--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was going to be valedictorian in…" description: "\"I was going to be valedictorian in elementary school, but I got into too many fights, and they made me salutatorian. I was smart back in the day. Now I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/marlon-wayans-7828_day_i-was-going-to-be-valedictorian-in-eleme_2996048.jpg" --- # I was going to be valedictorian in elementary school, but… ![“I was going to be valedictorian in elementary school, but I got into too many fights, and they made me salutatorian. I was smart back in the day. Now I'm just an idiot.” quote by Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/marlon-wayans-7828_day_i-was-going-to-be-valedictorian-in-eleme_2996048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/marlon-wayans-7828_day_i-was-going-to-be-valedictorian-in-eleme_2996048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/marlon-wayans-7828_day_i-was-going-to-be-valedictorian-in-eleme_2996048.jpg) > “I was going to be valedictorian in elementary school, but I got into too many fights, and they made me salutatorian. I was smart back in the day. Now I'm just an idiot.” [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Academic success was lost due to frequent fights, leading to a lower ranking despite earlier intelligence. **In simple terms:** Fights derailed academic achievement. Key Takeaway Avoid disruptive behavior to maintain goals. Themes education self-discipline consequences identity Mood humorous reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - school life - career planning - personal development Key Concepts personal growth conflict resolution self-perception Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can be drawn from past choices? - How can one rebuild confidence after setbacks? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecation may mask deeper regrets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Elementary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementary-school/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Valedictorians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valedictorians/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that the only way to get into a good college was to be valedictorian or salutatorian. So that was my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/i-realized-that-the-only-way-to-get-into-a-good-college-was-to-be/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Being #1 on MSN is like being Valedictorian of summer school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mcdonald/being-1-on-msn-is-like-being-valedictorian-of-summer-school/) Craig McDonald > [I got into medical school at the University of California in San Francisco and did well. A lot of smart kids in medical school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-got-into-medical-school-at-the-university-of-california-in-san/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [I wasn't creative or theatrical. I was just doing everything. I was head cheerleader, valedictorian - it was ridiculous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-wasn-t-creative-or-theatrical-i-was-just-doing-everything-i-was/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I rebelled by not getting straight A's and not following the path that my elder sister did. She was valedictorian and is very exemplary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/i-rebelled-by-not-getting-straight-a-s-and-not-following-the-path/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [I was valedictorian. Did I enjoy going to school? I hated it. It wasn't a choice on my part, it was expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-was-valedictorian-did-i-enjoy-going-to-school-i-hated-it-it-wasn-t/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Students and invited speakers do not shed their constitutional rights when they step up to the graduation podium. Expressing faith in God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/students-and-invited-speakers-do-not-shed-their-constitutional-rights/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I gave the graduation speech at my high school. Not because I was valedictorian but because the grade voted for me to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/i-gave-the-graduation-speech-at-my-high-school-not-because-i-was/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [Nahmir is just an idiot. He just glorifies street life. He idolizes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/nahmir-is-just-an-idiot-he-just-glorifies-street-life-he-idolizes-it/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [Sometimes your knight in Shining armor is just an idiot in tin foil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-your-knight-in-shining-armor-is-just-an-idiot-in-tin-foil/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“A free spirit's just an idiot who doesn't want to face reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-minot/a-free-spirit-s-just-an-idiot-who-doesn-t-want-to-face-reality/) [Susan Minot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-minot/) > [“your knight in shining aroumor may just be an idiot in tin-foil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-m-smith/your-knight-in-shining-aroumor-may-just-be-an-idiot-in-tin-foil/) [Alexis M. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-m-smith/) > [I was just an idiot with a guitar trying to play in pubs and clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/i-was-just-an-idiot-with-a-guitar-trying-to-play-in-pubs-and-clubs/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [Gotta have safety at our borders. We're a sovereign nation, gotta protect our borders. Make sure the workplace doesn't become a magnet for folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-becerra/gotta-have-safety-at-our-borders-we-re-a-sovereign-nation-gotta/) [Xavier Becerra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-becerra/) ## More by Marlon Wayans > [I sound like Jesse Jackson or Martin Luther King, but I honestly feel like the world is mature enough. And, for me, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-sound-like-jesse-jackson-or-martin-luther-king-but-i-honestly-feel/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I think it's perfectly fine to kiss your son on the lips. If you are a father and you adore your child that u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-think-it-s-perfectly-fine-to-kiss-your-son-on-the-lips-if-you-are-a/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I'm the most inappropriate dad. I curse in front of my kids and their friends. I let my kids watch R-rated movies. I'll walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-m-the-most-inappropriate-dad-i-curse-in-front-of-my-kids-and-their/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I like to work and there's no movies for actors, period, especially black actors. When white actors are like, 'Man, there's no work out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-like-to-work-and-there-s-no-movies-for-actors-period-especially/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Tears if joy are always the best tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/tears-if-joy-are-always-the-best-tears/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I don't want there to be this separation between the rich and poor. I may be part of the three percent because I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-don-t-want-there-to-be-this-separation-between-the-rich-and-poor-i/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I'd like to see a ghost. It would confirm there's an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-d-like-to-see-a-ghost-it-would-confirm-there-s-an-afterlife/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Good friends I don't need to talk to everyday but when I see you it's like I just talked to you yesterday. Y'all know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/good-friends-i-don-t-need-to-talk-to-everyday-but-when-i-see-you-it-s/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [You can't control people's actions BUT you always control YOUR reactions to people. All ways love is always love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/you-can-t-control-people-s-actions-but-you-always-control-your/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [I've got Democratic skin, but a Republican pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/i-ve-got-democratic-skin-but-a-republican-pocket/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Sometimes they try to put you inside a box, but I look at my filmography and I've been able to do a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/sometimes-they-try-to-put-you-inside-a-box-but-i-look-at-my/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Don't bother don't stress don't worry...Just be...And most of all be happy!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/don-t-bother-don-t-stress-don-t-worry-just-be-and-most-of-all-be-happy/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Whatever role I do, I've got to do the work. It all starts with the body. Get that ready and everything else follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/whatever-role-i-do-i-ve-got-to-do-the-work-it-all-starts-with-the/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [Success is not a destination, but the road that you're on. Being successful means that you're working hard and walking your walk every day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/success-is-not-a-destination-but-the-road-that-you-re-on-being/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [If you could cross a lion and a monkey, that's what I'd be, because monkeys are funny and lions are strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/if-you-could-cross-a-lion-and-a-monkey-that-s-what-i-d-be-because/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) [Explore all 87 Marlon Wayans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) ## More Day quotes > [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/) [Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/) > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) [Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was going to be valedictorian in elementary school, but I got into too many fights, and they made me salutatorian. I was smart back in the day. 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