--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2011, after spending a couple of years…" description: "\"In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at Google, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to transform education. I was partic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/luis-von-ahn-19198_country_in-2011-after-spending-a-couple-of-years_459348.png" --- # In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at… ![“In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at Google, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to transform education. I was particularly inspired by my upbringing in Guatemala, a poor country where high-quality educational opportunities are limited to those who have money.” quote by Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/luis-von-ahn-19198_country_in-2011-after-spending-a-couple-of-years_459348.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/luis-von-ahn-19198_country_in-2011-after-spending-a-couple-of-years_459348.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/luis-von-ahn-19198_country_in-2011-after-spending-a-couple-of-years_459348.png) > “In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at Google, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to transform education. I was particularly inspired by my upbringing in Guatemala, a poor country where high-quality educational opportunities are limited to those who have money.” [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He aims to democratize high‑quality education, driven by his Guatemalan roots. **In simple terms:** He wants education for all, inspired by his upbringing. Key Takeaway Invest in accessible learning tools. Themes education equity innovation Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational social When to use this quote - rural schools - online platforms - policy advocacy Key Concepts social mobility technology global development Questions to Reflect On - How can technology bridge educational gaps? - What role does culture play in learning? A Different Perspective Funding and infrastructure gaps limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Google](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/google/) [Guatemala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guatemala/) [Guatemala Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guatemala-poor-3992755/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping Transform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-transform-3992756/) [High quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-quality/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Inspired Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired-upbringing-3992754/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-countries/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Transform Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transform-education-2361324/) [Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing/) [Upbringing Guatemala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing-guatemala-3992753/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Consumers desiring a better world have already achieved some successes in this regard, helping to transform several industries from the ground up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/consumers-desiring-a-better-world-have-already-achieved-some/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [We are taking the steps to transform education in Mississippi with every dollar invested in the classroom and every initiative expanding educational opportunities for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-reeves/we-are-taking-the-steps-to-transform-education-in-mississippi-with/) [Tate Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-reeves/) > [Concepts like edX and online learning will transform education. This will completely change the world. I believe that people will move to online learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anant-agarwal/concepts-like-edx-and-online-learning-will-transform-education-this/) [Anant Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anant-agarwal/) > [Television didn't transform education. Neither will the internet. But it will be another tool for teachers to use in their effort to reach students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-palfrey/television-didn-t-transform-education-neither-will-the-internet-but/) [John Palfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-palfrey/) > [I am a postmodern romantic. I try to use their way to photograph, and at the same time, incorporate the problems that I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gonzalez/i-am-a-postmodern-romantic-i-try-to-use-their-way-to-photograph-and/) [Luis Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gonzalez/) > [By the laws of the land, people who come looking for jobs in America are illegal. But by the laws of economics, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-barber/by-the-laws-of-the-land-people-who-come-looking-for-jobs-in-america/) [Benjamin Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-barber/) > [First, undoubtedly, there are some people who are coming from Cuba who immediately, or from any other country, benefit. But, what is the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/first-undoubtedly-there-are-some-people-who-are-coming-from-cuba-who/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Navajo infants get so attached to cradleboard that they cry to be tied into it. Kikuyu infants in Kenya get handed around several"mothers," all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-konner/navajo-infants-get-so-attached-to-cradleboard-that-they-cry-to-be/) [Melvin Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-konner/) > [If you do something and it proves to be a success, then people go 'get him to do that type of thing again, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/if-you-do-something-and-it-proves-to-be-a-success-then-people-go-get/) [Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/) > [Haiti, which has been the main target of US intervention throughout the 20th century, is the poorest. And Guatemala, which is maybe the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/haiti-which-has-been-the-main-target-of-us-intervention-throughout/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Many instances of persecution and killing have occurred in countries with atrocious human rights records such as Sri Lanka, Guatemala and the Democratic Republic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/many-instances-of-persecution-and-killing-have-occurred-in-countries/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [In Guatemala, the gap between rich and poor must be eliminated, or we will continue to be the example of conflict in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/in-guatemala-the-gap-between-rich-and-poor-must-be-eliminated-or-we/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [In the sublime days before 11 September 2001, when the powerful were routinely attacking and terrorising the weak, and those dying were black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-the-sublime-days-before-11-september-2001-when-the-powerful-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [I'm living in a dream. I really consider myself really lucky. I was born and raised in Guatemala, in a village, where to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-chavarria/i-m-living-in-a-dream-i-really-consider-myself-really-lucky-i-was/) [Erick Chavarria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-chavarria/) > [I have seen children shot in El Salvador, Algeria, Guatemala, Sarajevo, but I have never before watched soldiers entice children like mice into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/i-have-seen-children-shot-in-el-salvador-algeria-guatemala-sarajevo/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) ## More by Luis von Ahn > [Our team at Duolingo is really cohesive, but this did not just happen. I made a concerted effort to hire people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/our-team-at-duolingo-is-really-cohesive-but-this-did-not-just-happen/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I am always able to keep a laser focus on one thing at a time without getting distracted. It helps that I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-always-able-to-keep-a-laser-focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time-without/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [If you get asked to do something that would take place down the road (say you get asked to speak at a conference that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/if-you-get-asked-to-do-something-that-would-take-place-down-the-road/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [People are good at figuring out what's attractive, and computers are good at quickly searching and finding. You put them together, and bang!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/people-are-good-at-figuring-out-what-s-attractive-and-computers-are/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I watch a lot of TV. That's how I spend most of my time outside of work. If I had more time, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-watch-a-lot-of-tv-that-s-how-i-spend-most-of-my-time-outside-of/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [My first computer was a Commodore 64. I got it as a present from my mom when I was eight years old, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/my-first-computer-was-a-commodore-64-i-got-it-as-a-present-from-my/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Basically, I want to make all of humanity more efficient by exploiting the human cycles that get wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/basically-i-want-to-make-all-of-humanity-more-efficient-by-exploiting/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I worked on a number of projects that were used by millions of people and that also served as inspiration to what we now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-worked-on-a-number-of-projects-that-were-used-by-millions-of-people/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Am I a slacker? I can be a slacker. When I was in college, most people got summer jobs for college or did research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/am-i-a-slacker-i-can-be-a-slacker-when-i-was-in-college-most-people/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I co-founded Duolingo with the mission of bringing free language education to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-co-founded-duolingo-with-the-mission-of-bringing-free-language/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [My ultimate research goal is to transform our human existence to just eating, sleeping, drinking, playing - nevermind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/my-ultimate-research-goal-is-to-transform-our-human-existence-to-just/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [ The question that motivates my research is, if we can put a man on the Moon with 100,000 \[people\], what can we do with 100 million? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/the-question-that-motivates-my-research-is-if-we-can-put-a-man-on-the/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [I am an early riser, and always wake up between 5 and 6am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-an-early-riser-and-always-wake-up-between-5-and-6am/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Before the Internet, coordinating more than 100,000 people, let alone paying them, was essentially impossible. But now with the Internet, I've just shown you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/before-the-internet-coordinating-more-than-100-000-people-let-alone/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [It's hard to think of a time when I'm not working, but when that is the case, I like to travel and eat good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-time-when-i-m-not-working-but-when-that-is/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) [Explore all 33 Luis von Ahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In 2011, after spending a couple of years working at Google, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to transform education. 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