--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a…" description: "\"When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in Compton. I know how in need schools are around the country.\" — Kym Whitley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/kym-whitley-15081_angeles_when-i-first-came-to-los-angeles-i-was-a_892925.jpg" --- # When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in… ![“When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in Compton. I know how in need schools are around the country.” quote by Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/kym-whitley-15081_angeles_when-i-first-came-to-los-angeles-i-was-a_892925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/kym-whitley-15081_angeles_when-i-first-came-to-los-angeles-i-was-a_892925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/kym-whitley-15081_angeles_when-i-first-came-to-los-angeles-i-was-a_892925.jpg) > “When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in Compton. I know how in need schools are around the country.” [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights personal experience teaching in underfunded schools, emphasizing nationwide educational need. **In simple terms:** Underfunded schools need more support. Key Takeaway Advocate for better school resources. Themes education inequality community Mood concerned hopeful Type social inspirational When to use this quote - school board meetings - parent‑teacher associations - community fundraising Key Concepts public policy social justice teacher advocacy Questions to Reflect On - What can individuals do to help? - How can policy address funding gaps? A Different Perspective Systemic change is slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angeles/) [Angeles Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angeles-teacher-1166507/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Compton Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compton-know-1166508/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Los](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los/) [Los angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-schools-834256/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-compton-1166506/) ## Related quotes > [I think when people think of Compton, of course, they always think of gangster rap. But if you ever had an opportunity to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-think-when-people-think-of-compton-of-course-they-always-think-of/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [Home is a relative concept for me. I've been in Los Angeles 10 years, and I definitely feel at home here, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-townsend/home-is-a-relative-concept-for-me-i-ve-been-in-los-angeles-10-years/) [Stuart Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-townsend/) > [I graduated from Second City Los Angeles. It helped me tremendously, not only in my roles in films but in helping shape me into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-craig/i-graduated-from-second-city-los-angeles-it-helped-me-tremendously/) [Carly Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-craig/) > [Los Angeles has been historically known for some great Super Bowls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-snyder/los-angeles-has-been-historically-known-for-some-great-super-bowls/) [Daniel Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-snyder/) > [My Mozart career began as a teenager in Los Angeles, singing arias from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-de-niese/my-mozart-career-began-as-a-teenager-in-los-angeles-singing-arias/) [Danielle de Niese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-de-niese/) > [Yeah, I love Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/yeah-i-love-los-angeles/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [There's a certain attitude to Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inara-george/there-s-a-certain-attitude-to-los-angeles/) [Inara George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inara-george/) > [I'm wary of the whole Los Angeles scene. I'm a California kid, but there's a difference between California and Los Angeles. L.A. is urban.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lewis/i-m-wary-of-the-whole-los-angeles-scene-i-m-a-california-kid-but/) [Jason Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-lewis/) > [When I first moved out to Los Angeles I was thinking, you know, I wanted to be an actor but I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/when-i-first-moved-out-to-los-angeles-i-was-thinking-you-know-i/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [I've been home-schooled since I was in the fifth grade, mainly because I had two brothers who were acting. We were from Kansas but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-schmidt/i-ve-been-home-schooled-since-i-was-in-the-fifth-grade-mainly-because/) [Kevin Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-schmidt/) > [I do live in a couple of worlds. My home is in Kentucky. I fly out to Los Angeles when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara-bravo/i-do-live-in-a-couple-of-worlds-my-home-is-in-kentucky-i-fly-out-to/) [Ciara Bravo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara-bravo/) > [I would like to get married, actually. I've done everything else in my life now except that, but where do I find the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviv-nevo/i-would-like-to-get-married-actually-i-ve-done-everything-else-in-my/) [Aviv Nevo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviv-nevo/) > [Los Angeles fashion is the Starbucks of the modeling world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-dickinson/los-angeles-fashion-is-the-starbucks-of-the-modeling-world/) [Janice Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-dickinson/) > [I began with small roles in successful movies like 'No Country For Old Men' by the Coen brothers; but it was 'The Last Exorcism'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/i-began-with-small-roles-in-successful-movies-like-no-country-for-old/) [Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/) ## More by Kym Whitley > [If you could draw a picture of the best high school in the world - where all the teachers are wonderful and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/if-you-could-draw-a-picture-of-the-best-high-school-in-the-world/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Voice work is the best - no need to dress up, no audience, no pressure, nobody's judging you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/voice-work-is-the-best-no-need-to-dress-up-no-audience-no-pressure/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Back in the day, we ate fresh; our parents cooked. Now, we're starting to think things are fresh because they're in a can, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/back-in-the-day-we-ate-fresh-our-parents-cooked-now-we-re-starting-to/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I'm always fighting with profanity and Christian comedy. I'm telling you, it's always a fight. Because my father said to me, he said, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-m-always-fighting-with-profanity-and-christian-comedy-i-m-telling/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I didn't know that my son had allergies until he spit up eggs one day, and one day he had a little peanut butter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-didn-t-know-that-my-son-had-allergies-until-he-spit-up-eggs-one-day/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [It's so much easier when you're a size two or three to just slip on anything. But a big girl, sometimes you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/it-s-so-much-easier-when-you-re-a-size-two-or-three-to-just-slip-on/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I worked with Marlon Wayans on the show 'They Wayans Brothers,' and we hit it off. One thing about Marlon, when he casts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-worked-with-marlon-wayans-on-the-show-they-wayans-brothers-and-we/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I saw Nichelle Nichols in 'Truck Turner,' and she was so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-saw-nichelle-nichols-in-truck-turner-and-she-was-so-good/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Of course I watch 'Life with La Toya' on OWN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/of-course-i-watch-life-with-la-toya-on-own/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I love female company. I love men, but women are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-love-female-company-i-love-men-but-women-are-different/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [It is a challenge trying not to give in to pleasing other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/it-is-a-challenge-trying-not-to-give-in-to-pleasing-other-people/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I love Cleveland, and I love going back home. That's where my family is. That's where my roots are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-love-cleveland-and-i-love-going-back-home-that-s-where-my-family-is/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [The OWN network is all about inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/the-own-network-is-all-about-inspiring-and-enlightening/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > ['College Road Trip' is colorless. It's not a black film. It's not a white film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/college-road-trip-is-colorless-it-s-not-a-black-film-it-s-not-a-white/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I've always had an entourage. Even when I was a little kid, I had a lot of little children following around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-ve-always-had-an-entourage-even-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-had-a-lot/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) [Explore all 44 Kym Whitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) ## More Angeles quotes > [I began with small roles in successful movies like 'No Country For Old Men' by the Coen brothers; but it was 'The Last Exorcism'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/i-began-with-small-roles-in-successful-movies-like-no-country-for-old/) [Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/) > [Los Angeles fashion is the Starbucks of the modeling world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-dickinson/los-angeles-fashion-is-the-starbucks-of-the-modeling-world/) [Janice Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-dickinson/) > [I would like to get married, actually. I've done everything else in my life now except that, but where do I find the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviv-nevo/i-would-like-to-get-married-actually-i-ve-done-everything-else-in-my/) [Aviv Nevo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviv-nevo/) > [I do live in a couple of worlds. My home is in Kentucky. I fly out to Los Angeles when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara-bravo/i-do-live-in-a-couple-of-worlds-my-home-is-in-kentucky-i-fly-out-to/) [Ciara Bravo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara-bravo/) > [I've been home-schooled since I was in the fifth grade, mainly because I had two brothers who were acting. We were from Kansas but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-schmidt/i-ve-been-home-schooled-since-i-was-in-the-fifth-grade-mainly-because/) [Kevin Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-schmidt/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [When I first moved out to Los Angeles I was thinking, you know, I wanted to be an actor but I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/when-i-first-moved-out-to-los-angeles-i-was-thinking-you-know-i/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [I'm wary of the whole Los Angeles scene. I'm a California kid, but there's a difference between California and Los Angeles. L.A. is urban.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lewis/i-m-wary-of-the-whole-los-angeles-scene-i-m-a-california-kid-but/) [Jason Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-lewis/) > [There's a certain attitude to Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inara-george/there-s-a-certain-attitude-to-los-angeles/) [Inara George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inara-george/) > [Yeah, I love Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/yeah-i-love-los-angeles/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [My Mozart career began as a teenager in Los Angeles, singing arias from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-de-niese/my-mozart-career-began-as-a-teenager-in-los-angeles-singing-arias/) [Danielle de Niese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-de-niese/) > [Los Angeles has been historically known for some great Super Bowls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-snyder/los-angeles-has-been-historically-known-for-some-great-super-bowls/) [Daniel Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-snyder/) > [I graduated from Second City Los Angeles. It helped me tremendously, not only in my roles in films but in helping shape me into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-craig/i-graduated-from-second-city-los-angeles-it-helped-me-tremendously/) [Carly Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-craig/) > [Home is a relative concept for me. I've been in Los Angeles 10 years, and I definitely feel at home here, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-townsend/home-is-a-relative-concept-for-me-i-ve-been-in-los-angeles-10-years/) [Stuart Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-townsend/) > [I left the University of Chicago's creative writing program for a tenure-track job at DePauw University in Indiana, then left DePauw in 2010 for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/i-left-the-university-of-chicago-s-creative-writing-program-for-a/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) [Browse all 296 Angeles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angeles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in Compton. 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