--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I broke my back, I was really…" description: "\"Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to playing hockey at the University of Michigan. That was my biggest goal.\" — Max Aaron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg" --- # Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to… ![“Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to playing hockey at the University of Michigan. That was my biggest goal.” quote by Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg) > “Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to playing hockey at the University of Michigan. That was my biggest goal.” [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A broken back halted a cherished goal, highlighting how injury can derail aspirations. **In simple terms:** Injury stopped his hockey dream. Key Takeaway Adapt goals after setbacks. Themes resilience injury goal setting Mood hopeful empathetic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - rehabilitation - career planning - mental health support Key Concepts sports psychology career transition health management Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes find new purpose? - What support helps after injury? A Different Perspective Physical recovery may be uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Biggest Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-goal-270005/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) [Hockey University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey-university-3703058/) [Looking forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-forward/) [Playing hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-hockey/) [University Michigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-michigan-534925/) [University of michigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-of-michigan/) ## Related quotes > [I was a member of the Fab Five at the University of Michigan, but I was also on the Dean's List there. I took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/i-was-a-member-of-the-fab-five-at-the-university-of-michigan-but-i/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Communications and left formal education behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-graduated-from-the-university-of-michigan-with-a-ba-in/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I had full rank scholarship to the University of Michigan, which anybody in the north will tell you, I don't know anyone that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/i-had-full-rank-scholarship-to-the-university-of-michigan-which/) [Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/) > [I went to the University of Michigan for one year, and fortunately they had a foreign-film cinema, and I discovered it, and I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-went-to-the-university-of-michigan-for-one-year-and-fortunately/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Every time you see a University of Michigan team, you're going to see a team that's going to play together & fight until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denard-robinson/every-time-you-see-a-university-of-michigan-team-you-re-going-to-see/) [Denard Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denard-robinson/) > [Neither the University of Michigan nor its law school uses a quota system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/neither-the-university-of-michigan-nor-its-law-school-uses-a-quota/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [Living in a bubble as I said in a featherbed of privilege. That's why leaving home, leaving the prep school and going to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/living-in-a-bubble-as-i-said-in-a-featherbed-of-privilege-that-s-why/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [When I went to Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, what I really wanted to be was a radio announcer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/when-i-went-to-ann-arbor-university-of-michigan-what-i-really-wanted/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) > [I don't want people to feel like I'm upset or bitter with C-Webb or the University of Michigan. I love them both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/i-don-t-want-people-to-feel-like-i-m-upset-or-bitter-with-c-webb-or/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I think it's really exciting for me to see Brandi branch out. Because when you look her up and see her pictures online and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-think-it-s-really-exciting-for-me-to-see-brandi-branch-out-because/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [“You said you didn’t know where I came from.” Verity met his gaze. “Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’m an assistant professor of Art History at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-bell/you-said-you-didn-t-know-where-i-came-from-verity-met-his-gaze-ann/) [Adrienne Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-bell/) > [I went to the University of Michigan and have a BFA in Musical Theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-yorke/i-went-to-the-university-of-michigan-and-have-a-bfa-in-musical-theatre/) [Helene Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-yorke/) > [The 2023-2024 University of Michigan football team is the greatest team in college football history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/the-2023-2024-university-of-michigan-football-team-is-the-greatest/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Throughout my life I have dreamed of coaching at the University of Michigan,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/throughout-my-life-i-have-dreamed-of-coaching-at-the-university-of/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [I started acting at the University of Michigan in my sophomore year,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-started-acting-at-the-university-of-michigan-in-my-sophomore-year/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) ## More by Max Aaron > [Anyone who's been the Olympic trials before is a veteran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/anyone-who-s-been-the-olympic-trials-before-is-a-veteran/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I'll fight anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-ll-fight-anybody/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [If it's a day to indulge, I like to have a burrito or a steak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/if-it-s-a-day-to-indulge-i-like-to-have-a-burrito-or-a-steak/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [Maybe at the end of my figure skating career, I'll be able to have just the one game I always dreamed of having. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/maybe-at-the-end-of-my-figure-skating-career-i-ll-be-able-to-have/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [There were many times that I took such a big hit that I was dazed; I'm not going to lie. I'd see black, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/there-were-many-times-that-i-took-such-a-big-hit-that-i-was-dazed-i-m/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I have my struggles. But I'm doing whatever it takes to be an artist, to be the best technical jumper I can be, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-have-my-struggles-but-i-m-doing-whatever-it-takes-to-be-an-artist/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [Some days you have it; some days you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/some-days-you-have-it-some-days-you-don-t/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [Anything is possible. No one understands how far you can push your body to the limit, and I like to play with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/anything-is-possible-no-one-understands-how-far-you-can-push-your/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I feel connected to God when I'm out there performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-feel-connected-to-god-when-i-m-out-there-performing/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [No fear - that's my approach every single time I'm on the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/no-fear-that-s-my-approach-every-single-time-i-m-on-the-ice/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I have always wanted to be the best, and it drives me every day, no matter the obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-have-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-and-it-drives-me-every-day-no/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I want to be the top man in our sport. I want to be that guy everyone wants to see skate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-want-to-be-the-top-man-in-our-sport-i-want-to-be-that-guy-everyone/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [Every time I watch a performance, I'm disgusted with how I've skated. It's very hurtful for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/every-time-i-watch-a-performance-i-m-disgusted-with-how-i-ve-skated/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I would go for the biggest guy on the team, dump the puck in. I would chase after it because I was very fast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-would-go-for-the-biggest-guy-on-the-team-dump-the-puck-in-i-would/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [The long program sets the men apart from the boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/the-long-program-sets-the-men-apart-from-the-boys/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) [Explore all 43 Max Aaron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) [Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to playing hockey at the University of Michigan. That was my biggest goal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Aaron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-looking-forward-to-playing-hockey/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-looking-forward-to-playing-hockey/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/max-aaron-15353_back_before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-look_2837767.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before I broke my back, I was really looking forward to playing hockey at the University of Michigan. That…” — Max Aaron", "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": "Max Aaron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before I broke my back, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-looking-forward-to-playing-hockey/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/before-i-broke-my-back-i-was-really-looking-forward-to-playing-hockey/#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 } } ] } ```