--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At 13, I concentrated on my school work…" description: "\"At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing sports, which, to this day, is something I still believe is very, very important.\" — Luol Deng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg" --- # At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing… ![“At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing sports, which, to this day, is something I still believe is very, very important.” quote by Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg) > “At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing sports, which, to this day, is something I still believe is very, very important.” [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing academics and athletics builds discipline, teamwork, and long‑term success. **In simple terms:** School and sports together develop important skills. Key Takeaway Prioritize both study and sport for holistic growth. Themes discipline teamwork balance growth Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - college preparation - career planning - youth mentorship - time management Key Concepts education athletics personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you schedule time for both? - What skills from sports help in school? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one area can cause burnout or neglect of the other. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Driving to work playing the 'Let's see how long I can drive with my gas light on.' game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/driving-to-work-playing-the-let-s-see-how-long-i-can-drive-with-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just really enjoy the ritual of going to work and playing, which is essentially what we do. We play pretend. Acting is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-chase/i-just-really-enjoy-the-ritual-of-going-to-work-and-playing-which-is/) [Bailey Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-chase/) > [I know a lot of people dread going to work every morning, but my work is playing pretend and doing stunts and screaming. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-dobrev/i-know-a-lot-of-people-dread-going-to-work-every-morning-but-my-work/) [Nina Dobrev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-dobrev/) > [I just want to keep doing my comedy work because that's what I do. I made a name for myself playing other characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayvan-novak/i-just-want-to-keep-doing-my-comedy-work-because-that-s-what-i-do-i/) [Kayvan Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayvan-novak/) > [If someone doesn't want to work with me because I'm playing a gay character, I don't want to work with them. They can fck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-someone-doesn-t-want-to-work-with-me-because-i-m-playing-a-gay/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I leave everything in God's hands and continue to work on playing basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-leave-everything-in-god-s-hands-and-continue-to-work-on-playing/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I enjoyed every minute of being at school. I was doing my work but still playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-abraham/i-enjoyed-every-minute-of-being-at-school-i-was-doing-my-work-but/) [Tammy Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-abraham/) > [I think of what I do for work as playing/jamming. Music for me is so much fun so I don't take my work very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-think-of-what-i-do-for-work-as-playing-jamming-music-for-me-is-so/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [Work, as we usually think of it, is energy expended for a further end in view; play is energy expended for its own sake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/work-as-we-usually-think-of-it-is-energy-expended-for-a-further-end/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [I always got my work done before playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/i-always-got-my-work-done-before-playing/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) > [I would never not work on the part without it playing. That's what being an actor is. You use everything that's influenced you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-would-never-not-work-on-the-part-without-it-playing-that-s-what/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I started off playing sports when I was five years old. I played three or four sports all throughout the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-started-off-playing-sports-when-i-was-five-years-old-i-played-three/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [I didn't have a hero playing in sports that looked like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-velasquez/i-didn-t-have-a-hero-playing-in-sports-that-looked-like-me/) [Cain Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-velasquez/) > [There are lots of positives to come out of playing all sports, not just football. Team games can offer you different life skills than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-powell/there-are-lots-of-positives-to-come-out-of-playing-all-sports-not/) [Hope Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-powell/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) ## More by Luol Deng > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-really-didn-t-want-to-play-basketball-for-the-longest-time-but-i/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I started playing basketball, I hated it because football had always been my sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-started-playing-basketball-i-hated-it-because-football-had/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Egypt was tough without our parents. My brothers and sisters had to work day by day, and every time they collected a pay cheque,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/egypt-was-tough-without-our-parents-my-brothers-and-sisters-had-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I wouldn't like to be invisible for a day. But if I was... I'd probably be up to no good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-wouldn-t-like-to-be-invisible-for-a-day-but-if-i-was-i-d-probably/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [South Sudan is my home, and I am humbled to be in a position to help those suffering from lack of access to basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/south-sudan-is-my-home-and-i-am-humbled-to-be-in-a-position-to-help/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [What I try to do is to look ahead of me and not look back. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-look-ahead-of-me-and-not-look-back-whether/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [As good as Miami is, we'd rather go to Miami.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-good-as-miami-is-we-d-rather-go-to-miami/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I go out there, I try to do everything I can to win. That doesn't mean I have to score more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-go-out-there-i-try-to-do-everything-i-can-to-win-that-doesn-t/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [A lot of basketball players have tendinitis. It's known as jumper's knee, and it just comes from all the pounding our knees take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/a-lot-of-basketball-players-have-tendinitis-it-s-known-as-jumper-s/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Chicago is where I have always wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/chicago-is-where-i-have-always-wanted-to-be/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I look back at 19, coming here to Chicago, some of the things that were said, some of the stuff that you deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-look-back-at-19-coming-here-to-chicago-some-of-the-things-that/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [It's not easy not to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/it-s-not-easy-not-to-play/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I always believe every team that wins has to go through some things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-always-believe-every-team-that-wins-has-to-go-through-some-things/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I think everyone in this league should aim to become good enough to shoot for the MVP. Not everyone can do it, but you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-think-everyone-in-this-league-should-aim-to-become-good-enough-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) [Explore all 106 Luol Deng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing sports, which, to this day, is something I still believe is very, very important.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luol Deng" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-and-playing-sports-which-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-and-playing-sports-which-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/luol-deng-4848_believe_at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-a_488793.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At 13, I concentrated on my school work and playing sports, which, to this day, is something I still believe…” — Luol Deng", "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": "Luol Deng", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At 13, I concentrated on my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-and-playing-sports-which-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/at-13-i-concentrated-on-my-school-work-and-playing-sports-which-to/#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 } } ] } ```