---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was in college, and I studied…"
description: "\"I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really not good at anything until I found philosophy, and, then, political science. I thought, 'Wow..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg"
---

#  I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really…

![“I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really not good at anything until I found philosophy, and, then, political science. I thought, 'Wow, this is something I really enjoy.' I kind of got into that whole world of law and political science. I was really into it and enjoying it, and…” quote by Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg)

> “I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really not good at anything until I found philosophy, and, then, political science. I thought, 'Wow, this is something I really enjoy.' I kind of got into that whole world of law and political science. I was really into it and enjoying it, and then I took an acting elective, and that was it.”

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Exploring varied subjects leads to discovering a true passion, which can redirect career paths.

**In simple terms:** Finding passion after broad study.

Key Takeaway

Follow interests when they spark enthusiasm.

Themes

education career self‑discovery

Mood

inquisitive hopeful

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- college majors
- career changes
- personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

interdisciplinary learning passion pursuit

Questions to Reflect On

- What subject ignites your curiosity?
- How can you test a new career interest?

A Different Perspective

Changing direction may involve risk and uncertainty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Elective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-elective-4858898/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-studied-1708123/) [Elective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elective/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoying/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-science/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied/) [Studied Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied-really-4858897/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took/) [Took Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-acting/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wow/)

## Related quotes

> [In college, I studied political science, policy, and law. My plan was to move to New York, pay off student debt in a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/in-college-i-studied-political-science-policy-and-law-my-plan-was-to/)

[Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/)

> [I studied really, really hard, rather boringly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/i-studied-really-really-hard-rather-boringly/)

[David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/)

> [I went to college and studied theater; I went to a theater conservatory. I live in New York because I wanted to do plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/i-went-to-college-and-studied-theater-i-went-to-a-theater/)

[Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/)

> [I started in high school, and in college, I studied radio, TV, and film. The plan was to be a filmmaker, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-meyers/i-started-in-high-school-and-in-college-i-studied-radio-tv-and-film/)

[Seth Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-meyers/)

> [Some people go to college. For me I studied music my whole life. That was my college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-thicke/some-people-go-to-college-for-me-i-studied-music-my-whole-life-that/)

[Robin Thicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-thicke/)

> [When I was in college, I studied business because I thought I wanted to be a director and producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-dayal/when-i-was-in-college-i-studied-business-because-i-thought-i-wanted/)

[Manish Dayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-dayal/)

> [I don't think I even called myself an actor until I went to college and studied acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-don-t-think-i-even-called-myself-an-actor-until-i-went-to-college/)

[Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/)

> [I went to college and studied writing, and I got involved in theater. It's always been my passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-cruz/i-went-to-college-and-studied-writing-and-i-got-involved-in-theater/)

[Raymond Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-cruz/)

> [I got expelled from high school, and then did my exams from home. I decided, through that experience, that I was going to expediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-got-expelled-from-high-school-and-then-did-my-exams-from-home-i/)

[Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/)

> [I studied political science, and when I fell into acting in college - it was just a total fluke that I became an actor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-studied-political-science-and-when-i-fell-into-acting-in-college-it/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I had actually studied political science in college. I had dreams of being a lawyer at one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-had-actually-studied-political-science-in-college-i-had-dreams-of/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I would have the studies elective. Scholarship is to be created not by compulsion, but by awakening a pure interest in knowledge. The wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-would-have-the-studies-elective-scholarship-is-to-be-created-not-by/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I was in elective politics for 24 years. I've made four national races, two for President, two for Vice President. I have found there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-was-in-elective-politics-for-24-years-i-ve-made-four-national-races/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-unfortunate-yet-truly-exciting-thing-about-your-life-is-that/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [This idea that once you get into politics... you are now signed up for lifelong duty being in elective office, makes a fundamental error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/this-idea-that-once-you-get-into-politics-you-are-now-signed-up-for/)

[Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/)

## More by Michael Kelly

> [I like to think I'm a good, kind person who does the right thing, but I don't ever feel sorry for someone who didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-good-kind-person-who-does-the-right-thing-but-i/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I worked construction clean-up. I was driving a pickup truck at the age of 14 on a construction site. I loved building and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-worked-construction-clean-up-i-was-driving-a-pickup-truck-at-the/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I learn from Kevin Spacey and Tom Hardy, watching these guys work, the things they all do differently. Tom never stops exploring and discovering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-learn-from-kevin-spacey-and-tom-hardy-watching-these-guys-work-the/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [We don't have a problem killing off characters on 'House of Cards.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/we-don-t-have-a-problem-killing-off-characters-on-house-of-cards/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I had actually studied political science in college. I had dreams of being a lawyer at one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-had-actually-studied-political-science-in-college-i-had-dreams-of/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I had a dream to be an attorney. I don't know if I ever would've passed the bar or not, but that was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-had-a-dream-to-be-an-attorney-i-don-t-know-if-i-ever-would-ve/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [Back when Donald Trump was just starting in the primaries, and I was asked, 'What do you think of Trump?' I would say, 'Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/back-when-donald-trump-was-just-starting-in-the-primaries-and-i-was/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [In the beginning, I aspired just to make a comfortable living in acting. I still feel the same - it's just that my standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/in-the-beginning-i-aspired-just-to-make-a-comfortable-living-in/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [The most important thing you can do as an actor is bring as much of yourself to the character to ground the character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-as-an-actor-is-bring-as-much-of/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I've done so many jobs. As an actor, you have to. I didn't have my parents footing the bill when I moved to New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-ve-done-so-many-jobs-as-an-actor-you-have-to-i-didn-t-have-my/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I've never heard Donald Trump say that he watches 'House of Cards,' but I'd be really shocked if he didn't because he appears to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-ve-never-heard-donald-trump-say-that-he-watches-house-of-cards-but/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [First and foremost, it's my mom and dad who gave me the foundation, the belief in me that I could do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/first-and-foremost-it-s-my-mom-and-dad-who-gave-me-the-foundation-the/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [Yeah, I probably got in too much trouble as a youth to be a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/yeah-i-probably-got-in-too-much-trouble-as-a-youth-to-be-a-politician/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [People always ask me, 'Hey, what's Matt Damon like?' He's just a dude, just a really good person and one hell of an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/people-always-ask-me-hey-what-s-matt-damon-like-he-s-just-a-dude-just/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

> [I studied political science, and when I fell into acting in college - it was just a total fluke that I became an actor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-studied-political-science-and-when-i-fell-into-acting-in-college-it/)

[Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

[Explore all 34 Michael Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/)

## More Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [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/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

[Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/)

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really not good at anything until I found philosophy, and, then, political science. I thought, 'Wow, this is something I really enjoy.' I kind of got into that whole world of law and political science. I was really into it and enjoying it, and then I took an acting elective, and that was it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Kelly"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everything-but-was-really-not-good-at/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everything-but-was-really-not-good-at/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/michael-kelly-18780_acting_i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everythin_1392640.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was in college, and I studied everything, but was really not good at anything until I found philosophy…” — Michael Kelly",
                "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": "Michael Kelly",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was in college, and I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everything-but-was-really-not-good-at/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-was-in-college-and-i-studied-everything-but-was-really-not-good-at/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
