--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got into Stanford in high school…" description: "\"When I got into Stanford in high school, I had some friends from school who told me that I just got in because I was black and whatnot.\" — Sterling K. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/sterling-k-brown-3532_friends_when-i-got-into-stanford-in-high-school_2651254.jpg" --- # When I got into Stanford in high school, I had some… ![“When I got into Stanford in high school, I had some friends from school who told me that I just got in because I was black and whatnot.” quote by Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/sterling-k-brown-3532_friends_when-i-got-into-stanford-in-high-school_2651254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/sterling-k-brown-3532_friends_when-i-got-into-stanford-in-high-school_2651254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/sterling-k-brown-3532_friends_when-i-got-into-stanford-in-high-school_2651254.jpg) > “When I got into Stanford in high school, I had some friends from school who told me that I just got in because I was black and whatnot.” [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Brown faced assumptions that his admission to Stanford was due to race, highlighting ongoing bias and the challenge of proving merit. **In simple terms:** He was assumed admitted because of race. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes with performance. Themes bias merit identity Mood thoughtful determined Type social reflective When to use this quote - academia - career - public perception Key Concepts social justice education Questions to Reflect On - How do stereotypes affect self‑esteem? - What can institutions do to reduce bias? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-friends/) ## Related quotes > [My first web series, 'Dorm Diaries,' was a realistic mockumentary about what it was like to be black at Stanford University. I'm black and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/my-first-web-series-dorm-diaries-was-a-realistic-mockumentary-about/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [When we were in school, we were told that Stalin was a madman who got control of Europe, which teaches you nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/when-we-were-in-school-we-were-told-that-stalin-was-a-madman-who-got/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [Ironically at drama school I was told I didn't have a voice conducive for radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finty-williams/ironically-at-drama-school-i-was-told-i-didn-t-have-a-voice-conducive/) [Finty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finty-williams/) > [“As a teacher at my old high school told me recently, “They want us to be shepherds to these kids. But no one wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/as-a-teacher-at-my-old-high-school-told-me-recently-they-want-us-to/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [“When I started sixth grade, the other kids made fun of Brian and me because we were so skinny. They called me spider legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/when-i-started-sixth-grade-the-other-kids-made-fun-of-brian-and-me/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Keep those faces in mind, the little girls and boys in the early grades, all trusting the adults to show them the way, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-hallowell/keep-those-faces-in-mind-the-little-girls-and-boys-in-the-early/) [Edward M. Hallowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-hallowell/) > [On parochial school I was told I had an overabundance of original sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/on-parochial-school-i-was-told-i-had-an-overabundance-of-original-sin/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I had a professor in graduate school who told us, 'Know what you're good at, and do that thing.' And I thought, 'Hands down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-ann-miles/i-had-a-professor-in-graduate-school-who-told-us-know-what-you-re/) [Ruthie Ann Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-ann-miles/) > [When I was twelve, I heard about the National Theater School, and I told my parents, 'That's what I want to do.' And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-twelve-i-heard-about-the-national-theater-school-and-i/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [I had a teacher at school who told me to take up the harp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-had-a-teacher-at-school-who-told-me-to-take-up-the-harp/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [“Girls don't go to law school," I told him. "No, but women do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikki-klieman/girls-don-t-go-to-law-school-i-told-him-no-but-women-do/) Rikki Klieman > [You got to miss class to do it. Like, many periods of school. And then they took us to an elementary or middle school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-glazer/you-got-to-miss-class-to-do-it-like-many-periods-of-school-and-then/) [Ilana Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-glazer/) > [Everything has changed. When I was at school and was told I had better learn English, I said: What for? The English are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-fangio/everything-has-changed-when-i-was-at-school-and-was-told-i-had-better/) [Juan Manuel Fangio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-fangio/) > [“Law school, as he told it, was largely a matter of poring over judicial opinions. “Basically, you read these things without any understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/law-school-as-he-told-it-was-largely-a-matter-of-poring-over-judicial/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Much of our lives involves the word “no.” In school we are mostly told, “Don't do it this way. Do it that way.” But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bell/much-of-our-lives-involves-the-word-no-in-school-we-are-mostly-told/) [Marvin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bell/) ## More by Sterling K. Brown > [It would be really cool to have my dad here to witness this, to see his grandchildren, to see this woman that I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/it-would-be-really-cool-to-have-my-dad-here-to-witness-this-to-see/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [The humanity that is given to other people isn't given to us. There is an expendability that comes along with being African American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/the-humanity-that-is-given-to-other-people-isn-t-given-to-us-there-is/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I want to be remembered for a body of work so that when the next guy comes up, he could think of Sterling K.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-want-to-be-remembered-for-a-body-of-work-so-that-when-the-next-guy/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [What was so lovely about 'O.J.' and 'This Is Us' to a certain extent is that I got a chance to surprise people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/what-was-so-lovely-about-o-j-and-this-is-us-to-a-certain-extent-is/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [The work of acting, in and of itself, is something that is infinitely enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/the-work-of-acting-in-and-of-itself-is-something-that-is-infinitely/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I have a certain memory of the way in which my father loved me until I was 10, and it was unconditional and eternal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-have-a-certain-memory-of-the-way-in-which-my-father-loved-me-until/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [A couple of my favorite actors are Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, and, may he rest in peace, Philip Seymour Hoffman. I've had an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/a-couple-of-my-favorite-actors-are-don-cheadle-jeffrey-wright-and-may/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I didn't grow up feeling very handsome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-didn-t-grow-up-feeling-very-handsome/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I was at Stanford University up in the West Coast Bay Area, so the biggest song of my freshman year was 'I Got 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-was-at-stanford-university-up-in-the-west-coast-bay-area-so-the/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I try not to get too high off the highs or too low off the lows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-try-not-to-get-too-high-off-the-highs-or-too-low-off-the-lows/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and now my kids are growing up in Los Angeles, so that's culturally very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-lived-in-st-louis-missouri-and-now-my-kids-are-growing-up-in-los/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I went to a college prep high school in St. Louis, Missouri. When I graduated from school, I owned this thing called the Headmaster's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-went-to-a-college-prep-high-school-in-st-louis-missouri-when-i/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [It's a very frightening feeling to feel like you can have a busted taillight or wear a hoodie or be playing in a park,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/it-s-a-very-frightening-feeling-to-feel-like-you-can-have-a-busted/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I went to Target once and picked up three seasons of '24' - what I call the Jack Bauer power hour - and watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-went-to-target-once-and-picked-up-three-seasons-of-24-what-i-call/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [Busy is good, you know. Busy is better than bored, and there's more recognition. Like, I try to feign the anonymity which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/busy-is-good-you-know-busy-is-better-than-bored-and-there-s-more/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) [Explore all 128 Sterling K. Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) ## More Friends quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [It's hard to be JUST FRIENDS with the ONE YOU LOVE when every time you look at that person, all you see is EVERYTHING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-be-just-friends-with-the-one-you-love-when-every-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) Deyth Banger > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. 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