--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the youngest child of a single…" description: "\"As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd ever be an elected offic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg" --- # As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a… ![“As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd ever be an elected official.” quote by Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg) > “As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd ever be an elected official.” [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child of modest background can achieve high public office through perseverance and opportunity. **In simple terms:** Hard work can lead to unexpected success. Key Takeaway Believe in your potential despite humble origins. Themes perseverance social mobility politics Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational biographical When to use this quote - school leadership - community organizing - public office campaigns - mentoring youth Key Concepts self‑efficacy representation immigrant experience Questions to Reflect On - What personal habits helped you overcome early obstacles? - How can communities support similar journeys? A Different Perspective Systemic barriers may still limit access for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Wildest dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildest-dreams/) ## Related quotes > [Every American at some point has got to make the connection between their own hopes and dreams and who is elected to office. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/every-american-at-some-point-has-got-to-make-the-connection-between/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Every single immigrant is part of a larger history that needs to be communicated in all its ambivalences and complexities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goldberg/every-single-immigrant-is-part-of-a-larger-history-that-needs-to-be/) [Jim Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goldberg/) > [Being an immigrant mother can be hard, but being a poor immigrant mother is much harder. You don't generally get to sit in cafes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/being-an-immigrant-mother-can-be-hard-but-being-a-poor-immigrant/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [I feel like I have so many amazing opportunities because of my immigrant mother, my immigrant grandparents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-harlow/i-feel-like-i-have-so-many-amazing-opportunities-because-of-my-2/) [Winnie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-harlow/) > [Aren't we supposed to believe that if you are an elected official, if you serve in Congress, you are representing all the people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/aren-t-we-supposed-to-believe-that-if-you-are-an-elected-official-if/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [Well, I've been in the political arena all of my life, and 10 years of that as a candidate and elected official, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/well-i-ve-been-in-the-political-arena-all-of-my-life-and-10-years-of/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [As an elected official who comes from the African-American community, there are some similarities. You are always trying to reconcile your own personal biography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-an-elected-official-who-comes-from-the-african-american-community/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You don't have to be an elected official to be a public servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/you-don-t-have-to-be-an-elected-official-to-be-a-public-servant/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [You see, to me, it doesn't really matter if an elected official has a D or an R behind her name, or his name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/you-see-to-me-it-doesn-t-really-matter-if-an-elected-official-has-a-d/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [If your life is bad because of an elected official, then you don't have a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/if-your-life-is-bad-because-of-an-elected-official-then-you-don-t/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [I am an elected official, a politician who has been very successful in Washington, in city halls and state houses for my entire career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/i-am-an-elected-official-a-politician-who-has-been-very-successful-in/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [I was honored to serve as an elected official for twenty-four years of my life. But right now, I believe our democratic processes have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-was-honored-to-serve-as-an-elected-official-for-twenty-four-years/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Somehow, someway, for some people there's an automatic assumption that a mayor who is African-American or some other elected official has to support another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/somehow-someway-for-some-people-there-s-an-automatic-assumption-that/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Any time an elected official in the world we're in today that appears so dysfunctional challenges a core constituency not of their opponent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/any-time-an-elected-official-in-the-world-we-re-in-today-that-appears/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“Let’s say you’re a politician. You’re still you, but you are an elected official. In other words, in this scenario, you get to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/let-s-say-you-re-a-politician-you-re-still-you-but-you-are-an-elected/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Kevin de Leon > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We can't cross our fingers and hope that President Donald Trump can 'learn and change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-can-t-cross-our-fingers-and-hope-that-president-donald-trump-can/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I'm not into political gamesmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-m-not-into-political-gamesmanship/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [California Democrats - we fight on the front lines - we don't equivocate on the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/california-democrats-we-fight-on-the-front-lines-we-don-t-equivocate/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We will not lift a single finger or spend a single cent to be a cog in the Trump deportation machine, and we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-will-not-lift-a-single-finger-or-spend-a-single-cent-to-be-a-cog/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While we need to provide leadership and stability to the world, we should do that through diplomacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/while-we-need-to-provide-leadership-and-stability-to-the-world-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Unlike Washington, the California legislature has proved that cooperation is both possible and essential to successful policymaking, while stubborn absolutism will have you trailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/unlike-washington-the-california-legislature-has-proved-that/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [My mother passed away young - she died from ovarian cancer at just 54 years old. Her sacrifices for my sisters and I evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/my-mother-passed-away-young-she-died-from-ovarian-cancer-at-just-54/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I grew up in the streets of San Diego, and I love this city dearly. I love this city. San Diego is my home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-grew-up-in-the-streets-of-san-diego-and-i-love-this-city-dearly-i/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I know - firsthand - that California works best when everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It's a lesson that's hard to learn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-know-firsthand-that-california-works-best-when-everyone-has-the/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [It is erroneous and profoundly irresponsible to suggest that up to three million undocumented immigrants living in America are dangerous criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-is-erroneous-and-profoundly-irresponsible-to-suggest-that-up-to/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I don't believe that all folks who supported Donald Trump are racist. I think that there was a lot of economic anxiety, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-don-t-believe-that-all-folks-who-supported-donald-trump-are-racist/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [In California, we celebrate our diversity. We celebrate who we are because we're proud of who we are; we're proud of where our families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/in-california-we-celebrate-our-diversity-we-celebrate-who-we-are/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [What we have done dramatically in California is lead the entire nation. For example, we have created more jobs in clean energy in California…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/what-we-have-done-dramatically-in-california-is-lead-the-entire/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) [Explore all 87 Kevin de Leon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd ever be an elected official.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin de Leon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigrant-mother-with-a-third-grade/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigrant-mother-with-a-third-grade/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/kevin-de-leon-7780_children_as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigr_398162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As the youngest child of a single immigrant mother with a third-grade education, I never thought in my…” — Kevin de Leon", "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": "Kevin de Leon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As the youngest child of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigrant-mother-with-a-third-grade/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/as-the-youngest-child-of-a-single-immigrant-mother-with-a-third-grade/#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 } } ] } ```