jonathan-lapaglia-39085_apply_in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t_1526233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In primary school I was terrible. I don't think I was particularly well behaved in high school, but I…” — Jonathan LaPaglia", "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": "Jonathan LaPaglia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lapaglia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In primary school I was terrible....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t-think-i-was-particularly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lapaglia/in-primary-school-i-was-terrible-i-don-t-think-i-was-particularly/#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 } } ] } ```