--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I regrettably wasted time at university…" description: "\"I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other composers. I felt stuck and didn't know what I was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg" --- # I regrettably wasted time at university by being… ![“I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other composers. I felt stuck and didn't know what I was doing there. I enjoyed my experience, but I didn't grab it in the way I would now.” quote by Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg) > “I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other composers. I felt stuck and didn't know what I was doing there. I enjoyed my experience, but I didn't grab it in the way I would now.” [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels they wasted university time due to intimidation by peers, yet now sees missed opportunities for growth. **In simple terms:** Feeling intimidated can cause missed learning chances. Key Takeaway Seek mentorship and embrace challenges. Themes education self‑doubt growth career talent Mood thoughtful motivational Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - university life - creative development - career planning - self‑improvement Key Concepts psychology impostor syndrome Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to overcome intimidation? - How might you reframe past setbacks? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Composers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composers/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidated/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [“When you left me I was lost. I didn’t know what to do, who I was or what I was going to do. Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man/when-you-left-me-i-was-lost-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-who-i-was-or/) Man > [“Have you ever felt stuck because you believed you did not really have a choice? Have you ever felt the stress that comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/have-you-ever-felt-stuck-because-you-believed-you-did-not-really-have/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [I felt stuck in the bottom of a wishing well. I was desperate to shout what I wanted, but I didn’t know what that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-felt-stuck-in-the-bottom-of-a-wishing-well-i-was-desperate-to-shout/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [It would have been more obvious to go into film, based on the generation before me, but the generation before them were all composers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coppola-schwartzman/it-would-have-been-more-obvious-to-go-into-film-based-on-the/) [Robert Coppola Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coppola-schwartzman/) > [I think we have a lot in common with classical composers of the 19th century, although I'm not claiming to have their intelligence. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bellamy/i-think-we-have-a-lot-in-common-with-classical-composers-of-the-19th/) [Matt Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bellamy/) > [In Hollywood, the rainbow hits the ground for composers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoagy-carmichael/in-hollywood-the-rainbow-hits-the-ground-for-composers/) [Hoagy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoagy-carmichael/) > [The more dollars the studio producers put in, the less freedom we have. If the budget hits $100m, they get scared - they'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/the-more-dollars-the-studio-producers-put-in-the-less-freedom-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [There's still a lot I need to do as a player, as a musician, as a sound creator. I have commissioned 170 pieces: that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/there-s-still-a-lot-i-need-to-do-as-a-player-as-a-musician-as-a-sound/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [Men have been in the forefront of music for centuries, and they have written glorious music, loved and appreciated by many. In some ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/men-have-been-in-the-forefront-of-music-for-centuries-and-they-have/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) > [As far as rock groups, I really like Stone Temple Pilots. As for classical composers, it's Bach. I love Paganini, too, the Italian composer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-schulze/as-far-as-rock-groups-i-really-like-stone-temple-pilots-as-for/) [Matt Schulze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-schulze/) > [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I always loved the motion picture scores and the great film composers like Elmer Bernstein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/i-always-loved-the-motion-picture-scores-and-the-great-film-composers/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/not-many-composers-have-ideas-far-more-of-them-know-how-to-use/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Nobody can give a good performance unless the authors and composers have written a good part, a fact which is often overlooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/nobody-can-give-a-good-performance-unless-the-authors-and-composers/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) > [There are no black film composers doing the likes of Star Wars, doing the likes of E.T., doing the likes of Jurassic Park. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-johnson/there-are-no-black-film-composers-doing-the-likes-of-star-wars-doing/) [J. J. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-johnson/) ## More by Laura Mvula > [I write songs from the heart, and I don't hold back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-write-songs-from-the-heart-and-i-don-t-hold-back/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I don't talk about Amy Winehouse as a 'singer.' She's a pioneer. I listened to her endlessly when I started writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-don-t-talk-about-amy-winehouse-as-a-singer-she-s-a-pioneer-i/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [What I wear is everything - from how I carry my hair to what I'm wearing on my feet. I have to feel comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/what-i-wear-is-everything-from-how-i-carry-my-hair-to-what-i-m/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I don't think I've ever been chatted up, and I don't think I've ever chatted anyone up. The Fresh Prince has the best chat-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-been-chatted-up-and-i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I had a very thorough grounding in music; I'd grown up around songs. My parents listened to a lot of music. My dad was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-had-a-very-thorough-grounding-in-music-i-d-grown-up-around-songs-my/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I got into the habit of filtering out all the good in my life, focusing on only the negative. I'm not sure why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-got-into-the-habit-of-filtering-out-all-the-good-in-my-life/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I have a younger brother and sister who actually play in my band, and we were always into Disney music, big time. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-have-a-younger-brother-and-sister-who-actually-play-in-my-band-and/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [There's nothing I love more in the world than layering voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/there-s-nothing-i-love-more-in-the-world-than-layering-voices/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [Fame hasn't really affected me. I have a really close knit group around me, and my sister is always with me, so it's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/fame-hasn-t-really-affected-me-i-have-a-really-close-knit-group/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [One of the things I haven't been ready for is how male-dominated the music industry is. I just didn't have a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/one-of-the-things-i-haven-t-been-ready-for-is-how-male-dominated-the/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [Topshop is one of my favourite shops, and I love shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti. There's a graduate fashion designer called Kate Falcus who makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/topshop-is-one-of-my-favourite-shops-and-i-love-shoes-by-giuseppe/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I remember listening to Miles Davis in the car with my dad. I had just done my Grade 5 piano exam, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-remember-listening-to-miles-davis-in-the-car-with-my-dad-i-had-just/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [Taxi drivers used to ask me what kind of music I did, and I'd say, 'Well, it's kind of jazz, soul, classical' - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/taxi-drivers-used-to-ask-me-what-kind-of-music-i-did-and-i-d-say-well/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [The first time I sang in church, when I was ten, the applause was so overwhelming that I started to weep. My mum had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/the-first-time-i-sang-in-church-when-i-was-ten-the-applause-was-so/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I think, when I started writing songs, my voice just became another tool. It wasn't something that I was going to try desperately to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-think-when-i-started-writing-songs-my-voice-just-became-another/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) [Explore all 54 Laura Mvula quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other composers. I felt stuck and didn't know what I was doing there. I enjoyed my experience, but I didn't grab it in the way I would now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura Mvula" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university-by-being-overwhelmed-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university-by-being-overwhelmed-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/laura-mvula-12464_being_i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university_1277636.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I regrettably wasted time at university by being overwhelmed and intimidated by the talent of other…” — Laura Mvula", "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": "Laura Mvula", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I regrettably wasted time at university...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university-by-being-overwhelmed-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-regrettably-wasted-time-at-university-by-being-overwhelmed-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 } } ] } ```