--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At an early school, when I was about 5…" description: "\"At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly things, and I said I wanted to be an actre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg" --- # At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we… ![“At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly things, and I said I wanted to be an actress. So that was what I wanted to be, but what I was, of course, was a writer.” quote by Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg) > “At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly things, and I said I wanted to be an actress. So that was what I wanted to be, but what I was, of course, was a writer.” [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s early ambition can differ from their true vocation, revealing the gap between imagined and actual identity. **In simple terms:** Childhood dreams may not match adult purpose. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture true talents. Themes identity career selfdiscovery Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - education - career counseling - personal development Key Concepts selfrealization roleexpectations Questions to Reflect On - How have your early aspirations changed? - What influences reveal your true calling? A Different Perspective Family expectations can misguide self‑identification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Early School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-school-830369/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-said-563021/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-asked-552317/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Silly things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly-things/) [Things Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-said/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-grew-759230/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Her dad wouldn’t even let her see the prequels. He said she was too young. And then, when she grew up, he said they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/her-dad-wouldn-t-even-let-her-see-the-prequels-he-said-she-was-too/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [When people asked me back then what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said a basketball player, and I meant it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/when-people-asked-me-back-then-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [If you want to work on the core problem, it's early school literacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-barksdale/if-you-want-to-work-on-the-core-problem-it-s-early-school-literacy/) [James L. Barksdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-barksdale/) > [The plea for the predominance of learning to read in early school life because of the great importance attaching to literature seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-plea-for-the-predominance-of-learning-to-read-in-early-school/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [All my early school reports from the age of 5 were 'Daniel must learn not to distract others.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-stevens/all-my-early-school-reports-from-the-age-of-5-were-daniel-must-learn/) [Dan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-stevens/) > [I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/) [Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/) > [People always used to ask me what I wanted to be when a grew up, I relied I'll just like to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-roby/people-always-used-to-ask-me-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-a-grew-up-i/) [Crystal Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-roby/) > [“Old was NOT one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-glynn/old-was-not-one-of-the-things-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/) [Jim Glynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-glynn/) > [“All I'd wanted to be when I grew up was yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eireann-corrigan/all-i-d-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up-was-yours/) [Eireann Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eireann-corrigan/) > [“I'll probably never fully become what I wanted to be when I grew up, but that's probably because I wanted to be a ninja…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-duffy/i-ll-probably-never-fully-become-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/) [Cassandra Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-duffy/) > [When I was a kid I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I did know what I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-williams/when-i-was-a-kid-i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up-but/) [Jody Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-williams/) > [When I was a kid in school, and you asked me what I was gonna be, I mean, even as a little first grader,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickey-betts/when-i-was-a-kid-in-school-and-you-asked-me-what-i-was-gonna-be-i/) [Dickey Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickey-betts/) > [“Why did Thor send you back to middle school?” I asked. “That seems especially cruel.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/why-did-thor-send-you-back-to-middle-school-i-asked-that-seems/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-went-to-school-they-asked-me-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [One time, I went to school, and they asked us all to find out where our roots were. It's goin' around the class, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/one-time-i-went-to-school-and-they-asked-us-all-to-find-out-where-our/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) ## More by Tanith Lee > [No one more cynical than an idealist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/no-one-more-cynical-than-an-idealist/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [The humble were the elect of God. Did not the priests teach so, in their gemmed, kingly robes, from their towering pulpits?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/the-humble-were-the-elect-of-god-did-not-the-priests-teach-so-in/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“Having told of so much beauty, how is it possible to tell of her? There are no words left on the earth in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/having-told-of-so-much-beauty-how-is-it-possible-to-tell-of-her-there/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [As a child, my mother told me lots of fairy stories, many her own invention. She, too, tended to reverse the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/as-a-child-my-mother-told-me-lots-of-fairy-stories-many-her-own/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“Often misunderstood, Dionysus is far more than a wine deity. He is the Breaker of Chains, who rescues not only the flesh but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/often-misunderstood-dionysus-is-far-more-than-a-wine-deity-he-is-the/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [In the usual way I submitted manuscripts to publishers. This was not so much a feeling that I should be published as a wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/in-the-usual-way-i-submitted-manuscripts-to-publishers-this-was-not/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Whatever the hell I am, I am Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/whatever-the-hell-i-am-i-am-me/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [If they had said my writing wasn't good enough, fair enough, that's an opinion. But to say it's too complex is to insult the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/if-they-had-said-my-writing-wasn-t-good-enough-fair-enough-that-s-an/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“Louisa beheld the grounds and house with the calm pleasure of one who has seen nothing, been nowhere, expects everything, and has little imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/louisa-beheld-the-grounds-and-house-with-the-calm-pleasure-of-one-who/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“Live and let love. Love and let go. Go live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/live-and-let-love-love-and-let-go-go-live/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Pirates have always fascinated me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/pirates-have-always-fascinated-me/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“All the Scarabae—all but one—were crowded in the garden. They watched her. Their grim old faces gave away nothing. Like elderly kiddies at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/all-the-scarabae-all-but-one-were-crowded-in-the-garden-they-watched/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“She did this not out of fear of him, but out of pity. Because she had come to see the ultimate terrible truth behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/she-did-this-not-out-of-fear-of-him-but-out-of-pity-because-she-had/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [Writing is writing, and stories are stories. Perhaps the only true genres are fiction and nonfiction. And even there, who can be sure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/writing-is-writing-and-stories-are-stories-perhaps-the-only-true/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“Tanaquil gently toed the peeve. "I'll unfasten the window. Jump out to the lower roof and run." "Stay and bite," said the peeve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/tanaquil-gently-toed-the-peeve-i-ll-unfasten-the-window-jump-out-to/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) [Explore all 131 Tanith Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) ## More Actresses quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) [Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly things, and I said I wanted to be an actress. So that was what I wanted to be, but what I was, of course, was a writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tanith Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-they-asked-what-we-wanted-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actresses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-they-asked-what-we-wanted-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/tanith-lee-3374_actresses_at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-th_1848510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly…” — Tanith Lee", "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": "Tanith Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At an early school, when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-they-asked-what-we-wanted-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-they-asked-what-we-wanted-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```