--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I went to high school, an all-boys'…" description: "\"When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a Catholic school, I tried out for football, and I didn't make it. It was the first time, athletically..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png" --- # When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a… ![“When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a Catholic school, I tried out for football, and I didn't make it. It was the first time, athletically, that I was knocked down.” quote by Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png) > “When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a Catholic school, I tried out for football, and I didn't make it. It was the first time, athletically, that I was knocked down.” [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiencing early failure in sports taught him humility and resilience, showing that setbacks are part of growth. **In simple terms:** Early sports loss taught humility and resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities. Themes humility resilience growth sports education Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - high school sports - coaching seminars - team building - personal development Key Concepts Self‑efficacy mindset adversity Questions to Reflect On - How did that loss shape your approach to challenges? - What can you learn from a setback? A Different Perspective Failure can damage confidence if not reframed positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletically Knocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletically-knocked-882426/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-school/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-didn-749986/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Hypnosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypnosis/) [Knocked down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knocked-down/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-catholic-882427/) [School Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-tried-549652/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tried Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-football-882425/) ## Related quotes > [I was a late bloomer. I tried out for the football team, and I got locked off the field. That's how I wound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-was-a-late-bloomer-i-tried-out-for-the-football-team-and-i-got/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I tried football and got my ass beat. I tried baseball, and the ball knocked out one of my teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/i-tried-football-and-got-my-ass-beat-i-tried-baseball-and-the-ball/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [I ran track in high school. I was a fragile young man, personally and physically. I tried football. That didn't work out; I broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-pudi/i-ran-track-in-high-school-i-was-a-fragile-young-man-personally-and/) [Danny Pudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-pudi/) > [I didn't grow up in the Catholic church, but I went to a Catholic high school and a Catholic college, and the Jesuit priests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sullivan/i-didn-t-grow-up-in-the-catholic-church-but-i-went-to-a-catholic-high/) [Chris Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sullivan/) > [My dad said, 'In school, be a Catholic. At home, be a Hindu.' So we did both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/my-dad-said-in-school-be-a-catholic-at-home-be-a-hindu-so-we-did-both/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [When I was fourteen, Mom and Dad sent me to St. Joseph High School, the Catholic school up the hill from our place, housed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/when-i-was-fourteen-mom-and-dad-sent-me-to-st-joseph-high-school-the/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [I grew up in a small, old-school Catholic world, imprinted with an above-average number of categories and judgments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-duplass/i-grew-up-in-a-small-old-school-catholic-world-imprinted-with-an/) [Jay Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-duplass/) > [When I think back on high school, I always tried to make silly videos with my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimiko-glenn/when-i-think-back-on-high-school-i-always-tried-to-make-silly-videos/) [Kimiko Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimiko-glenn/) > [I ended up going to public school in the first grade, and that's when I knew I had to be very strategic about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/i-ended-up-going-to-public-school-in-the-first-grade-and-that-s-when/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [I wasn't very big on going to school. I tried to get a gig as a luthier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/i-wasn-t-very-big-on-going-to-school-i-tried-to-get-a-gig-as-a-luthier/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [I didn't finish high school. I tried to as an adult, but with all this touring, I had to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaytranada/i-didn-t-finish-high-school-i-tried-to-as-an-adult-but-with-all-this/) [Kaytranada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaytranada/) > [I was always the kid in school who tried to get attention, not necessarily the class clown, but I'd do little unexpected performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-was-always-the-kid-in-school-who-tried-to-get-attention-not/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [I dropped out of high school and I tried to go to community college for a little while. I can't be a student. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-condon/i-dropped-out-of-high-school-and-i-tried-to-go-to-community-college/) [Zach Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-condon/) > [“If I could cook I wouldn’t have to study my ass off at school and I would have tried to find a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-soto/if-i-could-cook-i-wouldn-t-have-to-study-my-ass-off-at-school-and-i/) [Carolina Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-soto/) > [I was always active - I went from baseball to football. I didn't have time to work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-was-always-active-i-went-from-baseball-to-football-i-didn-t-have/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) ## More by Mike Krzyzewski > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Good sound habits are more important than rules - use concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/good-sound-habits-are-more-important-than-rules-use-concepts/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Always get back to your core principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/always-get-back-to-your-core-principles/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Parents can really help, but they can also really hinder the development of their youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/parents-can-really-help-but-they-can-also-really-hinder-the/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/that-s-what-i-do-now-i-lead-and-i-teach-if-we-win-basketball-games/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I hated to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-hated-to-lose/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [We lost, and that's the main thing that went wrong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/we-lost-and-that-s-the-main-thing-that-went-wrong/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Leadership is simple: Add value to people everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/leadership-is-simple-add-value-to-people-everyday/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/as-teachers-and-coaches-we-must-remember-that-when-mere-winning-is/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-think-we-surprise-people-we-try-to-out-execute-them/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on "x's and o's" as compared to time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-common-mistake-among-those-who-work-in-sport-is-spending-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [If you set up an atmosphere of community and trust, it becomes a tradition. Older team members will establish your credibility with newer ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/if-you-set-up-an-atmosphere-of-community-and-trust-it-becomes-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Confidence shared is better than confidence only in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/confidence-shared-is-better-than-confidence-only-in-yourself/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A leader's responsibility to his team is paramount. It overshadows even his own personal feelings at any given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-leader-s-responsibility-to-his-team-is-paramount-it-overshadows/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [The only way you're going to grow is to be in difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/the-only-way-you-re-going-to-grow-is-to-be-in-difficult-situations/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) [Explore all 171 Mike Krzyzewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [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/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a Catholic school, I tried out for football, and I didn't make it. It was the first time, athletically, that I was knocked down.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Krzyzewski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-school-a-catholic-school-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-school-a-catholic-school-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/mike-krzyzewski-2324_boys_when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-s_863850.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I went to high school, an all-boys' school, a Catholic school, I tried out for football, and I didn't…” — Mike Krzyzewski", "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": "Mike Krzyzewski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I went to high school,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-school-a-catholic-school-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-i-went-to-high-school-an-all-boys-school-a-catholic-school-i/#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 } } ] } ```