--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to school four years later than…" description: "\"I went to school four years later than most people because I was a teen father, hustled on the streets, worked, lived on welfare and the like, and didn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_college_i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-m_22287.jpg" --- # I went to school four years later than most people because… ![“I went to school four years later than most people because I was a teen father, hustled on the streets, worked, lived on welfare and the like, and didn't get to college until almost 21. That's when I officially got licensed and ordained, right after that.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_college_i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-m_22287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_college_i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-m_22287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/michael-eric-dyson-1424_college_i-went-to-school-four-years-later-than-m_22287.jpg) > “I went to school four years later than most people because I was a teen father, hustled on the streets, worked, lived on welfare and the like, and didn't get to college until almost 21. That's when I officially got licensed and ordained, right after that.” [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a delayed educational path due to early fatherhood and socioeconomic challenges, highlighting resilience and eventual attainment of religious ordination. **In simple terms:** Overcoming adversity to achieve spiritual leadership. Key Takeaway Resilience leads to purpose. Themes Resilience Socioeconomic hardship Education Faith Personal growth Mood Hopeful Reflective Type Personal testimony Inspirational When to use this quote - Returning to school after teen parenthood - Balancing work and parenting - Transitioning from street life to clergy - Seeking formal religious credentials - Navigating welfare while pursuing education Key Concepts Late schooling Teen parenthood Welfare dependence Ordination Practical Applications - Mentoring at teen parents - Developing outreach programs for disadvantaged youth Questions to Reflect On - How can personal hardship shape one's calling? - What support systems enable delayed education? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Four years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-years/) [Got Licensed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-licensed-400937/) [Licensed Ordained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/licensed-ordained-400938/) [Ordained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordained/) [Ordained Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordained-right-400939/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Went School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-school-251635/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [There are many different ways that people get licensed or ordained through different ministries, denominations, etc. So - but for myself, there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/there-are-many-different-ways-that-people-get-licensed-or-ordained/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In a monastic setting, if someone doesn't want to obey the rules and just wants to live the way they've always lived as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/in-a-monastic-setting-if-someone-doesn-t-want-to-obey-the-rules-and/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Christ has not only ordained that there shall be such officers in his Church - he has not only specified their duties and prerogatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/christ-has-not-only-ordained-that-there-shall-be-such-officers-in-his/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [I have a divinely-ordained calling in my life to create a larger impact on human society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanushree-dutta/i-have-a-divinely-ordained-calling-in-my-life-to-create-a-larger/) [Tanushree Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanushree-dutta/) > [I am now officially ordained. Yep, that's right - Reverend Tori Spelling!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-spelling/i-am-now-officially-ordained-yep-that-s-right-reverend-tori-spelling/) [Tori Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-spelling/) > [“You may have your diploma from a seminary, ordained by a Bishop, or commissioned by a denomination but ONLY God can “mark” a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/you-may-have-your-diploma-from-a-seminary-ordained-by-a-bishop-or/) [John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/) > [Remember that God under the Law ordained a Lamb to be offered up to Him every Morning and Evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ken/remember-that-god-under-the-law-ordained-a-lamb-to-be-offered-up-to/) [Thomas Ken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ken/) > [“Endings need to be lived, they cannot be ordained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manil-suri/endings-need-to-be-lived-they-cannot-be-ordained/) [Manil Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manil-suri/) > [In the Bible, ordination - I don't see that in the Scripture. 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Afraid she would say no on a good day?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/emily-smiled-mischievously-your-engagement-was-a-rainy-day-occurrence/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [I was ordained one of the standing High Council in Zion, under the hands of President Joseph Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/i-was-ordained-one-of-the-standing-high-council-in-zion-under-the/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [On the 1st day of December, 1830, I was confirmed, and in accordance with the word of the Lord I was ordained an Elder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/on-the-1st-day-of-december-1830-i-was-confirmed-and-in-accordance/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/see-that-you-are-not-suddenly-saddened-by-the-adversities-of-this/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) ## More by Michael Eric Dyson > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. 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Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I believe in a God of a second chance and a God of love and mercy, because I need so much more of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-believe-in-a-god-of-a-second-chance-and-a-god-of-love-and-mercy/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I was very struck when Min. Farrakhan said if Jesus and Muhammad were here today, they'd be embracing each other. 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