--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My grandparents really wanted me to go to…" description: "\"My grandparents really wanted me to go to Harvard. They thought that was writing your ticket for the future. How could I turn that down? But my mom kne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/malcolm-brogdon-6426_balance_my-grandparents-really-wanted-me-to-go-t_2953071.jpg" --- # My grandparents really wanted me to go to Harvard. They… ![“My grandparents really wanted me to go to Harvard. They thought that was writing your ticket for the future. How could I turn that down? But my mom knew I needed a balance. She knew that I loved basketball.” quote by Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/malcolm-brogdon-6426_balance_my-grandparents-really-wanted-me-to-go-t_2953071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/malcolm-brogdon-6426_balance_my-grandparents-really-wanted-me-to-go-t_2953071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/malcolm-brogdon-6426_balance_my-grandparents-really-wanted-me-to-go-t_2953071.jpg) > “My grandparents really wanted me to go to Harvard. They thought that was writing your ticket for the future. How could I turn that down? But my mom knew I needed a balance. She knew that I loved basketball.” [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family expectations push toward prestigious education, but personal passions demand balance, highlighting conflict between duty and desire. **In simple terms:** Balancing expectations with personal passion. Key Takeaway Find a path that honors both. Themes family education passion Mood reflective determined Type advice personal When to use this quote - college decision - career planning - sports involvement Key Concepts expectations identity choice Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor both family hopes and personal dreams? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Family pressure may limit self‑discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I couldn't stand to be separated with my wife for months. It became quickly apparent to me that I needed to find a balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-couldn-t-stand-to-be-separated-with-my-wife-for-months-it-became/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I feel like I needed a balance. I don't want to forget about my personal life and spending time with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-norwood/i-feel-like-i-needed-a-balance-i-don-t-want-to-forget-about-my/) [Brandy Norwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-norwood/) > [“the list was a smoke screen: ten applications would be made on the pretense of this being a meritocratic process. But the first-choice school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacy-crawford/the-list-was-a-smoke-screen-ten-applications-would-be-made-on-the/) Lacy Crawford > [How to Stay Christian in Seminary should be placed in the hands of every first-year seminarian. It provides a much-needed balance as they navigate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-akin/how-to-stay-christian-in-seminary-should-be-placed-in-the-hands-of/) [Daniel L. Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-akin/) > [I wanted to go to Harvard because it felt like it would be the Hogwarts Academy of law schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-joy/i-wanted-to-go-to-harvard-because-it-felt-like-it-would-be-the/) [Lisa Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-joy/) > [If I went to any other college, I probably would have been pre-med. But I felt like I had freedom to do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-adeyemi/if-i-went-to-any-other-college-i-probably-would-have-been-pre-med-but/) [Tomi Adeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-adeyemi/) > [There were a WHOLE LOTTA us not having sex at Harvard . . . but none of us thought that that was special enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/there-were-a-whole-lotta-us-not-having-sex-at-harvard-but-none-of-us/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [When I first came to Harvard, I thought to myself, 'What kind of an Indian am I?' because I did not grow up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/when-i-first-came-to-harvard-i-thought-to-myself-what-kind-of-an/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [“As Feministing.com commenter electron-Blue noted in response to the 2008 New York Times Magazine article “Students of Virginity,” on abstinence clubs at Ivy League…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/as-feministing-com-commenter-electron-blue-noted-in-response-to-the/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I didn't go to Harvard because I thought they had good academics. I went because they had crappy enough sports so they'd let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didn-t-go-to-harvard-because-i-thought-they-had-good-academics-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First and foremost, I loved basketball. My dad introduced me to basketball when I was a baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-wasser/first-and-foremost-i-loved-basketball-my-dad-introduced-me-to/) [Lauren Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-wasser/) > [Everybody plays basketball in D.C. Not on a team. Just around the way. Anywhere. I actually loved basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/everybody-plays-basketball-in-d-c-not-on-a-team-just-around-the-way/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I loved basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/i-loved-basketball/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) > [My dream was always to be in the NBA. I just happened to be better at tennis in high school. But I loved basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/my-dream-was-always-to-be-in-the-nba-i-just-happened-to-be-better-at/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [If you put it in perspective, I loved basketball before I loved everything else, you know what I mean? Before I had a girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/if-you-put-it-in-perspective-i-loved-basketball-before-i-loved/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) ## More by Malcolm Brogdon > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [It's not about making the most shots or even dunking the ball or any of that. It's about being consistent every day you step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/it-s-not-about-making-the-most-shots-or-even-dunking-the-ball-or-any/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [My game from college has translated into the pros.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/my-game-from-college-has-translated-into-the-pros/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I didn't party. I didn't go out. I didn't really hang out with friends as much as other guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-didn-t-party-i-didn-t-go-out-i-didn-t-really-hang-out-with-friends/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [Thanks to Coach Bennett for a great education in basketball and for making me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/thanks-to-coach-bennett-for-a-great-education-in-basketball-and-for/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I knew who I was coming into the NBA, so I knew what I could contribute to a team, and I just had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-knew-who-i-was-coming-into-the-nba-so-i-knew-what-i-could/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I always look forward to playing great players, great scorers, because I pride myself on my defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-always-look-forward-to-playing-great-players-great-scorers-because/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I think Africa is the most interesting continent on the planet. You look at a country like Egypt, and you look at a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-think-africa-is-the-most-interesting-continent-on-the-planet-you/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [In my family, graduating and getting your bachelor's is just the beginning. It's only expected. You're underachieving if you don't strive for more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/in-my-family-graduating-and-getting-your-bachelor-s-is-just-the/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I think my play will talk for me, It will show people, and it will show the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-think-my-play-will-talk-for-me-it-will-show-people-and-it-will-show/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [As a three shooter, seeing one go through the net, that's all you need to just be shooting it confidently again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/as-a-three-shooter-seeing-one-go-through-the-net-that-s-all-you-need/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [Things aren't always going to go your way. You wake up one day, and things are rough. But then you wake up the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/things-aren-t-always-going-to-go-your-way-you-wake-up-one-day-and/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I love being around kids. When I see a kid that wants to talk to me or wants my autograph, I see myself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-love-being-around-kids-when-i-see-a-kid-that-wants-to-talk-to-me-or/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I don't pay attention to accolades or any of that stuff because I think it can serve as a distraction, so for me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-don-t-pay-attention-to-accolades-or-any-of-that-stuff-because-i/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [You're going to go through ups; you're going to go through downs. But staying steady is most important, and being able to bounce back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/you-re-going-to-go-through-ups-you-re-going-to-go-through-downs-but/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) [Explore all 99 Malcolm Brogdon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think my parents would have let me go straight into acting full time when I was 12. I do like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-don-t-think-my-parents-would-have-let-me-go-straight-into-acting/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [When it comes down to music, I have no balance. I am 100 percent. It is like full throttle. Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My grandparents really wanted me to go to Harvard. They thought that was writing your ticket for the future. How could I turn that down? But my mom knew I needed a balance. 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