--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to a prep school in Chicago, and…" description: "\"I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom worked really hard - even though we lived in the ghetto - to get me to there. A lot of it had to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/michael-pena-3926_dad_i-went-to-a-prep-school-in-chicago-and-m_2333809.jpg" --- # I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom… ![“I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom worked really hard - even though we lived in the ghetto - to get me to there. A lot of it had to do with 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Dead Poet's Society.' It does help you. It inspires you. It definitely did for me.” quote by Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/michael-pena-3926_dad_i-went-to-a-prep-school-in-chicago-and-m_2333809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/michael-pena-3926_dad_i-went-to-a-prep-school-in-chicago-and-m_2333809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/025/michael-pena-3926_dad_i-went-to-a-prep-school-in-chicago-and-m_2333809.jpg) > “I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom worked really hard - even though we lived in the ghetto - to get me to there. A lot of it had to do with 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Dead Poet's Society.' It does help you. It inspires you. It definitely did for me.” [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and cultural influences shape ambition, especially when overcoming adversity. **In simple terms:** Hard work and role models inspire success. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and stay persistent. Themes hardship education inspiration Mood reflective hopeful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - college applications - career planning - community outreach - personal development Key Concepts sociology psychology media influence Questions to Reflect On - What role do community resources play? - How can you give back to your roots? A Different Perspective Success also depends on systemic opportunities, not just effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [I remember seeing 'Dead Poet's Society,' and it made it appealing in a way that I actually went to prep school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-remember-seeing-dead-poet-s-society-and-it-made-it-appealing-in-a/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I didn't realise I lived in the ghetto until we moved out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-didn-t-realise-i-lived-in-the-ghetto-until-we-moved-out/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [ There was a school in Chicago called the School of Design. This was started by \[Laszló\] Moholy-Nagy, and it was a wonderful school, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/there-was-a-school-in-chicago-called-the-school-of-design-this-was/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [I went to DePaul University Theatre School in Chicago, Illinois.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-keery/i-went-to-depaul-university-theatre-school-in-chicago-illinois/) [Joe Keery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-keery/) > [I went to prep school, Eton and Oxford. When people hear that, they think they know you, and you think: 'No, you don't.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lloyd/i-went-to-prep-school-eton-and-oxford-when-people-hear-that-they/) [Harry Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lloyd/) > [I went to prep school for one year in Arizona. It was called Orme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-went-to-prep-school-for-one-year-in-arizona-it-was-called-orme/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) > [I thought my high school would either be like 'Beverly Hills 90210' or 'Stand and Deliver' - it was just a run-of-the-mill high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-thought-my-high-school-would-either-be-like-beverly-hills-90210-or/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [“The process begins during the off-season program, when players spend countless hours together and become heavily invested in the season before it even starts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-hayes/the-process-begins-during-the-off-season-program-when-players-spend/) [Neil Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-hayes/) > [While I was raised around churches and had gotten to know a few preachers fairly well, the thought never entered my head that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/while-i-was-raised-around-churches-and-had-gotten-to-know-a-few/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [The ability to understand and deliver comedy and tragedy is extremely rare in one composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/the-ability-to-understand-and-deliver-comedy-and-tragedy-is-extremely/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) > [“In England, there was scarcely an amount of order and protection to justify much national boasting. Daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/in-england-there-was-scarcely-an-amount-of-order-and-protection-to-2/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > ['Stand and Deliver' has been the most successful thing I have done in my life. So many people have seen it. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/stand-and-deliver-has-been-the-most-successful-thing-i-have-done-in/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [Why is it so hard for people to believe that white people are poor?! I wouldn't say I lived in a ghetto, I'd say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/why-is-it-so-hard-for-people-to-believe-that-white-people-are-poor-i/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Anybody who's lived in the ghetto knows that you don't move during the daytime. Here's why: You don't want anyone to know you're leaving,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/anybody-who-s-lived-in-the-ghetto-knows-that-you-don-t-move-during/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“For I think we may look upon our little private war with death somewhat in this light. If a man knows he will sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/for-i-think-we-may-look-upon-our-little-private-war-with-death/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) ## More by Michael Pena > [I was in L.A., like, four months, and I got my first part. Then I was like, 'OK, I'm staying.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-was-in-l-a-like-four-months-and-i-got-my-first-part-then-i-was-like/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [Kicks to the legs, they're not very cool. They're brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/kicks-to-the-legs-they-re-not-very-cool-they-re-brutal/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [There's a bigger percentage of good cops than bad cops. But the bad cops should be penalised like regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/there-s-a-bigger-percentage-of-good-cops-than-bad-cops-but-the-bad/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I grew up in the ghetto, and the thing is when there were problems, I knew when to get away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-grew-up-in-the-ghetto-and-the-thing-is-when-there-were-problems-i/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think, in any debate, you have to respect the other person's point of view, if you agree or disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-in-any-debate-you-have-to-respect-the-other-person-s-point-of/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I didn't realise I lived in the ghetto until we moved out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-didn-t-realise-i-lived-in-the-ghetto-until-we-moved-out/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [The joy of 'Crash' was that it was all about the work. It was my first real part. Before that, it was a line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/the-joy-of-crash-was-that-it-was-all-about-the-work-it-was-my-first/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I don't think people are experiencing superhero fatigue. Do you hear people complaining that there are too many action movies? I think it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-don-t-think-people-are-experiencing-superhero-fatigue-do-you-hear/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think that when you’re doing a comedy and it makes you laugh, there’s a certain… like you can reject it, and it’s okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-that-when-you-re-doing-a-comedy-and-it-makes-you-laugh-there/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I thought of myself as an individual ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-thought-of-myself-as-an-individual-ever-since-i-was-little/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I just wanted to be a part of something that's a horror movie that scares you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-just-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-s-a-horror-movie-that/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I don't know why - I have a ton of books: five full cabinets of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-don-t-know-why-i-have-a-ton-of-books-five-full-cabinets-of-them/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I feel really comfortable with going for the reality of the drama, but I'm not much for the comedy of it. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-feel-really-comfortable-with-going-for-the-reality-of-the-drama-but/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [The reason I love Lollapalooza is because it's a great music festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/the-reason-i-love-lollapalooza-is-because-it-s-a-great-music-festival/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I was in really good shape after I finished this movie, 'End of Watch.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-was-in-really-good-shape-after-i-finished-this-movie-end-of-watch/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) [Explore all 119 Michael Pena quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom worked really hard - even though we lived in the ghetto - to get me to there. A lot of it had to do with 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Dead Poet's Society.' It does help you. It inspires you. 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