---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We came to Portland because there was a…"
description: "\"We came to Portland because there was a good alternative public school. Friends who lived there told me about it, and my son loved it. I left his dad a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/katherine-dunn-2693_breakfast_we-came-to-portland-because-there-was-a_1201345.png"
---

#  We came to Portland because there was a good alternative…

![“We came to Portland because there was a good alternative public school. Friends who lived there told me about it, and my son loved it. I left his dad and went to work slinging hash in a breakfast diner and working nights tending bar in a biker tavern.” quote by Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/katherine-dunn-2693_breakfast_we-came-to-portland-because-there-was-a_1201345.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/katherine-dunn-2693_breakfast_we-came-to-portland-because-there-was-a_1201345.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/katherine-dunn-2693_breakfast_we-came-to-portland-because-there-was-a_1201345.png)

> “We came to Portland because there was a good alternative public school. Friends who lived there told me about it, and my son loved it. I left his dad and went to work slinging hash in a breakfast diner and working nights tending bar in a biker tavern.”

[Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She moved to Portland for a better school, taking low‑pay jobs to support her family.

**In simple terms:** Moved for school, worked tough jobs.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize education, endure hardship.

Themes

family education resilience

Mood

determined reflective

Type

narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

- parenting
- career change
- education decisions
- night work

Key Concepts

social mobility parental sacrifice

Questions to Reflect On

- How did the school choice affect your child's future?
- What sacrifices are worth making for education?

A Different Perspective

Limited resources can strain wellbeing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Portland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portland/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-friends/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

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