--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven’t come from the typical path or…" description: "\"I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. When it came to my childhood-growing up i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/misty-copeland-2012_backgrounds_i-haven-t-come-from-the-typical-path-or_808277.png" --- # I haven’t come from the typical path or background of… ![“I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. When it came to my childhood-growing up in a single-parent home, often struggling financially-my mother definitely instilled in me and my siblings this strength, this will, to just…” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/misty-copeland-2012_backgrounds_i-haven-t-come-from-the-typical-path-or_808277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/misty-copeland-2012_backgrounds_i-haven-t-come-from-the-typical-path-or_808277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/misty-copeland-2012_backgrounds_i-haven-t-come-from-the-typical-path-or_808277.png) > “I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. When it came to my childhood-growing up in a single-parent home, often struggling financially-my mother definitely instilled in me and my siblings this strength, this will, to just continue to survive and succeed.” [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming non‑traditional backgrounds and financial hardship can fuel resilience and drive success in elite fields. **In simple terms:** Hardship can build strength and determination. Key Takeaway Leverage adversity as motivation. Themes resilience determination social mobility arts Mood inspired determined Type motivational personal narrative When to use this quote - ballet auditions - career transitions - entrepreneurial ventures - community mentorship Key Concepts growth mindset self‑efficacy socio‑economic barriers Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal challenges into strengths? - What support systems can amplify your resilience? A Different Perspective Limited resources may restrict access to training and networks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) [Ballerina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballerina/) [Ballerina Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballerina-came-6164393/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Financially Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financially-mother-5927218/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Level Ballerina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-ballerina-6164392/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [My siblings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-siblings/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-home/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Sibling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sibling/) [Siblings Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siblings-strength-5927217/) [Single parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-parent/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Typical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typical/) ## Related quotes > [When it came to my childhood - growing up in a single-parent home, often struggling financially - my mother definitely instilled in me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-it-came-to-my-childhood-growing-up-in-a-single-parent-home-often/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Good, honest, hardheaded character is a function of the home. If the proper seed is sown there and properly nourished for a few years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-amos-dorsey/good-honest-hardheaded-character-is-a-function-of-the-home-if-the/) [George Amos Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-amos-dorsey/) > [Sometimes, having a mom stay home is a big help. On the other hand, when a mother works outside the home, her husband generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/sometimes-having-a-mom-stay-home-is-a-big-help-on-the-other-hand-when/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Historically, the best way to convert liberals is to have them move out of their parents' home, get a job, and start paying taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/historically-the-best-way-to-convert-liberals-is-to-have-them-move/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [When I left my parents' home when I was 19, I went to the University of Florida, and within 24 hours was in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/when-i-left-my-parents-home-when-i-was-19-i-went-to-the-university-of/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I have the greatest respect for single parents who struggle and sacrifice, trying against almost superhuman odds to hold the family together. They should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-have-the-greatest-respect-for-single-parents-who-struggle-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The American family is not simply changing; it is getting weaker. . . . Family decline drives some of our most urgent social problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-popenoe/the-american-family-is-not-simply-changing-it-is-getting-weaker/) [David Popenoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-popenoe/) > [I do go back to Russia frequently, about twice a year. I hate the flight, but it's worth it. My parents have a home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olesya-rulin/i-do-go-back-to-russia-frequently-about-twice-a-year-i-hate-the/) [Olesya Rulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olesya-rulin/) > [The character of a child is formed largely during the first twelve years of his life. He spends 16 times as many waking hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-character-of-a-child-is-formed-largely-during-the-first-twelve/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [She who cultivates virtue in her parents' home, shall obtain a home at her in-laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/she-who-cultivates-virtue-in-her-parents-home-shall-obtain-a-home-at/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [My family moved to Israel when I was eight until I was 10, and then we came back, and my parents split up. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/my-family-moved-to-israel-when-i-was-eight-until-i-was-10-and-then-we/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [When you look at the biggest study of the American dream, the number-one correlate for upward mobility is having two parents in a home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-marche/when-you-look-at-the-biggest-study-of-the-american-dream-the-number/) [Stephen Marche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-marche/) > [My parents homeschooled my sister and me for many years. Why? Because the local school insisted that I, being three, should go to preschool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/my-parents-homeschooled-my-sister-and-me-for-many-years-why-because/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [“The great irony of growing up is that it’s often once you leave your parents’ home that you understand them the most. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scaachi-koul/the-great-irony-of-growing-up-is-that-it-s-often-once-you-leave-your/) [Scaachi Koul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scaachi-koul/) > [I like to remind them to be spouses and parents when they go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-to-remind-them-to-be-spouses-and-parents-when-they-go-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Misty Copeland > [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) [Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [I bring my classical training - some of it, but not all of it - and also my background and culture, to spirituals. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-battle/i-bring-my-classical-training-some-of-it-but-not-all-of-it-and-also/) [Kathleen Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-battle/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. 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As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [People from my sort of background needed grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/people-from-my-sort-of-background-needed-grammar-schools-to-compete/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [I come from a theater background, so I always like to dissect the scene and try to get some hint about what the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-come-from-a-theater-background-so-i-always-like-to-dissect-the/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [And, of course, some SF is set close enough to here and now that Anglo and European do apply. Since many of the writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-schmidt/and-of-course-some-sf-is-set-close-enough-to-here-and-now-that-anglo/) [Stanley Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-schmidt/) > [For me, I try to look at a person's swagger and a little background on them if I already haven't liked them as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bivins/for-me-i-try-to-look-at-a-person-s-swagger-and-a-little-background-on/) [Michael Bivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bivins/) [Browse all 1,648 Backgrounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven’t come from the typical path or background of someone who would make it to this level as a ballerina. 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