--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in high school, I worked at a…" description: "\"When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking lot. I got paid for that, but I also go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59b/stephen-schwartz-3036_actor_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a_161302.jpg" --- # When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long… ![“When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking lot. I got paid for that, but I also got to apprentice and have roles in shows - unpaid of course.” quote by Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59b/stephen-schwartz-3036_actor_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a_161302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59b/stephen-schwartz-3036_actor_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a_161302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59b/stephen-schwartz-3036_actor_when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a_161302.jpg) > “When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking lot. I got paid for that, but I also got to apprentice and have roles in shows - unpaid of course.” [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early work experiences can blend paid duties with unpaid learning, shaping future creative paths. **In simple terms:** Work can teach you while you earn. Key Takeaway Seek roles that teach as you earn. Themes career growth learning creativity Mood reflective optimistic Type inspirational career When to use this quote - theatre work - student jobs - volunteer projects Key Concepts apprenticeship hands‑on experience Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance income and learning? - What skills did you gain that paid work didn't offer? A Different Perspective Unpaid work may limit financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Unpaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpaid/) ## Related quotes > [The fact is that 'The Wizard Of Oz' has never really worked in the theatre. The film has one or two holes where, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/the-fact-is-that-the-wizard-of-oz-has-never-really-worked-in-the/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [I had zero connection to Bollywood or movies when I started out. 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R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“Worrying is a full-time job -- I wish it paid better!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ohler-jr/worrying-is-a-full-time-job-i-wish-it-paid-better/) Joseph Ohler, Jr > [“No debt goes unpaid in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/no-debt-goes-unpaid-in-the-universe/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Being first lady is the hardest unpaid job in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/being-first-lady-is-the-hardest-unpaid-job-in-the-world/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) ## More by Stephen Schwartz > [Bringing your show to Broadway is an economic decision on the part of producers and investors that may or may not happen, but sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/bringing-your-show-to-broadway-is-an-economic-decision-on-the-part-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [You wouldn't walk into a music store and walk out with a piece of music under your arm. So why would it be acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/you-wouldn-t-walk-into-a-music-store-and-walk-out-with-a-piece-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [There have always been discussions about a 'Pippin' movie. I think it would lend itself very well to film if one could solve how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/there-have-always-been-discussions-about-a-pippin-movie-i-think-it/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I perform I try and focus on the lyrics and my interpretation of the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-perform-i-try-and-focus-on-the-lyrics-and-my-interpretation-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I think it would be really cool to see 'Enchanted' on Broadway - there's been discussion of it from time to time. You'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-think-it-would-be-really-cool-to-see-enchanted-on-broadway-there-s/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I was very happy in Hollywood. I was doing extremely well there and things were good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-was-very-happy-in-hollywood-i-was-doing-extremely-well-there-and/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [That was what I always wanted to do for my whole life, to write music in the service of telling stories and communicating ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/that-was-what-i-always-wanted-to-do-for-my-whole-life-to-write-music/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [With Bernstein, because we wound up always working music first, it was where I really feel I learned how to write lyrics as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/with-bernstein-because-we-wound-up-always-working-music-first-it-was/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [In 'Wicked,' we developed the concept that Glinda has a public persona who sings in soprano and a private persona who is, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/in-wicked-we-developed-the-concept-that-glinda-has-a-public-persona/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Alan Menken is so gifted in terms of coming up with these great melodies. What I learned from working with him was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/alan-menken-is-so-gifted-in-terms-of-coming-up-with-these-great/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I like works about familiar stories, where one spins the point of view and looks at it from another angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-like-works-about-familiar-stories-where-one-spins-the-point-of-view/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/excuse-me-there-s-no-pretense-here-i-happen-to-be-genuinely-self/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Dancers are the unsung heroes Broadway musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/dancers-are-the-unsung-heroes-broadway-musicals/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [“ELPHABA Hands touch, eyes meet Sudden silence, sudden heat Hearts leap in a giddy whirl He could be that boy But I'm not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/elphaba-hands-touch-eyes-meet-sudden-silence-sudden-heat-hearts-leap/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) [Explore all 141 Stephen Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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