--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was only going to go to college because…" description: "\"I was only going to go to college because that's what I thought you were supposed to do.\" — Spike Jonze" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/spike-jonze-3309_because_i-was-only-going-to-go-to-college-becaus_2294681.jpg" --- # I was only going to go to college because that's what I… ![“I was only going to go to college because that's what I thought you were supposed to do.” quote by Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/spike-jonze-3309_because_i-was-only-going-to-go-to-college-becaus_2294681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/spike-jonze-3309_because_i-was-only-going-to-go-to-college-becaus_2294681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/spike-jonze-3309_because_i-was-only-going-to-go-to-college-becaus_2294681.jpg) > “I was only going to go to college because that's what I thought you were supposed to do.” [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) ## 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 feels pressured to follow a traditional path without personal conviction. **In simple terms:** Feeling forced into college. Key Takeaway Question your own motivations. Themes conformity identity education Mood conflicted reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - career choice - family expectations - higher education decisions Key Concepts social pressure personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What would you pursue if not for expectations? - Do you feel your path is truly yours? A Different Perspective May ignore personal passions for societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“Thought we were supposed to be friends? Best friends?” “We are , Sev.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/thought-we-were-supposed-to-be-friends-best-friends-we-are-sev/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I thought I was supposed to have a fake six-pack in this scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-thought-i-was-supposed-to-have-a-fake-six-pack-in-this-scene/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I thought you were supposed to be flying this thing, not pleasuring it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallagher/i-thought-you-were-supposed-to-be-flying-this-thing-not-pleasuring-it/) Paul Gallagher > [I had no idea what art was. There was one art class in high school, but it didn't make a big impression on me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/i-had-no-idea-what-art-was-there-was-one-art-class-in-high-school-but/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [There was a long time in my life where I made music that I thought my friends would like, or that I thought would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-brown/there-was-a-long-time-in-my-life-where-i-made-music-that-i-thought-my/) [Danny Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-brown/) > [I thought you were supposed to be pretending I don’t exist, not irritating me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-thought-you-were-supposed-to-be-pretending-i-don-t-exist-not/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [You don't understand who they thought I was supposed to be. Look at me now a man who won't let himself be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-in-chains/you-don-t-understand-who-they-thought-i-was-supposed-to-be-look-at-me/) [Alice In Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-in-chains/) > [Until I came out publicly, I wasn't really living my fullest life. I was trying to be who I thought I was supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/until-i-came-out-publicly-i-wasn-t-really-living-my-fullest-life-i/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I always thought that I was supposed to force my issues down and keep them hidden with a smile. That was until I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-brisnehan/i-always-thought-that-i-was-supposed-to-force-my-issues-down-and-keep/) Alexander Brisnehan > [ “Designed for good \[my friend was sputtering and throwing smoke\]. The soul was not designed for this, I thought. We were supposed to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/designed-for-good-my-friend-was-sputtering-and-throwing-smoke-the/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-to-prove-yourself/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Going off to college, makes you realize who your true friends really were in high school...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/going-off-to-college-makes-you-realize-who-your-true-friends-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-going-to-college-i-don-t-care-if-it-ruins-my-career-i-d-rather-be/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I was working part-time as a cleaner while I was going to college and then babysitting after school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/i-was-working-part-time-as-a-cleaner-while-i-was-going-to-college-and/) [Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) ## More by Spike Jonze > [When I'm making stuff, the thing that excites me most is not the result, but the process and trying to do something I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/when-i-m-making-stuff-the-thing-that-excites-me-most-is-not-the/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [“Falling in love is kind of like a form of socially acceptable insanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/falling-in-love-is-kind-of-like-a-form-of-socially-acceptable-insanity/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [On set, there's a lot of pressure. But it sort of heightens the moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/on-set-there-s-a-lot-of-pressure-but-it-sort-of-heightens-the-moments/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [There was definitely a point in my thirties when I thought, 'Oh, wow, I'm not the youngest person on the set anymore.' But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/there-was-definitely-a-point-in-my-thirties-when-i-thought-oh-wow-i-m/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I think there's a knee-jerk reaction to things from parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/i-think-there-s-a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-things-from-parents/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I feel like you only have so much time to make stuff. I'm definitely aware of that. I'm also excited about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/i-feel-like-you-only-have-so-much-time-to-make-stuff-i-m-definitely/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Obviously technology has become such a big presence in our lives and, I definitely know, in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/obviously-technology-has-become-such-a-big-presence-in-our-lives-and/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [As creatives, it's a hard thing to push, to make something you're truly excited about, especially if you've written 100 different concepts and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/as-creatives-it-s-a-hard-thing-to-push-to-make-something-you-re-truly/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I definitely check my phone for texts a lot - like, 'Did anyone text me? Is anyone thinking about me? Does anyone love me?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/i-definitely-check-my-phone-for-texts-a-lot-like-did-anyone-text-me/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Be willing to get fired for a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/be-willing-to-get-fired-for-a-good-idea/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Emotions are messy and hard to figure out. Hard to know where you start and the next person stops. Even as an adult, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/emotions-are-messy-and-hard-to-figure-out-hard-to-know-where-you/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [There's great food everywhere, and even McDonald's uses nice wood now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/there-s-great-food-everywhere-and-even-mcdonald-s-uses-nice-wood-now/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [There's a difference between stress and pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/there-s-a-difference-between-stress-and-pressure/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Kids are so fiercely opinionated, that if they love the Harry Potter books and they go see the movie, they'll be the first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/kids-are-so-fiercely-opinionated-that-if-they-love-the-harry-potter/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [The strengths and failings of a relationship depend entirely on your ability to talk about your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/the-strengths-and-failings-of-a-relationship-depend-entirely-on-your/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) [Explore all 134 Spike Jonze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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