--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't think of anything specific…" description: "\"I can't think of anything specific growing up that pointed me toward NASA at all. I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/laurel-clark-20285_astronaut_i-can-t-think-of-anything-specific-growi_551596.png" --- # I can't think of anything specific growing up that pointed… ![“I can't think of anything specific growing up that pointed me toward NASA at all. I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone else of my generation. But I never really thought about being an astronaut or working in space myself.” quote by Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/laurel-clark-20285_astronaut_i-can-t-think-of-anything-specific-growi_551596.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/laurel-clark-20285_astronaut_i-can-t-think-of-anything-specific-growi_551596.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/laurel-clark-20285_astronaut_i-can-t-think-of-anything-specific-growi_551596.png) > “I can't think of anything specific growing up that pointed me toward NASA at all. I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone else of my generation. But I never really thought about being an astronaut or working in space myself.” [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) ## 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 reflects that early interests were generic, not directed toward a specific career, highlighting that many paths begin without a clear early purpose. **In simple terms:** Early interests can be broad and still lead to a specific career later. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity even if you lack a clear goal. Themes career development inspiration space exploration Mood reflective hopeful Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - school projects - college majors - career counseling - mentorship programs Key Concepts identity formation career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn vague interests into concrete goals? - What steps can you take now to explore potential careers? A Different Perspective A lack of early direction can delay purposeful skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [NASA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasa/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [Never in a million years would I have thought I could have been an astronaut candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-kim/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-have-thought-i-could-have-been-an/) [Jonny Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-kim/) > [I was born in 1960, and space theory, especially in the last part of that time and going into the '70s, space was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/i-was-born-in-1960-and-space-theory-especially-in-the-last-part-of/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [Some of the greatest reality television we ever had was the moon landings. When you think about it, that was human emotion and people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/some-of-the-greatest-reality-television-we-ever-had-was-the-moon/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Apollo 11 was the movie premiere of moon landings, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Neil was a bit of a mystic, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-koppel/apollo-11-was-the-movie-premiere-of-moon-landings-with-neil-armstrong/) [Lily Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-koppel/) > [I had a feeling that my generation-and me, also-we were naked. We did not belong to anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aharon-appelfeld/i-had-a-feeling-that-my-generation-and-me-also-we-were-naked-we-did/) [Aharon Appelfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aharon-appelfeld/) > [My generation has left the globe in a mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/my-generation-has-left-the-globe-in-a-mess/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [No reporter of my generation, whatever his genius, ever really rated spats and a walking stick until he had covered both a lynching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/no-reporter-of-my-generation-whatever-his-genius-ever-really-rated/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [In my generation, we learned how to be leaders by being exposed to and involved with adults who empowered us and gave us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/in-my-generation-we-learned-how-to-be-leaders-by-being-exposed-to-and/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [In Finland, we learned quite a lot from our own civil war. The wounds were visible when I was a boy, but my generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harri-holkeri/in-finland-we-learned-quite-a-lot-from-our-own-civil-war-the-wounds/) [Harri Holkeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harri-holkeri/) > [You are great young people. I have said again and again, we have the finest generation of young people ever in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-are-great-young-people-i-have-said-again-and-again-we-have-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I have seen the rise and fall of Nazi tyranny, the subsequent cold war and the nuclear nightmare that for fifty years haunted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-have-seen-the-rise-and-fall-of-nazi-tyranny-the-subsequent-cold-war/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My generation remembered going to the movies as an event. We would see these things, we would bring them home, and we would think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dante/my-generation-remembered-going-to-the-movies-as-an-event-we-would-see/) [Joe Dante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dante/) > [My generation in the UK, they're very apathetic, a lot of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-gilmore/my-generation-in-the-uk-they-re-very-apathetic-a-lot-of-them/) [Thea Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-gilmore/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [What is sad for women of my generation is that they weren't supposed to work if they had families. What were they going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/what-is-sad-for-women-of-my-generation-is-that-they-weren-t-supposed/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) ## More by Laurel Clark > [It's such a long mission and we get to spend so much time in space... we're doing such exciting research. And I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/it-s-such-a-long-mission-and-we-get-to-spend-so-much-time-in-space-we/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [I've always enjoyed traveling and having experience with different cultures and different people. But it's also a wonderful thing to be able to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-ve-always-enjoyed-traveling-and-having-experience-with-different/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [There was a moth in there, and it still had its wings crumpled up, and it was just starting to pump its wings up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/there-was-a-moth-in-there-and-it-still-had-its-wings-crumpled-up-and/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [Life continues in lots of places, and life is a magical thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/life-continues-in-lots-of-places-and-life-is-a-magical-thing/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [Life science research can be done on multiple platforms. Since we have a very small number of people flying into space, the more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/life-science-research-can-be-done-on-multiple-platforms-since-we-have/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [Gravity is one variable in a lot of scientific processes. If you can remove gravity or minimize its effect, then you can understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/gravity-is-one-variable-in-a-lot-of-scientific-processes-if-you-can/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [Everyone that I've talked to who's been to space has thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and what you often hear them say is: It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/everyone-that-i-ve-talked-to-who-s-been-to-space-has-thoroughly/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [The microgravity or the very, very low amount of gravity that we have up in space forces some changes in different processes. It forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/the-microgravity-or-the-very-very-low-amount-of-gravity-that-we-have/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [I feel blessed to be here representing our country and carrying out th research of scientists around the world... I hope you could feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-feel-blessed-to-be-here-representing-our-country-and-carrying-out/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [There are some very significant changes in the way the fluids are distributed in our body, the way our heart functions initially, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/there-are-some-very-significant-changes-in-the-way-the-fluids-are/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [The Navy's paid for you to go through school, and then they need doctors to go out and take care of people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/the-navy-s-paid-for-you-to-go-through-school-and-then-they-need/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [Whenever I do get to look out, it is glorious. Even the stars have a special brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/whenever-i-do-get-to-look-out-it-is-glorious-even-the-stars-have-a/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [As a physician, I understand how important it is to collect data on people so we can understand what's happening with them. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/as-a-physician-i-understand-how-important-it-is-to-collect-data-on/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [I can't think of anything that's as exciting as I'm sure this mission will be, and actually being in space. But, we did some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-can-t-think-of-anything-that-s-as-exciting-as-i-m-sure-this-mission/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [We're looking at Earth science, observing our planet. Also space science, looking at the ozone in the atmosphere around our Earth. Also looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/we-re-looking-at-earth-science-observing-our-planet-also-space/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) [Explore all 31 Laurel Clark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) ## More Astronaut quotes > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I think the astronaut job is the best job in the world. I realized when I was older and started applying for it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/i-think-the-astronaut-job-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-realized/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [NASA is developing space taxis to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. And just like New York taxis, they're all going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/nasa-is-developing-space-taxis-to-shuttle-astronauts-to-the/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sometimes-when-people-find-out-i-m-an-astronaut-they-ask-so-what-do/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Rugby has surprisingly helped me a lot as an astronaut and when I'm training in the space suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/rugby-has-surprisingly-helped-me-a-lot-as-an-astronaut-and-when-i-m/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“My experiences in the Astronaut Corps had taught me that you never know what will happen from day to day. It’s best to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/my-experiences-in-the-astronaut-corps-had-taught-me-that-you-never/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/as-a-kid-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-either-a-cartoonist-or-an-astronaut/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-think-it-s-good-to-have-competition-now-we-have-a-third-country/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-leonov/the-earth-was-small-light-blue-and-so-touchingly-alone-our-home-that/) Alexey Leonov > [“Whilst my mother couldn't give me access to the world, she at least made sure to let me know it existed. A kid cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/whilst-my-mother-couldn-t-give-me-access-to-the-world-she-at-least/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) [Browse all 463 Astronaut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't think of anything specific growing up that pointed me toward NASA at all. I was interested in the Moon landings just about the same as everyone else of my generation. 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