--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic…" description: "\"Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic, but we had this hope that if we could just get into the Ivy League, everything would be set. We dreamed of Gothi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/sarah-strohmeyer-16516_british_maybe-we-were-being-a-bit-unrealistic-bu_2723488.jpg" --- # Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic, but we had this… ![“Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic, but we had this hope that if we could just get into the Ivy League, everything would be set. We dreamed of Gothic libraries and leafy green quads and romantic dorms with fireplaces and guys who were not only cute but also smart and charming, and, quite…” quote by Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/sarah-strohmeyer-16516_british_maybe-we-were-being-a-bit-unrealistic-bu_2723488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/sarah-strohmeyer-16516_british_maybe-we-were-being-a-bit-unrealistic-bu_2723488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/sarah-strohmeyer-16516_british_maybe-we-were-being-a-bit-unrealistic-bu_2723488.jpg) > “Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic, but we had this hope that if we could just get into the Ivy League, everything would be set. We dreamed of Gothic libraries and leafy green quads and romantic dorms with fireplaces and guys who were not only cute but also smart and charming, and, quite possibly, British. In college, we believed, we’d finally find our people.” [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) ## 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 recounts youthful aspirations of Ivy League life, idealizing its architecture, social scene, and romanticized partners, hoping to find belonging there. **In simple terms:** Dream of Ivy League as perfect social and academic haven. Key Takeaway Question idealized expectations of elite education. Themes education aspiration social belonging romantic idealism Mood hopeful critical Type cultural critique personal reflection When to use this quote - college applications - social networking - relationship expectations Key Concepts class mobility social identity Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of Ivy League life are realistic? - How do such dreams affect self‑esteem? A Different Perspective Idealized visions may overlook practical challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Fireplaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fireplaces/) [Gothic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gothic/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Ivy league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivy-league/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quads/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [Going back to high school and college, I believed I would be involved in public service. I literally could not conceptualize anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/going-back-to-high-school-and-college-i-believed-i-would-be-involved/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [Quads are very exciting to watch, but they're so quick, and they're very short moments in the program... I don't really enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chan/quads-are-very-exciting-to-watch-but-they-re-so-quick-and-they-re/) [Patrick Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chan/) > [I was on a walking tour of Oxford colleges once with a group of bored and unimpressable tourists. They yawned at Balliol's quad, T.E.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/i-was-on-a-walking-tour-of-oxford-colleges-once-with-a-group-of-bored/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a category-defining product. Powered by Tegra 3, it launches us into a new era of mobile computing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-eee-pad-transformer-prime-is-a-category-defining-product-powered/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [Personally, I feel like there should be some sort of cap on the quads, but we should still be pushing it to a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/personally-i-feel-like-there-should-be-some-sort-of-cap-on-the-quads/) [Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/) > [I always joke to my dad and thank him for giving me this little boy body. When I was 6 or 7, my gymnastics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/i-always-joke-to-my-dad-and-thank-him-for-giving-me-this-little-boy/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [Sir, you have tasted two whole worms; you have hissed all my mystery lectures and been caught fighting a liar in the quad; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sir-you-have-tasted-two-whole-worms-you-have-hissed-all-my-mystery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm competing against men who are doing five quads between the short program and the long program, and I'm at three between the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chan/i-m-competing-against-men-who-are-doing-five-quads-between-the-short/) [Patrick Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chan/) > [I looked around and saw my competitors: they're all doing these quads, and at the same time, they're a head shorter than me, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/i-looked-around-and-saw-my-competitors-they-re-all-doing-these-quads/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [The quad toms are a completely different animal than the standard drum set/trap kit. Playing wise and stylistically, they are two different beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/the-quad-toms-are-a-completely-different-animal-than-the-standard/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [“Some bruises you wear like badges of honour: when you got it playing rugby, or quad racing, or falling off something while drunk, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-murray/some-bruises-you-wear-like-badges-of-honour-when-you-got-it-playing/) [paul murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-murray/) > [I have great artistry, I can spin well, I have good footwork, and I can jump. I can do the quad jump, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-abbott/i-have-great-artistry-i-can-spin-well-i-have-good-footwork-and-i-can/) [Jeremy Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-abbott/) > [The feeling persists that no one can simultaneously be a respectable writer and understand how a refrigerator works, just as no gentleman wears a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-feeling-persists-that-no-one-can-simultaneously-be-a-respectable/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I never run hills. My quads are already big enough. I don't run to build muscle; I do it for cardio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/i-never-run-hills-my-quads-are-already-big-enough-i-don-t-run-to/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [I'd ice-skated before, because I'm Canadian and that's what you do as a kid, but I'd never, ever been on quad skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-d-ice-skated-before-because-i-m-canadian-and-that-s-what-you-do-as/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) ## More by Sarah Strohmeyer > [“He bowed deeply before me and slipped to one knee, taking my hand in his and gazing with the perfect Fairyland combination of princely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/he-bowed-deeply-before-me-and-slipped-to-one-knee-taking-my-hand-in/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [“For years, he’s been listening to her complain about being ignored by Justin and assuring it her it was simply a matter of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/for-years-he-s-been-listening-to-her-complain-about-being-ignored-by/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [“On behalf of all that is good and melodic, Ludwig van Beethoven, I apologize.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/on-behalf-of-all-that-is-good-and-melodic-ludwig-van-beethoven-i/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [I think the only answer is to live life to the fullest while you can and collect memories like fools collect money. Because in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/i-think-the-only-answer-is-to-live-life-to-the-fullest-while-you-can/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [We may not get what we want, when we want. But with a bit of perseverance and a lot of patience, we can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/we-may-not-get-what-we-want-when-we-want-but-with-a-bit-of/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [The imagination is a wonderful thing; it allows for all manner of undiscoverable sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/the-imagination-is-a-wonderful-thing-it-allows-for-all-manner-of/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [In fact, a case could be made that worrying about a problem actually prevents you from resolving it, because it deceives your mind into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/in-fact-a-case-could-be-made-that-worrying-about-a-problem-actually/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [“Bruce Springsteen settled down. He used to run around with lots of women and now all he wants to do is hang out with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/bruce-springsteen-settled-down-he-used-to-run-around-with-lots-of/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [Love doesn't go anywhere when you die, you know. The person passes on, the body withers, but love, it survives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/love-doesn-t-go-anywhere-when-you-die-you-know-the-person-passes-on/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [See that's what people don't get about food. It's never the food, it's the love that goes into making it. That's what's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/see-that-s-what-people-don-t-get-about-food-it-s-never-the-food-it-s/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [It's the closest I've come to touching immortality, by reading the words of dead people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/it-s-the-closest-i-ve-come-to-touching-immortality-by-reading-the/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [“Bones is, in short, my hero. She is like a one-woman marketing campaign for smart girls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/bones-is-in-short-my-hero-she-is-like-a-one-woman-marketing-campaign/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [He's definitely one of those men you love before you get to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/he-s-definitely-one-of-those-men-you-love-before-you-get-to-know/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [The power of women united, I am again reminded, is an invincible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/the-power-of-women-united-i-am-again-reminded-is-an-invincible-thing/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [Risk is the universe's way of pushing us to become more than what we are. Risk is faith at the edge. Risk is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/risk-is-the-universe-s-way-of-pushing-us-to-become-more-than-what-we/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) [Explore all 39 Sarah Strohmeyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Maybe we were being a bit unrealistic, but we had this hope that if we could just get into the Ivy League, everything would be set. 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