--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I graduated from college December of 2017…" description: "\"I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book, I just kept getting hung up before even sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg" --- # I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking… ![“I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book, I just kept getting hung up before even starting because I didn't want to write a book that only people that have served in the military or that have been to combat could understand.” quote by Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg) > “I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book, I just kept getting hung up before even starting because I didn't want to write a book that only people that have served in the military or that have been to combat could understand.” [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author hesitates to start a book, fearing it will only resonate with combat veterans, leading to self‑censorship. **In simple terms:** I’m afraid my book will only speak to soldiers. Key Takeaway Write for authenticity, not a specific audience. Themes authorship self‑doubt audience focus Mood anxious hopeful Type creative motivational When to use this quote - creative writing - military experience Key Concepts narrative ownership inclusive storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Who truly needs your story? - Can you broaden the narrative beyond combat? A Different Perspective Fear of narrow appeal can limit expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Looking ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-ahead/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [As if there's a world that exists that you're semi-privy to yet can't quite penetrate - that's how it feels when you're starting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/as-if-there-s-a-world-that-exists-that-you-re-semi-privy-to-yet-can-t/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [“Starting your book is only the first five miles of a twenty-six-mile marathon that’s one-third of a triathlon (authoring, publishing, and entrepreneuring).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/starting-your-book-is-only-the-first-five-miles-of-a-twenty-six-mile/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [Having a parent who served in the military has made me a better journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/having-a-parent-who-served-in-the-military-has-made-me-a-better/) [Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/) > [I've just been flooded with emails of people just giving testimonies of their lives, saying exactly this. I got an email from a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/i-ve-just-been-flooded-with-emails-of-people-just-giving-testimonies/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [Definitely hats off to all the people that served in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/definitely-hats-off-to-all-the-people-that-served-in-the-military/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [What do you do when you get out of the military, you stop serving? There are 26 presidents who served in the military. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/what-do-you-do-when-you-get-out-of-the-military-you-stop-serving/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [“I am always humbled when my countrymen thank me for having served in the military. It humbles me because the honor of having served…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekael-shane/i-am-always-humbled-when-my-countrymen-thank-me-for-having-served-in/) [Mekael Shane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekael-shane/) > [I think there is sort of a disconnect in this country between people that served in the military, understand the culture of it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/i-think-there-is-sort-of-a-disconnect-in-this-country-between-people/) [Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/) > [“no one deserved the finest the American public could give more than the men and women who served in the military.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/no-one-deserved-the-finest-the-american-public-could-give-more-than/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blackwater-in-iraq-has-previously/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The women and men who have served in our military deserve nothing but the recognition and benefits they have earned with their service. Unfortunately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/the-women-and-men-who-have-served-in-our-military-deserve-nothing-but/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [When I served in the military, I witnessed the lack of self defense and combat training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paulina-luna/when-i-served-in-the-military-i-witnessed-the-lack-of-self-defense/) [Anna Paulina Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paulina-luna/) > [I grew up hunting and fishing, as did my family. But then I served in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/i-grew-up-hunting-and-fishing-as-did-my-family-but-then-i-served-in/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [Having served in the military, I know that militaries can stop a problem, but they can't fix a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/having-served-in-the-military-i-know-that-militaries-can-stop-a/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [I've been to many countries and watched a number of conflicts or their residue, and I've served in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-peters/i-ve-been-to-many-countries-and-watched-a-number-of-conflicts-or/) [Ralph Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-peters/) ## More by Kyle Carpenter > [My college experience was like everyone else's. I learned a lot. I gained a new perspective on the world and on people that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/my-college-experience-was-like-everyone-else-s-i-learned-a-lot-i/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [The Bush family truly cares about our military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/the-bush-family-truly-cares-about-our-military/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [In the Marine Corps there is no individual effort, we're all a big team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/in-the-marine-corps-there-is-no-individual-effort-we-re-all-a-big-team/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [It's human nature for everyone to say 'what if,' but I try to snap out of it as quickly as I can because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/it-s-human-nature-for-everyone-to-say-what-if-but-i-try-to-snap-out/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I jumped on the grenade that was thrown at myself and my friend. I don't recommend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-jumped-on-the-grenade-that-was-thrown-at-myself-and-my-friend-i-don/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [Work hard at what you do, no matter what it is. Go out there and find your passion and make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/work-hard-at-what-you-do-no-matter-what-it-is-go-out-there-and-find/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [There were a lot of hard times, and having to have a team of people help me out of the bed, having to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/there-were-a-lot-of-hard-times-and-having-to-have-a-team-of-people/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [As far as me being inspirational to other combat-wounded guys, I would say that it's the opposite. To see guys at Walter Reed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/as-far-as-me-being-inspirational-to-other-combat-wounded-guys-i-would/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I'm still here and kicking and, you know, I have all my limbs so you'll never hear me complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-m-still-here-and-kicking-and-you-know-i-have-all-my-limbs-so-you-ll/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [Going from toting a machine gun in Afghanistan... to using a bed pan, and I can't even put my own socks on - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/going-from-toting-a-machine-gun-in-afghanistan-to-using-a-bed-pan-and/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [As Marines, it's drilled into us... to take care of fellow Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/as-marines-it-s-drilled-into-us-to-take-care-of-fellow-marines/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I would take any opportunity to tell service members, 'Thank you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-would-take-any-opportunity-to-tell-service-members-thank-you/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [The hardest part of my entire three-year recovery has been knowing that my parents, my brothers, were suffering through this burden of injury and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/the-hardest-part-of-my-entire-three-year-recovery-has-been-knowing/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [The best time of being a Marine was Afghanistan. There will never be a time when I'm sleeping in the dirt and I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/the-best-time-of-being-a-marine-was-afghanistan-there-will-never-be-a/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I remember my buddies yelling at me, and it sounded like they were a football field away, and I remember them yelling, 'You're gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-remember-my-buddies-yelling-at-me-and-it-sounded-like-they-were-a/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) [Explore all 64 Kyle Carpenter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) ## More Ahead quotes > [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/) Pacifiersucker > [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/) Rabi Shaheen > [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book, I just kept getting hung up before even starting because I didn't want to write a book that only people that have served in the military or that have been to combat could understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kyle Carpenter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-graduated-from-college-december-of-2017-and-looking-ahead-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ahead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-graduated-from-college-december-of-2017-and-looking-ahead-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/kyle-carpenter-10627_ahead_i-graduated-from-college-december-of-201_438325.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I graduated from college December of 2017 and looking ahead and thinking about potentially starting a book…” — Kyle Carpenter", "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": "Kyle Carpenter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I graduated from college December of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-graduated-from-college-december-of-2017-and-looking-ahead-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-graduated-from-college-december-of-2017-and-looking-ahead-and/#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 } } ] } ```