--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was obsessed with being popular in high…" description: "\"I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never achieved it. There's photos from our high school musicals, and I'm comically in the deep bac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/mindy-kaling-672_beggar_i-was-obsessed-with-being-popular-in-hig_2357146.png" --- # I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never… ![“I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never achieved it. There's photos from our high school musicals, and I'm comically in the deep background, wearing a beggar's costume.” quote by Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/mindy-kaling-672_beggar_i-was-obsessed-with-being-popular-in-hig_2357146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/mindy-kaling-672_beggar_i-was-obsessed-with-being-popular-in-hig_2357146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/504/mindy-kaling-672_beggar_i-was-obsessed-with-being-popular-in-hig_2357146.png) > “I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never achieved it. There's photos from our high school musicals, and I'm comically in the deep background, wearing a beggar's costume.” [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. Obsessing over popularity leads to disappointment; authenticity outweighs social status. **In simple terms:** Popularity obsession brings emptiness. Key Takeaway Value genuine self over popularity. Themes self-esteem authenticity social pressure Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - high school - social media - career networking Key Concepts psychology of popularity self-acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity improve wellbeing? - What steps help you let go of popularity? A Different Perspective Social validation can be fleeting and harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) [Beggar Costume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar-costume-2416128/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Musicals Comically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicals-comically-5760065/) [Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed/) [Obsessed Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed-popular-1387056/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Musicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-musicals-682826/) ## Related quotes > [I was obsessed with being popular when I was in high school and never achieved it. There's photos from our high school musicals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-was-obsessed-with-being-popular-when-i-was-in-high-school-and-never/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [What do you prefer? A prime minister obsessed with being popular, or a prime minister who does the job?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/what-do-you-prefer-a-prime-minister-obsessed-with-being-popular-or-a/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [I sung from an early age and I was always given nice parts in school musicals, but I definitely wasn't the golden girl. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/i-sung-from-an-early-age-and-i-was-always-given-nice-parts-in-school/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [I guess my performance at school was doing school musicals, so I was a knight as well at the back of the stage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-guess-my-performance-at-school-was-doing-school-musicals-so-i-was-a/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I love singing! I was a musical theater girl in high school. We were always singing and dancing around, and just doing little community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-lowes/i-love-singing-i-was-a-musical-theater-girl-in-high-school-we-were/) [Katie Lowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-lowes/) > [When I was 17, I worked at a bagel shop - I ate so many! I was also in all the school musicals, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ushkowitz/when-i-was-17-i-worked-at-a-bagel-shop-i-ate-so-many-i-was-also-in/) [Jenna Ushkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ushkowitz/) > [I was a huge theater nerd when I was younger, so I was in a bunch of school musicals - Working,' South Pacific,' Fiddler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-was-a-huge-theater-nerd-when-i-was-younger-so-i-was-in-a-bunch-of/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [I was a completely normal kid, the school nerd. In Year 8 and 9 I got picked on. I was a freak- no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/i-was-a-completely-normal-kid-the-school-nerd-in-year-8-and-9-i-got/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [ I loved doing school musicals \[as a kid\], I even started at an early age to write little plays for the school to perform.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ogilvie/i-loved-doing-school-musicals-as-a-kid-i-even-started-at-an-early-age/) [George Ogilvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ogilvie/) > [Beggars fear no rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beggars-fear-no-rebellion/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Poets and beggars, musicians and prophets, warriors and scoundrels, all creatures of that unbridled reality, we have had to ask but little of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/poets-and-beggars-musicians-and-prophets-warriors-and-scoundrels-all/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Don't be doubtful to your goals or else you will end up your life as a beggar, keep faith on yourself and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athar-azeem/don-t-be-doubtful-to-your-goals-or-else-you-will-end-up-your-life-as/) [Athar Azeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athar-azeem/) > [“Why remain polite but powerless, in love but a beggar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/why-remain-polite-but-powerless-in-love-but-a-beggar/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) [Peire Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peire-cardenal/) ## 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 & 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 Beggar quotes > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) [Peire Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peire-cardenal/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Why remain polite but powerless, in love but a beggar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/why-remain-polite-but-powerless-in-love-but-a-beggar/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Don't be doubtful to your goals or else you will end up your life as a beggar, keep faith on yourself and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athar-azeem/don-t-be-doubtful-to-your-goals-or-else-you-will-end-up-your-life-as/) [Athar Azeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athar-azeem/) > [Poets and beggars, musicians and prophets, warriors and scoundrels, all creatures of that unbridled reality, we have had to ask but little of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/poets-and-beggars-musicians-and-prophets-warriors-and-scoundrels-all/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Beggars fear no rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beggars-fear-no-rebellion/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot! A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar on foot. Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again! The beggars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/hurrah-for-revolution-and-more-cannon-shot-a-beggar-upon-horseback/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You obviously don't know what an Old Man of the Sea great wealth is. It is not a fat purse and time to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/you-obviously-don-t-know-what-an-old-man-of-the-sea-great-wealth-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Make of the Silence your to-do tasks, of the compassion your wealth and of the meditation your beggar's bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/make-of-the-silence-your-to-do-tasks-of-the-compassion-your-wealth/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I'll not meddle with it. It makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-ll-not-meddle-with-it-it-makes-a-man-a-coward-a-man-cannot-steal/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A beggar through the world am I, From place to place I wander by. Fill up my pilgrim's scrip for me, For Christ's sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-beggar-through-the-world-am-i-from-place-to-place-i-wander-by-fill/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The bashful beggar has an empty purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cranch-bond/the-bashful-beggar-has-an-empty-purse/) [William Cranch Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cranch-bond/) > [“A coin is examined, and only after careful deliberation, given to a beggar, whereas a child is flung out into the cosmic brutality without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/a-coin-is-examined-and-only-after-careful-deliberation-given-to-a/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) [Browse all 455 Beggar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never achieved it. 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