--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: someone told me at the beginning of that…" description: "\"“someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I would come face-to-face with death because of a Romeo and Juliet romance, I would never have be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/magan-vernon-17547_death_someone-told-me-at-the-beginning-of-that_2190596.jpg" --- # someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I… ![“someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I would come face-to-face with death because of a Romeo and Juliet romance, I would never have believed it. But it wasn't like that summer went at all like I had planned in the first place. The Columbia recruiter sat across from me, her dark…” quote by Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/magan-vernon-17547_death_someone-told-me-at-the-beginning-of-that_2190596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/magan-vernon-17547_death_someone-told-me-at-the-beginning-of-that_2190596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/magan-vernon-17547_death_someone-told-me-at-the-beginning-of-that_2190596.jpg) > ““someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I would come face-to-face with death because of a Romeo and Juliet romance, I would never have believed it. But it wasn't like that summer went at all like I had planned in the first place. The Columbia recruiter sat across from me, her dark bushy eyebrows rising as high as they could go while she stared down at my application. "So, Alex, I see that you don't have any extracurricular activities." I shrugged. I was sitting in one of those uncomfortable orange plastic chairs in the guidance counselor's office, wishing I could just disappear. I was the first student in all of Winnebago High School's history to have a recruiter from an Ivy League school visit. By the way she looked at our tiny school with its ancient, chipped walls and rusted lockers, I could see why nobody had wanted to visit in the past.”” [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A student recounts an unexpected encounter with an Ivy League recruiter, confronting expectations and the pressure of academic ambition. **In simple terms:** A recruiter visits a small school, challenging the student. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes education ambition identity Mood introspective hopeful Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - college applications - career planning - high school counseling Key Concepts recruitment self‑doubt social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What would you do when faced with unexpected scrutiny? - How can you stay authentic under pressure? A Different Perspective Pressure may distort perception of success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Columbia Recruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columbia-recruiter-4769149/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disappear Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappear-student-4769150/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Guidance counselor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance-counselor/) [Ivy league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivy-league/) [Recruiter Ivy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recruiter-ivy-4769148/) [Romeo And Juliet Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romeo-and-juliet-romance-224634/) ## Related quotes > [“If someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I would come face-to-face with death because of a Romeo and Juliet romance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/if-someone-told-me-at-the-beginning-of-that-summer-that-i-would-come/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [I wanted to get out of Ashland, and I thought it would be pretty cool to go to school in the East. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/i-wanted-to-get-out-of-ashland-and-i-thought-it-would-be-pretty-cool/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [God looks like a guidance counselor, God's got that smile. God says, 'How could this be? That's really odd I guess I'll have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/god-looks-like-a-guidance-counselor-god-s-got-that-smile-god-says-how/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [“THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL 1. We are here to help you. 2. You will have time to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/the-first-ten-lies-they-tell-you-in-high-school-1-we-are-here-to-help/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Are you being a guidance counselor again? Stop playing with your food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/are-you-being-a-guidance-counselor-again-stop-playing-with-your-food/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [I only learned what an engineer was from a college guidance counselor. When she described it, a light clicked on in my head, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-only-learned-what-an-engineer-was-from-a-college-guidance-counselor/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [That was a mistake, I guess, going out to California. They have these things called guidance counselors in high school. They drink a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/that-was-a-mistake-i-guess-going-out-to-california-they-have-these/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [If you know a good player who is tempted by pool hustling, introduce him at once to a career guidance counselor, a psychotherapist, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/if-you-know-a-good-player-who-is-tempted-by-pool-hustling-introduce/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [1. We are here to help you. 2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings. 3. The dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-mae-lagud/1-we-are-here-to-help-you-2-you-will-have-time-to-get-to-your-class/) [Joanna Mae Lagud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-mae-lagud/) > [I had been tracked from grades 1 through 12 in an accelerated program in the public school system in Memphis and had done well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-bryant/i-had-been-tracked-from-grades-1-through-12-in-an-accelerated-program/) [Kimberly Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-bryant/) > [I was born and raised in Pawnee City, Nebraska. I lived right next to the sale barn and I raised pigs. My dad was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-the-cable-guy/i-was-born-and-raised-in-pawnee-city-nebraska-i-lived-right-next-to/) [Larry the Cable Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-the-cable-guy/) > [Wow,” says Peter, “when your guidance counselor tells you to die, you really have problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-selzer/wow-says-peter-when-your-guidance-counselor-tells-you-to-die-you/) [Adam Selzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-selzer/) > [“We are not perfect. We are here to learn. Earth is one big classroom and God is our heavenly guidance counselor and teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/we-are-not-perfect-we-are-here-to-learn-earth-is-one-big-classroom/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [I think I was in high school, actually, and it was a guidance counselor or someone said, you know, you're just too loud; like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-i-was-in-high-school-actually-and-it-was-a-guidance-counselor/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“But once when she was chatting with some stupid boy online, she described herself as the color of coffee with not enough milk. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/but-once-when-she-was-chatting-with-some-stupid-boy-online-she/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) ## More by Magan Vernon > [“hadn’t hooked up with a random since college and now I could feel whoever it was moving. I guess that’s what happens when your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/hadn-t-hooked-up-with-a-random-since-college-and-now-i-could-feel/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“He kissed me with a fire like no other, as if he were afraid breaking the kiss would break us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/he-kissed-me-with-a-fire-like-no-other-as-if-he-were-afraid-breaking/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“Miss Remy, I don't know what kind of signals you are trying to give me, but the more you challenge me, the sexier I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/miss-remy-i-don-t-know-what-kind-of-signals-you-are-trying-to-give-me/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“For now, I'll let you please temporary amnesia," he said and lifted my chin to him. "But I'm never going to forget what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/for-now-i-ll-let-you-please-temporary-amnesia-he-said-and-lifted-my/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“Watch it, loincloth, I’m not afraid to spork your eyes out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/watch-it-loincloth-i-m-not-afraid-to-spork-your-eyes-out/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“That's when I caught my first glimpse of Blaine Crabtree. He was sandwiched in between two guys that were laughing at who knows what.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/that-s-when-i-caught-my-first-glimpse-of-blaine-crabtree-he-was/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“Slowly, I opened my eyes and turned toward the other side of my bed. Damn. For being”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/slowly-i-opened-my-eyes-and-turned-toward-the-other-side-of-my-bed/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“I think I should be the one thanking you," he whispered “For what?" I pulled him closer to me. He pushed the hair out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/i-think-i-should-be-the-one-thanking-you-he-whispered-for-what-i/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“When life hands you lemons sometimes you just have to say screw the lemons, and bail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/when-life-hands-you-lemons-sometimes-you-just-have-to-say-screw-the/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“I’m a fan of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Brunette and doesn’t mind a guy that’s an animal? Hell yeah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/i-m-a-fan-of-belle-from-beauty-and-the-beast-brunette-and-doesn-t/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“It means that I like you for you and you should like you for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/it-means-that-i-like-you-for-you-and-you-should-like-you-for-you/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“I'm falling in love with you." As the words left his mouth, his lips pressed to mine, giving me the most intense and explosive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/i-m-falling-in-love-with-you-as-the-words-left-his-mouth-his-lips/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“Staring into his eyes, I could see they were no longer the color of my nightmares, but more like the color of my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/staring-into-his-eyes-i-could-see-they-were-no-longer-the-color-of-my/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“You would do the same for me." He smiled a big toothy smile before he hopped off my car and walked away, leaving me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/you-would-do-the-same-for-me-he-smiled-a-big-toothy-smile-before-he/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [“I don't know. I don't understand how boys think. If I knew that I'd be a millionare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-understand-how-boys-think-if-i-knew-that-i-d-be/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) [Explore all 37 Magan Vernon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“someone told me at the beginning of that summer that I would come face-to-face with death because of a Romeo and Juliet romance, I would never have believed it. 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