--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was actually pretty miserable in high…" description: "\"I was actually pretty miserable in high school. I couldn't wait for it to be over. And when it finally was, I remember sitting at graduation with all t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sarah-dessen-110_choices_i-was-actually-pretty-miserable-in-high_1543228.png" --- # I was actually pretty miserable in high school. I couldn't… ![“I was actually pretty miserable in high school. I couldn't wait for it to be over. And when it finally was, I remember sitting at graduation with all these classmates getting nostalgic and emotional already and all I could think was, "Get me out of here. I never want to see you people again." So…” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sarah-dessen-110_choices_i-was-actually-pretty-miserable-in-high_1543228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sarah-dessen-110_choices_i-was-actually-pretty-miserable-in-high_1543228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sarah-dessen-110_choices_i-was-actually-pretty-miserable-in-high_1543228.png) > “I was actually pretty miserable in high school. I couldn't wait for it to be over. And when it finally was, I remember sitting at graduation with all these classmates getting nostalgic and emotional already and all I could think was, "Get me out of here. I never want to see you people again." So it's ironic that I spend half my day putting myself back there by choice \[while writing\].” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on high school misery and the paradox of voluntarily revisiting painful memories through writing. **In simple terms:** She feels both relief and irony in returning to past pain. Key Takeaway Acknowledge past pain but use it creatively. Themes growth memory creativity Mood nostalgic hopeful Type literary self‑help When to use this quote - journaling - creative writing classes - support groups Key Concepts psychology narrative therapy self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Why do we revisit painful experiences? - How can writing transform past hurt? A Different Perspective Re‑engaging with trauma can be emotionally taxing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Classmates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classmates/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Getting Nostalgic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-nostalgic-4956445/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Graduation Classmates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation-classmates-5751958/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Ironic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ironic/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Nostalgic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-graduation-392787/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want to see you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-to-see-you/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Rather than getting nostalgic...embrace the new opportunities and challenges available to you now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/rather-than-getting-nostalgic-embrace-the-new-opportunities-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Just wanted to congratulate myself on sitting through your graduation ceremony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-congratulate-myself-on-sitting-through-your-graduation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Аs I've mentioned many times, sitting through graduation ceremonies is one of life's drearier milestones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-yoffe/s-i-ve-mentioned-many-times-sitting-through-graduation-ceremonies-is/) [Emily Yoffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-yoffe/) > [Whatever you do to recover from a loss, people will be critical because they believe that the only way to recover is their way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/whatever-you-do-to-recover-from-a-loss-people-will-be-critical/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [When you have an audience, and you have people who want to see your character and want to see you, it's really amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/when-you-have-an-audience-and-you-have-people-who-want-to-see-your/) [RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/) > [I am not crazy. I am not a man that hates this country in which I was born. I want to see you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/i-am-not-crazy-i-am-not-a-man-that-hates-this-country-in-which-i-was/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I want to be where your heart is home I want to see you with the light in the morning There's never been such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-want-to-be-where-your-heart-is-home-i-want-to-see-you-with-the/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [If you're trying to get something done, there will always be people who don't want to see you get something done, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/if-you-re-trying-to-get-something-done-there-will-always-be-people/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Нaving such a huge fan base, it's hard to see that and be motivated when you have so many people who support you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/aving-such-a-huge-fan-base-it-s-hard-to-see-that-and-be-motivated/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [You can't go and anticipate what it is that you want to see. You just have to be present. Be where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/you-can-t-go-and-anticipate-what-it-is-that-you-want-to-see-you-just/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [It's kind of cheesy, but my mama, who you all have seen on the show, says to cook for your man. She's Southern, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-james-decker/it-s-kind-of-cheesy-but-my-mama-who-you-all-have-seen-on-the-show/) [Jessie James Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-james-decker/) > [You can't write about a horrible restaurant - if it's a Ma & Pa restaurant no one wants to see you kick Ma &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sietsema/you-can-t-write-about-a-horrible-restaurant-if-it-s-a-ma-pa/) [Robert Sietsema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sietsema/) > [Now every idiot from high school's like, 'I'm back!' We weren't supposed to meet again. Stop poking me and inviting me to your weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/now-every-idiot-from-high-school-s-like-i-m-back-we-weren-t-supposed/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [I think people read the tabloids because they want to see you eating a burger, or out of your makeup or doing something stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-think-people-read-the-tabloids-because-they-want-to-see-you-eating/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [First words on the first telephone - "Mr. Watson - come here - I want to see you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/first-words-on-the-first-telephone-mr-watson-come-here-i-want-to-see/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was actually pretty miserable in high school. 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