--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had in effect been thrown out of…" description: "\"I had in effect been thrown out of graduate school because I was a lousy graduate student, and I had to find a job, and I took the first job that came ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/ted-kooser-16216_first-job_i-had-in-effect-been-thrown-out-of-gradu_593810.jpg" --- # I had in effect been thrown out of graduate school because… ![“I had in effect been thrown out of graduate school because I was a lousy graduate student, and I had to find a job, and I took the first job that came along. It happened to be a management trainee job in a life insurance company, and I just stayed. It was always, mainly, the idea was that I would…” quote by Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/ted-kooser-16216_first-job_i-had-in-effect-been-thrown-out-of-gradu_593810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/ted-kooser-16216_first-job_i-had-in-effect-been-thrown-out-of-gradu_593810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/ted-kooser-16216_first-job_i-had-in-effect-been-thrown-out-of-gradu_593810.jpg) > “I had in effect been thrown out of graduate school because I was a lousy graduate student, and I had to find a job, and I took the first job that came along. It happened to be a management trainee job in a life insurance company, and I just stayed. It was always, mainly, the idea was that I would support myself as a writer, and I knew I would have to have some sort of work, and it didn't make a whole lot of difference to me what it was. I mean, I could have been a paper hanger or something for that matter.” [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting any work can provide stability while pursuing a passion, turning necessity into opportunity. **In simple terms:** Any job can support creative goals. Key Takeaway Use work as a stepping stone. Themes pragmatism creativity resilience Mood thoughtful motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - graduate school - job search - life insurance - writing career Key Concepts career strategy financial stability Questions to Reflect On - How can mundane work inspire creativity? - What balance between stability and passion feels right? A Different Perspective Reliance on unrelated jobs may delay artistic progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Graduate school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-school/) [Graduate student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-student/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 22 years old, I thought girls would like me if I wrote a novel. I spent so much time writing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/when-i-was-22-years-old-i-thought-girls-would-like-me-if-i-wrote-a/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [When I was 22, I was thrown out of graduate school and then fired from three jobs in a row at higher and higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/when-i-was-22-i-was-thrown-out-of-graduate-school-and-then-fired-from/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [If the right job came along, absolutely with bells on I would work in Sweden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myanna-buring/if-the-right-job-came-along-absolutely-with-bells-on-i-would-work-in/) [MyAnna Buring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myanna-buring/) > [I'm a prostitute. Do you know what, it really is basically I just really like to work! I'm thrilled that there's a variety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-graae/i-m-a-prostitute-do-you-know-what-it-really-is-basically-i-just/) [Jason Graae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-graae/) > [“There was something liberating and terrifying about the first day on a new job. In any new assignment, Bobbie had always had the unsettling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/there-was-something-liberating-and-terrifying-about-the-first-day-on/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [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/) > [To me, I was just doing my job when I took the field, but to understand how close I came to death, I now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-carew/to-me-i-was-just-doing-my-job-when-i-took-the-field-but-to-understand/) [Rod Carew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-carew/) > [Every job I took, I was deeply uncomfortable in terms of feeling unqualified. Every step, every risk I took, built confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hood/every-job-i-took-i-was-deeply-uncomfortable-in-terms-of-feeling/) [Amy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hood/) > [My mom had a job, and she also took care of us, and she also took care of Dad - I always saw her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/my-mom-had-a-job-and-she-also-took-care-of-us-and-she-also-took-care/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [“If it was a mistake not to finish school (it wasn't!), it was an even worse mistake to go to work. ("Work! The word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/if-it-was-a-mistake-not-to-finish-school-it-wasn-t-it-was-an-even/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Every job I took was really me getting paid to learn about a new industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/every-job-i-took-was-really-me-getting-paid-to-learn-about-a-new/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I took a job at the Walt Disney Company and after 18 months decided to go to business school at Harvard. I was awestruck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/i-took-a-job-at-the-walt-disney-company-and-after-18-months-decided/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [At my pregnant wife's behest, I took the job for the paycheck and the health insurance, and it turned into 'Sharknado.' I couldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/at-my-pregnant-wife-s-behest-i-took-the-job-for-the-paycheck-and-the/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I never wanted to be a reporter. I took a job at the New York Post as a clerk because I couldn't get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-haberman/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-reporter-i-took-a-job-at-the-new-york-post-as/) [Maggie Haberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-haberman/) > [I took a job at a factory in New Jersey to try to save money to go to Europe. When I took the job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-noddy/i-took-a-job-at-a-factory-in-new-jersey-to-try-to-save-money-to-go-to/) [Tom Noddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-noddy/) ## More by Ted Kooser > [The poem is the device through which the ordinary world is seen in a new way - engaging, compelling, even beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/the-poem-is-the-device-through-which-the-ordinary-world-is-seen-in-a/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [If you can find two poems in a book, it could be a pretty good book for you. You know, two poems you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/if-you-can-find-two-poems-in-a-book-it-could-be-a-pretty-good-book/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [There's nothing wrong with delighting in what you do. In fact, most of the fun you'll have as a poet will come about during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-delighting-in-what-you-do-in-fact-most-of/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [“Considering the ways in which so many of us waste our time, what would be wrong with a world in which everybody were writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/considering-the-ways-in-which-so-many-of-us-waste-our-time-what-would/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [When she left me I stood out in the thunderstorm, hoping to be destroyed by lightning. It missed, first left, then right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/when-she-left-me-i-stood-out-in-the-thunderstorm-hoping-to-be/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [Every poet gets to choose what kind of community he or she serves with the poems, and it's true that there is a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/every-poet-gets-to-choose-what-kind-of-community-he-or-she-serves/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [When I was a kid, I suppose I got more praise for being able to draw things and paint things than I did for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/when-i-was-a-kid-i-suppose-i-got-more-praise-for-being-able-to-draw/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [If I don't take the risk, I'll wind up with a bloodless poem. I have to be out there on the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/if-i-don-t-take-the-risk-i-ll-wind-up-with-a-bloodless-poem-i-have-to/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [Keeping a journal is like taking good care of one’s heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/keeping-a-journal-is-like-taking-good-care-of-one-s-heart/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [There's always been what I would call the William Carlos Williams strain, in which poems of simplicity and clarity are valued by a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/there-s-always-been-what-i-would-call-the-william-carlos-williams/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [I like the poem on the page and not at the podium. I like to address the poem in peace and quiet, not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/i-like-the-poem-on-the-page-and-not-at-the-podium-i-like-to-address/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [a happy birthday this evening, I sat by an open window and read till the light was gone and the book was no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/a-happy-birthday-this-evening-i-sat-by-an-open-window-and-read-till/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [Wallace Stevens had more time to write as an insurance agent. He was a bond lawyer and I know that insurance company lawyers don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/wallace-stevens-had-more-time-to-write-as-an-insurance-agent-he-was-a/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [I like the idea of there being times when even words cost so much you used them sparingly. I have known a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/i-like-the-idea-of-there-being-times-when-even-words-cost-so-much-you/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [In my work, I really try to look at ordinary things quite closely to see if there isn't a little bit of something special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/in-my-work-i-really-try-to-look-at-ordinary-things-quite-closely-to/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) [Explore all 40 Ted Kooser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) ## More First job quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [My first job paid well for a young attorney. I was making over $50,000, which was more than either of my parents had ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-first-job-paid-well-for-a-young-attorney-i-was-making-over-50-000/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My first job was a film called 'Storm Damage' for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/my-first-job-was-a-film-called-storm-damage-for-the-bbc-i-was-16-and/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [My first job was in a Bohemian polka band, the Rejcek family polka band in Abbott. The old man in the band had another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/my-first-job-was-in-a-bohemian-polka-band-the-rejcek-family-polka/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [I got my first job when I moved to Los Angeles. I worked at a coffee shop for five years and it was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leclerc/i-got-my-first-job-when-i-moved-to-los-angeles-i-worked-at-a-coffee/) [Katie Leclerc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leclerc/) > [My first job was at Alfreton Town and the chairman backed the club. He wanted to win so it made the job easier. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wilder/my-first-job-was-at-alfreton-town-and-the-chairman-backed-the-club-he/) [Chris Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wilder/) > [“Redemption is not just about being saved \*from\* the consequences of sin, it is also about being saved \*to\* something- to resume the task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/redemption-is-not-just-about-being-saved-from-the-consequences-of-sin/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“To this day I believe a person’s ideal first job is the one that reveals the most about them. Knowing who I was helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-riddle/to-this-day-i-believe-a-person-s-ideal-first-job-is-the-one-that/) [A.G. Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My first job was at a Burger King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamath-palihapitiya/my-first-job-was-at-a-burger-king/) [Chamath Palihapitiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamath-palihapitiya/) > [My real first job was delivering newspapers with I was 15. I would ride my bike around and chuck papers at people's houses. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/my-real-first-job-was-delivering-newspapers-with-i-was-15-i-would/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [The first job I got when I was in high school was working for a department store in New York. I worked in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/the-first-job-i-got-when-i-was-in-high-school-was-working-for-a/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [My first job was in a nursing home - a terrible place in retrospect. It was in an old house, and the residents were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/my-first-job-was-in-a-nursing-home-a-terrible-place-in-retrospect-it/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [At the age of 16, I ran from my house, did odd jobs till l landed work on television and then in film industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/at-the-age-of-16-i-ran-from-my-house-did-odd-jobs-till-l-landed-work/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) [Browse all 438 First job quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had in effect been thrown out of graduate school because I was a lousy graduate student, and I had to find a job, and I took the first job that came along. It happened to be a management trainee job in a life insurance company, and I just stayed. 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