---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was just this chubby little Indian kid…"
description: "\"I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a nerd. I didn't have a ton of academic skills. It wasn't until I was in high school that I wa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png"
---

#  I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a…

![“I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a nerd. I didn't have a ton of academic skills. It wasn't until I was in high school that I was like, &quot;I guess I like writing dialogue.&quot; So that's how I got into it.” quote by Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png)

> “I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a nerd. I didn't have a ton of academic skills. It wasn't until I was in high school that I was like, "I guess I like writing dialogue." So that's how I got into it.”

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

## 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 discovered a passion for writing dialogue despite early insecurities.

**In simple terms:** Found love for writing later.

Key Takeaway

Explore creative interests despite self‑doubt.

Themes

self‑discovery creativity growth

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

inspirational advice

When to use this quote

- school projects
- writing workshops
- career planning
- personal development

Key Concepts

confidence narrative voice

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden talents might you overlook?
- How can you nurture emerging passions?

A Different Perspective

Early self‑image may limit opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing dialogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-dialogue/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm not good at anything except writing jokes. I wasn't good at sports, I wasn't good at anything artsy, ever. I think there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-m-not-good-at-anything-except-writing-jokes-i-wasn-t-good-at-sports/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [Every day, I was on the street dribbling, doing skills. I wasn't in an academy till I was 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riyad-mahrez/every-day-i-was-on-the-street-dribbling-doing-skills-i-wasn-t-in-an/)

[Riyad Mahrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riyad-mahrez/)

> [At the age of 11 I was about 6 ft. tall and my voice had completely broken. That caused problems. I was this gangly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-stevens/at-the-age-of-11-i-was-about-6-ft-tall-and-my-voice-had-completely/)

[Dan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-stevens/)

> [“But what if you are a smart girl in love? All because I was a book nerd didn’t mean, I didn’t feel, I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-raquel-lee/but-what-if-you-are-a-smart-girl-in-love-all-because-i-was-a-book/)

[Candice Raquel Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-raquel-lee/)

> [I would have liked to be a nerd. I didn't even make it to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-blankfein/i-would-have-liked-to-be-a-nerd-i-didn-t-even-make-it-to-that/)

[Lloyd Blankfein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-blankfein/)

> [I suppose I was a little bit of what would be called today a nerd. I didn't have girlfriends, and really I wasn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/i-suppose-i-was-a-little-bit-of-what-would-be-called-today-a-nerd-i/)

[Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/)

> [Growing up, I was the only Indian kid around for miles, so I ached to belong. I had a neighborhood pack of nine guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/growing-up-i-was-the-only-indian-kid-around-for-miles-so-i-ached-to/)

[Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/)

> [Every Indian kid has access to MySpace and Facebook. But that doesn't mean they have access to books and great teachers. This idea about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/every-indian-kid-has-access-to-myspace-and-facebook-but-that-doesn-t/)

[Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/)

> [I was a jock in college and high school, but I didn't hang out with the jocks. I was sort of a nerd who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-was-a-jock-in-college-and-high-school-but-i-didn-t-hang-out-with/)

[Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/)

> [I was very shy as a kid, but films fascinated me a lot. I think every North Indian kid wants to grow up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arfi-lamba/i-was-very-shy-as-a-kid-but-films-fascinated-me-a-lot-i-think-every/)

[Arfi Lamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arfi-lamba/)

> [When I was young, kids who were more Native American than me would call me 'white boy.' To my white friends, I was 'that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-jandreau/when-i-was-young-kids-who-were-more-native-american-than-me-would/)

[Brady Jandreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-jandreau/)

> [A geek is like a dork. Someone who’s on the fringe, who you wouldn’t want to hang out with. A nerd is someone too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/a-geek-is-like-a-dork-someone-who-s-on-the-fringe-who-you-wouldn-t/)

[Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/)

> [I have to work hard to not look like a nerd all the time. My friends are the only people I know that don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-have-to-work-hard-to-not-look-like-a-nerd-all-the-time-my-friends/)

[Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/)

> [I always feel like an outsider. I'll always feel like the nerd at the party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcquarrie/i-always-feel-like-an-outsider-i-ll-always-feel-like-the-nerd-at-the/)

[Christopher McQuarrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcquarrie/)

> [Me without you is like a nerd without braces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-without-you-is-like-a-nerd-without-braces/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Mindy Kaling

> [I think women in general like men that don't give them the thing that we want. We want a chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-think-women-in-general-like-men-that-don-t-give-them-the-thing-that/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [..I find it incredible impossible not to cry when I hear Stevie Nicks's "Landslide," especially the lyric: "I've been afraid of changing, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-find-it-incredible-impossible-not-to-cry-when-i-hear-stevie-nicks-s/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I must have been 10 or 11, but anything Dana Carvey ever did, I just really loved. He was on for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-must-have-been-10-or-11-but-anything-dana-carvey-ever-did-i-just/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“As it is, I guess I find “Jack &amp; Diane” a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can’t help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child-of/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“As it is, I guess I find "Jack and Diane" a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can't help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-and-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [True love is singing karaoke 'under pressure' and letting the other person sing the Freddie Mercury part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/true-love-is-singing-karaoke-under-pressure-and-letting-the-other/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I had these kind of unrealistic expectations that were fueled by romantic comedies, and it has both helped me and hurt me in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-had-these-kind-of-unrealistic-expectations-that-were-fueled-by/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [There's a female writer-performer thing going on in TV right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/there-s-a-female-writer-performer-thing-going-on-in-tv-right-now/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [Almost every college playwright or sketch or improv comedian was sort of aware of Christopher Durang - even kids in high school. His short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/almost-every-college-playwright-or-sketch-or-improv-comedian-was-sort/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [More than half the questions I am asked are about the politics of the way I look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/more-than-half-the-questions-i-am-asked-are-about-the-politics-of-the/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Even though Mavis was my secret friend, she is the only one I hope I see again. She’s the only one I wonder about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/even-though-mavis-was-my-secret-friend-she-is-the-only-one-i-hope-i/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-regard-romantic-comedies-as-a-subgenre-of-sci-fi-in-which-the-world/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Be like Allan Pearl. Sit next to the class clown and study him. Then grow up, take everything you learned, and get paid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/be-like-allan-pearl-sit-next-to-the-class-clown-and-study-him-then/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“Don’t be closer to twice a friend’s weight than to her actual weight,” I told myself. This little mantra has helped me stave off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/don-t-be-closer-to-twice-a-friend-s-weight-than-to-her-actual-weight/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

[Explore all 415 Mindy Kaling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

## More Academic quotes

> [When I went to college, as much as my parents emphasized academic achievement, they emphasized marriage even more. They told me that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/when-i-went-to-college-as-much-as-my-parents-emphasized-academic/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [The Carnegie Foundation is well aware of the fact that their reports frequently find their way to dusty archives in academic institutions, but occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/the-carnegie-foundation-is-well-aware-of-the-fact-that-their-reports/)

[C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/)

> [Marx, however imperfectly he worked out the details, set himself the task of discovering the law of motion of capitalism, and if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/marx-however-imperfectly-he-worked-out-the-details-set-himself-the/)

[Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/)

> [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/)

[Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/)

> [An academic discipline, or any other semiotic domain, for that matter, is not primarily content, in the sense of facts and principles. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-paul-gee/an-academic-discipline-or-any-other-semiotic-domain-for-that-matter/)

[James Paul Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-paul-gee/)

> [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/)

[Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/)

> [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/)

[James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/)

> [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. But you can only break the rules once you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/and-i-m-the-first-one-to-tell-people-to-break-the-rules-but-you-can/)

[Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/)

> [Nietzsche's ideas and plans: for example, the idea of giving up the whole wretched academic world to form a secular monastic community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/nietzsche-s-ideas-and-plans-for-example-the-idea-of-giving-up-the/)

[Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/)

> [Quality afterschool programs provide safe, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/quality-afterschool-programs-provide-safe-engaging-and-fun-learning/)

[Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/)

> [The unary Photograph has every reason to be banal, 'unity' of composition being the first rule of vulgar (and notably, of academic) rhetoric: 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/the-unary-photograph-has-every-reason-to-be-banal-unity-of/)

[Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/)

> [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

> [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/)

[A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/)

[Browse all 958 Academic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a nerd. I didn't have a ton of academic skills. It wasn't until I was in high school that I was like, \"I guess I like writing dialogue.\" So that's how I got into it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mindy Kaling"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid-who-looked-like-a-nerd-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Academic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid-who-looked-like-a-nerd-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/mindy-kaling-672_academic_i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid_1044760.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was just this chubby little Indian kid who looked like a nerd. I didn't have a ton of academic skills. It…” — Mindy Kaling",
                "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": "Mindy Kaling",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was just this chubby little...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid-who-looked-like-a-nerd-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-was-just-this-chubby-little-indian-kid-who-looked-like-a-nerd-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
