--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always wanted to be a dentist from the…" description: "\"I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/mark-spitz-14500_accepted_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-from-the_2876045.jpg" --- # I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in… ![“I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but after the Olympics there were other opportunities.” quote by Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/mark-spitz-14500_accepted_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-from-the_2876045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/mark-spitz-14500_accepted_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-from-the_2876045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/mark-spitz-14500_accepted_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-from-the_2876045.jpg) > “I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but after the Olympics there were other opportunities.” [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pursued dentistry early, but Olympic fame opened alternative career paths. **In simple terms:** Early dental ambition shifted by sports fame. Key Takeaway Recognize how unexpected opportunities can redirect goals. Themes career ambition opportunity sports education Mood reflective motivational Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - post‑Olympic career planning - dental school decisions - life after sports Key Concepts life choices career pivots goal reassessment Questions to Reflect On - What new paths emerged after your Olympic success? - How did you balance original dreams with new fame? A Different Perspective Success in one field can create pressure to abandon original plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted/) [Accepted Dental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted-dental-3959789/) [Dental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dental/) [Dental School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dental-school-1301122/) [Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) [Dentist Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist-time-3959790/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Spring 1972](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring-1972-3959791/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-dentist-1686958/) ## Related quotes > [I had a doctorate in biological anthropology. I got a post-doc at CWRU dental school in 1983 teaching gross anatomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/i-had-a-doctorate-in-biological-anthropology-i-got-a-post-doc-at-cwru/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [Even when I was doing well in acting, my dad would say, 'You can still go back to dental school.' But since I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steger/even-when-i-was-doing-well-in-acting-my-dad-would-say-you-can-still/) [Michael Steger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steger/) > [Most every dental school has discount dental services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/most-every-dental-school-has-discount-dental-services/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [Wrestling kept me sane during dental school. That was the hardest time of my life, and I don't know how I would have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-baker/wrestling-kept-me-sane-during-dental-school-that-was-the-hardest-time/) [Britt Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-baker/) > [I always wanted to be a dentist! I thought I was going to be fixing teeth and making beautiful smiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-bowie/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-fixing/) [Tori Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-bowie/) > [I wanted to be a dentist actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/i-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-actually/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [I wanted to be a dentist when I was younger. But then I started to get big and realized that my hands were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/i-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-when-i-was-younger-but-then-i-started-to-get/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [I always wanted to be a dentist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taurasi/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-dentist/) [Diana Taurasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taurasi/) > [I had wanted to be a dentist, but ended up being a chef. I think I've always had a fascination for jobs that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-d-acampo/i-had-wanted-to-be-a-dentist-but-ended-up-being-a-chef-i-think-i-ve/) [Gino D'Acampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-d-acampo/) > [My father wanted me to be a dentist like him, or any doctor, really. 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I met a photographer and decided to put my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-ziering/i-was-studying-to-be-a-dental-hygienist-and-working-as-a-dental/) [Nikki Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-ziering/) > [ Ladies, \[motherhood\] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/ladies-motherhood-is-a-full-time-job-do-not-kid-yourself-that-you-can/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## More by Mark Spitz > [As a kid, chess was the first thing I studied in a structured way that helped me gain the discipline to study medicine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/as-a-kid-chess-was-the-first-thing-i-studied-in-a-structured-way-that/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [Past performance speaks a tremendous amount about one's ability and likelihood for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/past-performance-speaks-a-tremendous-amount-about-one-s-ability-and/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [Life is true to form, records are meant to be broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/life-is-true-to-form-records-are-meant-to-be-broken/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [I am not qualified to talk about the diet. 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There is no urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/in-everyday-life-there-is-always-manana-there-is-no-urgency/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [And if you have high cholesterol, you would feel the same as if you had low cholesterol because there are no side effects, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/and-if-you-have-high-cholesterol-you-would-feel-the-same-as-if-you/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [I'm trying to do the best I can. I'm not concerned with tomorrow, but with what goes on today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/i-m-trying-to-do-the-best-i-can-i-m-not-concerned-with-tomorrow-but/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [All things being equal, if we could simulate the same scenario, he has a lot more difficult task. 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