--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not imperative that I graduate in…" description: "\"It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.\" — Kellie Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg" --- # It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and… ![“It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.” quote by Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg) > “It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.” [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Graduating in four years with perfect grades isn’t essential; flexible timelines and varied achievements are acceptable. **In simple terms:** College timelines can be flexible. Key Takeaway Accept diverse educational paths. Themes education personal growth achievement Mood reflective encouraging Type educational motivational When to use this quote - career planning - academic counseling - personal development - alternative education Key Concepts lifelong learning nonlinear success Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How can institutions support varied timelines? A Different Perspective Pressure to conform can cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate/) [Graduate Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-years-706117/) [Imperative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperative/) [Imperative Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperative-graduate-3668313/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Imperative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-imperative-3668314/) ## Related quotes > [And then I graduate two years later, in 1998, with my class. And, since then I've been here in Houston for training basically. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-guidoni/and-then-i-graduate-two-years-later-in-1998-with-my-class-and-since/) [Umberto Guidoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-guidoni/) > [Allow yourself to graduate, every five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/allow-yourself-to-graduate-every-five-years/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree-has-served-neither-taxpayers/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [To graduate in four years as a student-athlete with no summer school is quite a feat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/to-graduate-in-four-years-as-a-student-athlete-with-no-summer-school/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [At first, after my freshman year, it was kind of a joke, going into my sophomore year like, 'Hey, I wanna graduate in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/at-first-after-my-freshman-year-it-was-kind-of-a-joke-going-into-my/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born-out-of-a-panic-attack-the/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I ended up doing four or five plays in college and being an English major with my thesis in language acquisition, which I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ended-up-doing-four-or-five-plays-in-college-and-being-an-english/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [We live in a permanent state of bad faith, a mutual representation of ourselves to one another for the sake of remaining sane and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/we-live-in-a-permanent-state-of-bad-faith-a-mutual-representation-of/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > ['Eternal inflation,' as it's called - the endless generation of new universes - may be a hyper-cosmic imperative. It seems that it must happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/eternal-inflation-as-it-s-called-the-endless-generation-of-new/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [The typical imperative from biology is not "Thou shalt... ," but "If ... then ... else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-typical-imperative-from-biology-is-not-thou-shalt-but-if-then-else/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [And I think we need a combination of a freeze, potentially, and also we need to sit down with the - with the banking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/and-i-think-we-need-a-combination-of-a-freeze-potentially-and-also-we/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [Gender equality cannot be achieved by cutting programs that allow girls to get the same chance to compete, learn, and play. The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sanchez/gender-equality-cannot-be-achieved-by-cutting-programs-that-allow/) [Linda Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sanchez/) > [A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-categorical-imperative-would-be-one-which-represented-an-action-as/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Protecting our planet is a moral imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-rockstrom/protecting-our-planet-is-a-moral-imperative/) [Johan Rockstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-rockstrom/) > [In Holland I have seen well-meaning, principled people blinded by multiculturalism, overwhelmed by the imperative to be sensitive and respectful of immigrant culture, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/in-holland-i-have-seen-well-meaning-principled-people-blinded-by/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) ## More by Kellie Martin > [When I was a teenager, I worked on a show that was about a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-worked-on-a-show-that-was-about-a-family/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [It's an extraordinary thing to do, to go into the military and to serve your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-an-extraordinary-thing-to-do-to-go-into-the-military-and-to/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I was in this sheltered little environment where, basically, all my high school experience was in 'Life Goes On,' and everyone told me where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-was-in-this-sheltered-little-environment-where-basically-all-my/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [At college - I went to Yale, and everybody's very smart, and everybody has their thing that makes them special, and people at Yale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/at-college-i-went-to-yale-and-everybody-s-very-smart-and-everybody/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My mom, who was a constant fixture at work with me until I was 18 years old, did an amazing job filtering out all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-mom-who-was-a-constant-fixture-at-work-with-me-until-i-was-18/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I feel like the networks always end up doing similar stuff at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-feel-like-the-networks-always-end-up-doing-similar-stuff-at-the/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My first kiss was onscreen. My character learned to drive before I did, so when they asked me to hit the mark with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-first-kiss-was-onscreen-my-character-learned-to-drive-before-i-did/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My kid really loves bugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-kid-really-loves-bugs/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I think the takeaway is 'The Guest Book' is incredibly unexpected in every way. I know, when I was reading the script, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-think-the-takeaway-is-the-guest-book-is-incredibly-unexpected-in/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I would say, if I had any hobbies, I love photography. I love taking photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-would-say-if-i-had-any-hobbies-i-love-photography-i-love-taking/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I would say people remember me from 'Life Goes On' more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-would-say-people-remember-me-from-life-goes-on-more-than-anything/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I can't remember life before I was an actor. In fact, I was an actor before I knew what it was to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-can-t-remember-life-before-i-was-an-actor-in-fact-i-was-an-actor/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [As with real families, my fictional family on 'Life Goes On' had its ups and downs, and as part of the fictional downers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/as-with-real-families-my-fictional-family-on-life-goes-on-had-its-ups/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [The way I choose parts is I look at the scripts... I choose a part by whether or not it challenges me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/the-way-i-choose-parts-is-i-look-at-the-scripts-i-choose-a-part-by/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > ['Christy' is worth staying out of college for because I believe in the show. I wouldn't stay out of college for many other shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/christy-is-worth-staying-out-of-college-for-because-i-believe-in-the/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) [Explore all 31 Kellie Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [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/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kellie Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-four-years-and-it-s-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-four-years-and-it-s-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/kellie-martin-19900_education_it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-f_2832585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not imperative that I graduate in four years, and it's not imperative that I get all A's.” — Kellie Martin", "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": "Kellie Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not imperative that I graduate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-four-years-and-it-s-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-not-imperative-that-i-graduate-in-four-years-and-it-s-not/#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 } } ] } ```