--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be a war reporter…" description: "\"I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I wanted to get a job, but Auntie Beryl said I s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg" --- # I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around… ![“I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I wanted to get a job, but Auntie Beryl said I should go to Oxford.” quote by Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg) > “I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I wanted to get a job, but Auntie Beryl said I should go to Oxford.” [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) ## 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 reflects on youthful ambition versus parental expectations, choosing a career path driven by personal desire over conventional education. **In simple terms:** Choosing a job over university because of personal passion. Key Takeaway Follow personal passion, consider alternatives to formal education. Themes career choice family influence education personal ambition societal expectations Mood reflective determined conflicted Type personal motivational When to use this quote - job search - career counseling - family discussions - educational planning - personal goal setting Key Concepts self‑determination generational advice career development Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your career decisions? - How do family expectations shape your life choices? A Different Perspective May overlook long‑term benefits of formal education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It's often frustrating when you're a war reporter and you're covering these places that far away. You're frustrated by making stories that people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rowley/it-s-often-frustrating-when-you-re-a-war-reporter-and-you-re-covering/) [Rick Rowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rowley/) > [My wife made me watch this documentary about the Iraq War, and there was a really powerful moment where they followed some civilian whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/my-wife-made-me-watch-this-documentary-about-the-iraq-war-and-there/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [I'm not a war reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-heineman/i-m-not-a-war-reporter/) [Matthew Heineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-heineman/) > [I've been a war reporter and a human rights defender. A professor and a columnist. A diplomat and - by far most thrillingly -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-ve-been-a-war-reporter-and-a-human-rights-defender-a-professor-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I never wanted to take a job because I needed money, and I never have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-wanted-to-take-a-job-because-i-needed-money-and-i-never-have/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [At college, I felt frustrated thinking three years was a long time and I just wanted a job but afterwards I was in employment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/at-college-i-felt-frustrated-thinking-three-years-was-a-long-time-and/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I'm a working stiff. I just happened to be around at the right time, and nobody else wanted the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/i-m-a-working-stiff-i-just-happened-to-be-around-at-the-right-time/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [If I had been literate, I wouldn't have sold drugs. I just wanted a job. I would have worked at McDonald's. And I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/if-i-had-been-literate-i-wouldn-t-have-sold-drugs-i-just-wanted-a-job/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [I always had that get-up-and-go to work for myself - I never wanted a nine-to-five job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-campbell/i-always-had-that-get-up-and-go-to-work-for-myself-i-never-wanted-a/) [Luke Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-campbell/) > [I didn't need tempting back to the theatre. It's always been something I'd wanted to do again and again and again, but with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gower/i-didn-t-need-tempting-back-to-the-theatre-it-s-always-been-something/) [Andrew Gower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gower/) > [I always wanted a job where every day felt different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/i-always-wanted-a-job-where-every-day-felt-different/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [“somewhere between hello and I want this job, he'd lost all business sense and hired the pretty lady just because she wanted the job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-wilson/somewhere-between-hello-and-i-want-this-job-he-d-lost-all-business/) Dolores Wilson > [“My palms were damp. That was the moment I realized I wanted the job. That job, at that restaurant specifically.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-danler/my-palms-were-damp-that-was-the-moment-i-realized-i-wanted-the-job/) [Stephanie Danler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-danler/) > [There are some outstandingly qualified minority coaches, and one of the reasons I spoke out is that the ones I came in contact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-teaff/there-are-some-outstandingly-qualified-minority-coaches-and-one-of/) Grant Teaff > [If I wanted you to get a job, I would ask you to get a job. I'm also not stupid. I'm not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fetty-wap/if-i-wanted-you-to-get-a-job-i-would-ask-you-to-get-a-job-i-m-also/) [Fetty Wap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fetty-wap/) ## More by Nina Bawden > [I like stirring the pot - I think it's part of my duty, to shake people up a bit - make them look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-like-stirring-the-pot-i-think-it-s-part-of-my-duty-to-shake-people/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [All writers are liars. They twist events to suit themselves. They make use of their own tragedies to make a better story... They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/all-writers-are-liars-they-twist-events-to-suit-themselves-they-make/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I would hate to live in the country, unless I was living on a farm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-would-hate-to-live-in-the-country-unless-i-was-living-on-a-farm/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I met Richard Burton, an RAF cadet on a two-term course. I would have flirted more enthusiastically if it had not been for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-met-richard-burton-an-raf-cadet-on-a-two-term-course-i-would-have/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I was born in a small suburb of Ilford in a rather nasty housing estate that my mother despised. She had grown up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-was-born-in-a-small-suburb-of-ilford-in-a-rather-nasty-housing/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [Life isn't so complicated for children. They have more time to think about the really important things. That's why I occasionally moralise in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/life-isn-t-so-complicated-for-children-they-have-more-time-to-think/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I've never found it made the slightest difference being a woman - though there is a sort of feeling that as you get older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-ve-never-found-it-made-the-slightest-difference-being-a-woman/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [All writers are thieves; theft is a necessary tool of the trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/all-writers-are-thieves-theft-is-a-necessary-tool-of-the-trade/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I am not a victim. I am an angry survivor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-am-not-a-victim-i-am-an-angry-survivor/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [People who don't read seem to me mysterious. I don't know how they think or learn about other people. Novels are a very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/people-who-don-t-read-seem-to-me-mysterious-i-don-t-know-how-they/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [Adults get more confused by social worker jargon. Unlike children, they are also less likely to see two sides of an argument, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/adults-get-more-confused-by-social-worker-jargon-unlike-children-they/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [Children often have a much stronger concept of morality than adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/children-often-have-a-much-stronger-concept-of-morality-than-adults/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I dislike the word 'victim.' I dislike being told that I 'lost' my husband - as if I had idly abandoned you by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-dislike-the-word-victim-i-dislike-being-told-that-i-lost-my-husband/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I was cleaning out the pigsty at a farm in Wales, where my mother had rented a room, when the results of my final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-was-cleaning-out-the-pigsty-at-a-farm-in-wales-where-my-mother-had/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [I hope in my books I help children to see their strengths, and show them I have some idea of what they may occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-hope-in-my-books-i-help-children-to-see-their-strengths-and-show/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) [Explore all 31 Nina Bawden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) ## More Auntie quotes > [Me with my auntie :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-with-my-auntie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh I'm sure you're right," Auntie said. "Probably she's just as you say. But she looks to me like a very clever girl, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-golden/oh-i-m-sure-you-re-right-auntie-said-probably-she-s-just-as-you-say/) [Arthur Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-golden/) > [When my husband Jonas and I started Auntie Anne's in 1988, we never expected or anticipated building an international pretzel franchise. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-f-beiler/when-my-husband-jonas-and-i-started-auntie-anne-s-in-1988-we-never/) [Anne F. Beiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-f-beiler/) > [She ain't my queen. My grandmother is my queen, and my auntie, my cousin, my daughters... the Queen's never done anything for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/she-ain-t-my-queen-my-grandmother-is-my-queen-and-my-auntie-my-cousin/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [ I embrace the criticism, because ultimately (it means) the masses have seen it \[my movie\]. I embrace it for my father's story, for my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-daniels/i-embrace-the-criticism-because-ultimately-it-means-the-masses-have/) [Lee Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-daniels/) > [I had no interest in fashion when I was younger. I was such a tomboy. I loved soccer, as you call it, or sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-had-no-interest-in-fashion-when-i-was-younger-i-was-such-a-tomboy-i/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [Auntie Mame, who was the british lady?" 'Oh, she's from Pittsburgh' 'But she had the acc-' 'Well, when your from Pittsburgh you gotta do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/auntie-mame-who-was-the-british-lady-oh-she-s-from-pittsburgh-but-she/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“Precious Auntie, what is our name? I always meant to claim it as my own. Come help me remember. I'm not a little girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/precious-auntie-what-is-our-name-i-always-meant-to-claim-it-as-my-own/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [ \[To the patronizing train conductor who had twice said, 'Auntie, give me your ticket':\] Which of my sister's sons are you? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcleod-bethune/to-the-patronizing-train-conductor-who-had-twice-said-auntie-give-me/) [Mary McLeod Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcleod-bethune/) > [“Auntie had nothing to say to that. Whatever was on this man's mind, it had nothing to do with her. There were times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/auntie-had-nothing-to-say-to-that-whatever-was-on-this-man-s-mind-it/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [Not all gays respond to the same stuff. Would Alexander the Great have loved Auntie Mame?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bawer/not-all-gays-respond-to-the-same-stuff-would-alexander-the-great-have/) [Bruce Bawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bawer/) > [“I suppose it's not so easy to change fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagabe/i-suppose-it-s-not-so-easy-to-change-fate/) Nagabe > [ \[The\] BBC was known as Auntie suggesting someone prudish and Victorian and that she still is on some days. On others she's a champagne-soaked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/the-bbc-was-known-as-auntie-suggesting-someone-prudish-and-victorian/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [When I grew up, my auntie was in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-gotti/when-i-grew-up-my-auntie-was-in-prison/) [Yo Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-gotti/) > [More and more people each year are going abroad for Christmas ... Fed up with the fact that commercial Christmas starts in October. Fed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-beaton/more-and-more-people-each-year-are-going-abroad-for-christmas-fed-up/) [M.C. Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-beaton/) Browse all 62 Auntie quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I wanted to get a job, but Auntie Beryl said I should go to Oxford.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nina Bawden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling-around-exposing-things-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auntie" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling-around-exposing-things-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/nina-bawden-20102_auntie_i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling_1242278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I…” — Nina Bawden", "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": "Nina Bawden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wanted to be a war...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling-around-exposing-things-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/i-wanted-to-be-a-war-reporter-scrabbling-around-exposing-things-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 } } ] } ```