--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I joined a campus competition, as I felt…" description: "\"I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do comedy, and I won. Then I started doing standup gigs in 2009 while completing my law degree, but I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg" --- # I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do… ![“I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do comedy, and I won. Then I started doing standup gigs in 2009 while completing my law degree, but I never told my parents. They only discovered a few years later.” quote by Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg) > “I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do comedy, and I won. Then I started doing standup gigs in 2009 while completing my law degree, but I never told my parents. They only discovered a few years later.” [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pursued comedy secretly while studying law, winning a competition and later performing stand‑up without informing his parents. **In simple terms:** He balanced law studies with secret comedy pursuits. Key Takeaway Pursue passions even if hidden. Themes ambition secrecy career Mood reflective humorous Type personal narrative career When to use this quote - law school - comedy clubs - family gatherings - personal projects Key Concepts risk‑taking personal growth family expectations Questions to Reflect On - Why hide achievements from loved ones? - When is secrecy justified? A Different Perspective Family may feel betrayed if secrets emerge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [I did a geography degree, and if you told me whilst I was ignoring my geography degree revision in order to watch another episode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-berrington/i-did-a-geography-degree-and-if-you-told-me-whilst-i-was-ignoring-my/) [Emily Berrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-berrington/) > [Everybody said that a film that funny can't win because normally your Cannes winner will be something more serious. It's not very often that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-bang/everybody-said-that-a-film-that-funny-can-t-win-because-normally-your/) [Claes Bang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-bang/) > [I think if you understand your role, comedy won't create any tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-think-if-you-understand-your-role-comedy-won-t-create-any-tragedy/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [Genuinely love doing standup and I'm a comedian first, so for me what makes my standup special is the fact that I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/genuinely-love-doing-standup-and-i-m-a-comedian-first-so-for-me-what/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I know I'm going to be doing standup for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rock/i-know-i-m-going-to-be-doing-standup-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Tony Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rock/) > [When you're doing standup, it's just you. It's your written jokes. You perform it however your personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rock/when-you-re-doing-standup-it-s-just-you-it-s-your-written-jokes-you/) [Tony Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rock/) > [I enjoy doing standup, but when I'm 50, I don't know if I'll still enjoy doing standup. It might be one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-enjoy-doing-standup-but-when-i-m-50-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-still/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [When you're doing standup you're kind of doing, "Hey. I thought of this. This may be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/when-you-re-doing-standup-you-re-kind-of-doing-hey-i-thought-of-this/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [If I could make the same amount of money doing standup it would be no contest. The problem is that if you do make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/if-i-could-make-the-same-amount-of-money-doing-standup-it-would-be-no/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I started doing standup when I was in college, and I would incorporate a lot of characters into my act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/i-started-doing-standup-when-i-was-in-college-and-i-would-incorporate/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I enjoy writing the same way I enjoy doing standup. Part of the challenge is being creative and making it work no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-fitzsimmons/i-enjoy-writing-the-same-way-i-enjoy-doing-standup-part-of-the/) [Greg Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-fitzsimmons/) > [I love to work. I love doing standup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-love-to-work-i-love-doing-standup/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [When I quit my internship and started doing standup to pursue my dreams and do that full time - I feel like that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-i-quit-my-internship-and-started-doing-standup-to-pursue-my/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I am happy doing standup so I don't ever want to stop doing it. But I wouldn't mind venturing off and doing other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-am-happy-doing-standup-so-i-don-t-ever-want-to-stop-doing-it-but-i/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [I don't know if there's a strategy really so much as, like I learned doing standup and had to learn fast, you always just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-a-strategy-really-so-much-as-like-i-learned/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## More by Ronny Chieng > [I like to think we're all the sum of our experiences, so no one has my perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-like-to-think-we-re-all-the-sum-of-our-experiences-so-no-one-has-my/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [American comic Bill Burr makes me laugh a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/american-comic-bill-burr-makes-me-laugh-a-lot/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I think when people talk about race relations in America, they talk about African-American and white people. Asians are not often brought into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-think-when-people-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-they-talk/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I'm made of dead stars, I eat a lot of fruits, and I hate peak period travel, as opposed to my character on 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-m-made-of-dead-stars-i-eat-a-lot-of-fruits-and-i-hate-peak-period/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I always take things too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-always-take-things-too-seriously/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [When you do comedy shows, you usually don't finish until about 11 P.M. Then you have this adrenaline dump, and you get hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/when-you-do-comedy-shows-you-usually-don-t-finish-until-about-11-p-m/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [You don't need to go far to see the hatred and abuse that happens online. Even using social media is anti-social because people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/you-don-t-need-to-go-far-to-see-the-hatred-and-abuse-that-happens/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I'm the worst night owl, because I'm a self-loathing night owl who thinks, 'No, I should be getting up early.' It feels unproductive. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-m-the-worst-night-owl-because-i-m-a-self-loathing-night-owl-who/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [My approach to comedy is that whenever it comes to me, I write it. With 'The Daily Show,' you have to write stuff every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/my-approach-to-comedy-is-that-whenever-it-comes-to-me-i-write-it-with/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [America is the NBA of culture. So to have Asian people in the biggest entertainment market in the world, in Hollywood, is cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/america-is-the-nba-of-culture-so-to-have-asian-people-in-the-biggest/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [Japan is the only country I have visited that I want to go to again. I just feel the Japanese have such good taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/japan-is-the-only-country-i-have-visited-that-i-want-to-go-to-again-i/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I got heckled off stage in Western Australia at a music festival once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-got-heckled-off-stage-in-western-australia-at-a-music-festival-once/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I don't want to ever tell a stereotype joke for the sake of it. I'm going to tell the story that I feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-don-t-want-to-ever-tell-a-stereotype-joke-for-the-sake-of-it-i-m/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [When I first came to Australia, one thing that struck me was how everything closed early. Singapore is very much a 24/7 place. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/when-i-first-came-to-australia-one-thing-that-struck-me-was-how/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [We didn't really have vacations when I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/we-didn-t-really-have-vacations-when-i-was-a-child/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) [Explore all 60 Ronny Chieng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do comedy, and I won. Then I started doing standup gigs in 2009 while completing my law degree, but I never told my parents. They only discovered a few years later.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronny Chieng" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt-i-could-do-comedy-and-i-won/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt-i-could-do-comedy-and-i-won/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/ronny-chieng-11371_comedy_i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt_826916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I joined a campus competition, as I felt I could do comedy, and I won. Then I started doing standup gigs in…” — Ronny Chieng", "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": "Ronny Chieng", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I joined a campus competition, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt-i-could-do-comedy-and-i-won/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-joined-a-campus-competition-as-i-felt-i-could-do-comedy-and-i-won/#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 } } ] } ```