--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never an A student. I never really…" description: "\"I was never an A student. I never really liked going to school like many of my friends. There were just too many students and too competitive. We were ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/sung-jin-park-41191_failure_i-was-never-an-a-student-i-never-really_2444440.jpg" --- # I was never an A student. I never really liked going to… ![“I was never an A student. I never really liked going to school like many of my friends. There were just too many students and too competitive. We were sort of forced into studying to go to college. It was like if we didn't go to college, society looked at us as failures. We didn't know what to do…” quote by Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/sung-jin-park-41191_failure_i-was-never-an-a-student-i-never-really_2444440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/sung-jin-park-41191_failure_i-was-never-an-a-student-i-never-really_2444440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/sung-jin-park-41191_failure_i-was-never-an-a-student-i-never-really_2444440.jpg) > “I was never an A student. I never really liked going to school like many of my friends. There were just too many students and too competitive. We were sort of forced into studying to go to college. It was like if we didn't go to college, society looked at us as failures. We didn't know what to do with the situation.” [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) ## 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 felt pressured by societal expectations to pursue college, despite disliking school and feeling overwhelmed by competition. **In simple terms:** Societal pressure pushed them toward college despite personal dislike. Key Takeaway Question societal norms and seek paths aligning with personal passions. Themes education society pressure Mood reflective critical Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - alternative education - mental health support Key Concepts conformity identity career choice Questions to Reflect On - Do you truly value the degree or the societal approval? - What alternative routes could fulfill your goals? A Different Perspective It may ignore individual strengths and lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Didn College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-college-368220/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Forced Studying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forced-studying-516407/) [Going School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-school/) [Just Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-students-516409/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Studying College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-college-516408/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [During college, I didn't really have an interest in what I was studying. 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The schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/you-can-be-a-lender-who-wants-to-compete-and-have-a-better-product/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [My father graduated from high school and didn't go to college and still found his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hornsby/my-father-graduated-from-high-school-and-didn-t-go-to-college-and/) [Russell Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hornsby/) > [I didn't get to college until my 20s, because I was a young father on welfare and had to take all kind of jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-didn-t-get-to-college-until-my-20s-because-i-was-a-young-father-on/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [You can't do your job thinking about the money. I didn't go to college for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/you-can-t-do-your-job-thinking-about-the-money-i-didn-t-go-to-college/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [Yeah, my parents really valued education; they were both educators. But it was definitely true that I grew up in an area where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-porter/yeah-my-parents-really-valued-education-they-were-both-educators-but/) [Katie Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-porter/) > [In my mother's day, she didn't go to college. Not a lot of women did. Now for every two men who get a college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/in-my-mother-s-day-she-didn-t-go-to-college-not-a-lot-of-women-did/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [I didn't have no college friends. All the artists the college folks were listening to were my homies. I was leaving class, literally, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-will-made-it/i-didn-t-have-no-college-friends-all-the-artists-the-college-folks/) [Mike Will Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-will-made-it/) > [I didn't get any college credit for playing in Vampire Weekend, you know. So it was definitely an early hurdle to get over with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baio/i-didn-t-get-any-college-credit-for-playing-in-vampire-weekend-you/) [Chris Baio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baio/) > [I didn't go to college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/i-didn-t-go-to-college/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [I started out as a box boy. You know, I didn't go to college, and I did well in supermarkets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-burkle/i-started-out-as-a-box-boy-you-know-i-didn-t-go-to-college-and-i-did/) [Ronald Burkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-burkle/) > [I didn't go to college and I worked so I could play music. That was my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/i-didn-t-go-to-college-and-i-worked-so-i-could-play-music-that-was-my/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [I'm not U.S.A. Olympic image. I didn't go to college. I came from a different route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-m-not-u-s-a-olympic-image-i-didn-t-go-to-college-i-came-from-a/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I'm not stupid. I mean, I didn't go to college but I've got a lot of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-m-not-stupid-i-mean-i-didn-t-go-to-college-but-i-ve-got-a-lot-of/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [I didn't go to college. My college was the minor leagues, and talking to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/i-didn-t-go-to-college-my-college-was-the-minor-leagues-and-talking/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) ## More by Sung Jin Park > [Some Korean models may be seen in European Fashion Week, but it is hard to find them in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/some-korean-models-may-be-seen-in-european-fashion-week-but-it-is/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [I was never happy, and neither were many of my friends. We were just normal kids that were not so excellent at what society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/i-was-never-happy-and-neither-were-many-of-my-friends-we-were-just/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [I like old rockabilly style. I always wear denim on denim with suspenders and slicked back hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/i-like-old-rockabilly-style-i-always-wear-denim-on-denim-with/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [In New York, you get lots of trade. Rad Hourani gave me a cool hooded parka.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/in-new-york-you-get-lots-of-trade-rad-hourani-gave-me-a-cool-hooded/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [I still do all my developing and printing in my darkroom. Being in New York, you get tremendous exposure to great arts. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/i-still-do-all-my-developing-and-printing-in-my-darkroom-being-in-new/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [Marc by Marc Jacobs was my favorite. The stage was so big, and there were so many people there. I had very bad vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/marc-by-marc-jacobs-was-my-favorite-the-stage-was-so-big-and-there/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [If I am to choose two words that best describes myself, they are 'self-esteem' and 'guts.' Guts helped me become a global model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/if-i-am-to-choose-two-words-that-best-describes-myself-they-are-self/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [I was born in Seoul, South Korea; then I moved to New York City at the age of seventeen. In New York, I studied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/i-was-born-in-seoul-south-korea-then-i-moved-to-new-york-city-at-the/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) > [My cousin knew a manager in the model agency, He offered me a shoot for a Korean brand called Kai-aakmann, and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sung-jin-park/my-cousin-knew-a-manager-in-the-model-agency-he-offered-me-a-shoot/) [Sung Jin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) [Explore all 10 Sung Jin Park quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sung-jin-park/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [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/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was never an A student. 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