--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, I used to think that…" description: "\"When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional upbringing was a weakness, but over the past few years, I've learnt to see it as one of my g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg" --- # When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional… ![“When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional upbringing was a weakness, but over the past few years, I've learnt to see it as one of my greatest strengths.” quote by Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg) > “When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional upbringing was a weakness, but over the past few years, I've learnt to see it as one of my greatest strengths.” [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reframed her unconventional background from a perceived flaw into a source of personal power. **In simple terms:** Turning a unique upbringing into a strength. Key Takeaway Embrace your differences as assets. Themes self‑acceptance resilience identity growth Mood reflective empowering Type personal development inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal branding - leadership - creative projects Key Concepts psychology strengths‑based perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage your unique background at work? - What aspects of your upbringing feel most empowering? A Different Perspective Not all unconventional traits are universally valued; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-strength/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Unconventional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconventional/) [Unconventional Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconventional-upbringing-962062/) [Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing/) [Upbringing Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing-weakness-3157269/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-past-3157270/) ## Related quotes > [I guess I had what you could call an unconventional upbringing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-guess-i-had-what-you-could-call-an-unconventional-upbringing/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [My parents were unconventional for Asian parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-parents-were-unconventional-for-asian-parents/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [If one looks at my choices, all of them have been unconventional. There's not a single song-and-dance or romantic film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/if-one-looks-at-my-choices-all-of-them-have-been-unconventional-there/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [... if a person is to be unconventional, he must be amusing or he is intolerable: for, in the nature of the case, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/if-a-person-is-to-be-unconventional-he-must-be-amusing-or-he-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [I think of myself as unconventional, I guess. I maybe always had a problem with authority, like a stubbornness about what's expected - despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/i-think-of-myself-as-unconventional-i-guess-i-maybe-always-had-a/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/you-are-wrong-if-you-think-joy-emanates-only-or-principally-from/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [Be creative. Use unconventional thinking. And have the guts to carry it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/be-creative-use-unconventional-thinking-and-have-the-guts-to-carry-it/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Jeanne Moreau, Lauren Bacall, they had this unconventional beauty, this amazing charisma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/jeanne-moreau-lauren-bacall-they-had-this-unconventional-beauty-this/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) > [What's the fun in doing conventional things? I would rather be known as someone who is unconventional. I like being unconventional. I like doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/what-s-the-fun-in-doing-conventional-things-i-would-rather-be-known/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [In 2003, when I wrote the first 'Dhoom,' we were at the end of the curve of a certain kind of Hindi film, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-krishna-acharya/in-2003-when-i-wrote-the-first-dhoom-we-were-at-the-end-of-the-curve/) [Vijay Krishna Acharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-krishna-acharya/) > [I'm a little unconventional; I do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-alvarez/i-m-a-little-unconventional-i-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Eddie Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-alvarez/) > [I believe in God, but in my own unconventional way. We're not affiliated with any organisation, and I have no religious education of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/i-believe-in-god-but-in-my-own-unconventional-way-we-re-not/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [If we're going to have an unconventional budget, we probably need an unconventional process to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/if-we-re-going-to-have-an-unconventional-budget-we-probably-need-an/) [Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/) > [A man who believes that all things are possible, approaches the unconventional with an open mind and a fearless heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-who-believes-that-all-things-are-possible-approaches-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Susan Fowler > [I would call universities and community colleges and say, 'I really want to go to college. How do I get to college? What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/i-would-call-universities-and-community-colleges-and-say-i-really/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [“Brandon explained that initially his team was surprised to learn that when a sports or training coach is vocal, verbally encouraging a trainee—“do one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/brandon-explained-that-initially-his-team-was-surprised-to-learn-that/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [When I was harassed and discriminated against, I fought as hard as I could - because I hadn't gone through all of that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-was-harassed-and-discriminated-against-i-fought-as-hard-as-i/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [The decision to join Stripe and run 'Increment' was a pretty easy one for me: It was an opportunity to be impactful, to collect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/the-decision-to-join-stripe-and-run-increment-was-a-pretty-easy-one/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [The second Trump won, I felt super-powerless and I thought, 'Oh my God, no one's looking out for us.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/the-second-trump-won-i-felt-super-powerless-and-i-thought-oh-my-god/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [“The role you play as a leader is helping people experience relatedness at work: caring about and feeling cared about, feeling connected without ulterior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/the-role-you-play-as-a-leader-is-helping-people-experience/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [I had this really intense resolve. I would call universities and community colleges and say, 'I really want to go to college. How do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/i-had-this-really-intense-resolve-i-would-call-universities-and/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [What I keep going back to, and what keeps me going, is trying to do good in whatever little spot of the world we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/what-i-keep-going-back-to-and-what-keeps-me-going-is-trying-to-do/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [Stepping back, just being in my little Stoicism Susan bubble, if what people know you for is bringing light to an issue about bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/stepping-back-just-being-in-my-little-stoicism-susan-bubble-if-what/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [I never had a single thing handed to me. I had to fight for everything I wanted, like my education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/i-never-had-a-single-thing-handed-to-me-i-had-to-fight-for-everything/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [When I joined Uber, the organization I was part of was over 25% women. By the time I was trying to transfer to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-joined-uber-the-organization-i-was-part-of-was-over-25-women/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [A lot of women have been whistle-blowers in the past, and a lot of them have just gotten torn down and treated terribly. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/a-lot-of-women-have-been-whistle-blowers-in-the-past-and-a-lot-of/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) > [You're no longer the engineer or the physicist or the writer - you're the whistleblower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/you-re-no-longer-the-engineer-or-the-physicist-or-the-writer-you-re/) [Susan Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) [Explore all 14 Susan Fowler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/) ## More Greatest quotes > [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [The last goal I ever scored in professional football was at Goodison Park - a glancing header for Aston Villa in a 1-0 win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/the-last-goal-i-ever-scored-in-professional-football-was-at-goodison/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [Shawn Michaels, to me and to so many people, is just the greatest in-ring performer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/shawn-michaels-to-me-and-to-so-many-people-is-just-the-greatest-in/) [Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/) > [The hard-working Mexican tries to get up here looking for opportunities because America's one of the greatest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-hard-working-mexican-tries-to-get-up-here-looking-for/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calista-flockhart/the-way-the-world-underestimates-me-will-be-my-greatest-weapon/) [Calista Flockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calista-flockhart/) > [I don't mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around. Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-don-t-mind-people-want-to-think-muhammad-is-the-greatest-fighter/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [My greatest work comes in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/my-greatest-work-comes-in-the-community/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [One of the greatest of all sources of misery is comparing yourself to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/one-of-the-greatest-of-all-sources-of-misery-is-comparing-yourself-to/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [The greatest failure is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-greatest-failure-is-the-failure-to-try/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [To die in battle would be my greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramzan-kadyrov/to-die-in-battle-would-be-my-greatest-joy/) [Ramzan Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramzan-kadyrov/) [Browse all 2,783 Greatest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional upbringing was a weakness, but over the past few years, I've learnt to see it as one of my greatest strengths.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Fowler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that-my-unconventional-upbringing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greatest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that-my-unconventional-upbringing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/susan-fowler-34144_greatest_when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that_339221.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was younger, I used to think that my unconventional upbringing was a weakness, but over the past few…” — Susan Fowler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Susan Fowler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fowler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was younger, I used...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that-my-unconventional-upbringing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fowler/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-think-that-my-unconventional-upbringing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```