--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I failed eighth grade twice, and then…" description: "\"I failed eighth grade twice, and then they moved me up to ninth grade. Then I failed that and dropped out. My teacher would hand me a test, and I'd gra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/tig-notaro-3660_eighth-grade_i-failed-eighth-grade-twice-and-then-the_1336482.jpg" --- # I failed eighth grade twice, and then they moved me up to… ![“I failed eighth grade twice, and then they moved me up to ninth grade. Then I failed that and dropped out. My teacher would hand me a test, and I'd grade it myself with an F, then put my head down on the desk.” quote by Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/tig-notaro-3660_eighth-grade_i-failed-eighth-grade-twice-and-then-the_1336482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/tig-notaro-3660_eighth-grade_i-failed-eighth-grade-twice-and-then-the_1336482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/tig-notaro-3660_eighth-grade_i-failed-eighth-grade-twice-and-then-the_1336482.jpg) > “I failed eighth grade twice, and then they moved me up to ninth grade. Then I failed that and dropped out. My teacher would hand me a test, and I'd grade it myself with an F, then put my head down on the desk.” [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes repeated academic failure and disengagement, highlighting feelings of inadequacy and self‑assessment. **In simple terms:** She struggled academically and felt discouraged. Key Takeaway Seek supportive environments for learning. Themes failure self‑esteem education Mood reflective empathetic Type humorous insightful When to use this quote - school - career counseling - mental health support Key Concepts Resilience self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What support could have changed her path? - How do we reframe failure positively? A Different Perspective Her narrative may overlook systemic factors affecting performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eighth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighth-grade/) [Failed Eighth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed-eighth-4501500/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Grade Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grade-failed-4501499/) [Grade Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grade-twice-4501501/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Ninth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ninth-grade/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [I never went to high school. I never really finished eighth grade. I was kicked out of seventh grade once and eighth grade twice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-never-went-to-high-school-i-never-really-finished-eighth-grade-i/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [You look ridiculous,” Wren said. “What?” “That shirt.” It was a Hello Kitty shirt from eighth or ninth grade. Hello Kitty dressed as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-look-ridiculous-wren-said-what-that-shirt-it-was-a-hello-kitty/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Yo, I failed ninth grade three times, but I don't think it was necessarily 'cause I'm stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/yo-i-failed-ninth-grade-three-times-but-i-don-t-think-it-was/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [I got to ninth grade and there was wrestling, and I went, 'Wait a minute, this is fun.' Basically, it was a chance for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-got-to-ninth-grade-and-there-was-wrestling-and-i-went-wait-a-minute/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I quit school in ninth grade, even though I was good at the studies. I knew I didn't need school for what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-quit-school-in-ninth-grade-even-though-i-was-good-at-the-studies-i/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I don’t know what I’m doing in the next five minutes and she has the next ten years figured out. I’ll worry about making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-in-the-next-five-minutes-and-she-has-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I've been homeschooled since ninth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sanchez/i-ve-been-homeschooled-since-ninth-grade/) [Jessica Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sanchez/) > [I been drunk most my life, don't ask me why. Through ninth grade, I ain't go to high school, ...I went to school high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-been-drunk-most-my-life-don-t-ask-me-why-through-ninth-grade-i-ain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I haven't played quarterback since eighth or ninth grade. I didn't see it get much attention when I completed a pass then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/i-haven-t-played-quarterback-since-eighth-or-ninth-grade-i-didn-t-see/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [I hate retards all they have to do is say their alphabet and they pass the ninth grade!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison/i-hate-retards-all-they-have-to-do-is-say-their-alphabet-and-they/) [Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison/) > [In ninth grade, I played wide receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quavo/in-ninth-grade-i-played-wide-receiver/) [Quavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quavo/) > [I went to a high school that specialized in art and design, and I had a teacher there who was Mexican and exposed us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinta-brunson/i-went-to-a-high-school-that-specialized-in-art-and-design-and-i-had/) [Quinta Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinta-brunson/) > [All the other kids in ninth grade were drawing hot rods and cocker spaniels and getting blue ribbons in art class. I was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/all-the-other-kids-in-ninth-grade-were-drawing-hot-rods-and-cocker/) [Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/) > [In 1979, I was in ninth grade. Before I started tenth grade, I was already rapping myself. I didn't wait around to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-1979-i-was-in-ninth-grade-before-i-started-tenth-grade-i-was/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [Yeah, I was a delinquent. It was when I was in the ninth grade. I was doing stupid stuff, and the cops came into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/yeah-i-was-a-delinquent-it-was-when-i-was-in-the-ninth-grade-i-was/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) ## More by Tig Notaro > [Reminding myself that I have a tailbone keeps me in check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/reminding-myself-that-i-have-a-tailbone-keeps-me-in-check/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I think my brain just has a natural way of going to what would be the most insane thing, the least likely option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-my-brain-just-has-a-natural-way-of-going-to-what-would-be-the/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Before I had a double mastectomy, I was already pretty flat-chested, and I made so many jokes over the years about how small my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/before-i-had-a-double-mastectomy-i-was-already-pretty-flat-chested/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Even losing my mother, I wanted my mother. That's who you want instinctually when you're having a hard time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/even-losing-my-mother-i-wanted-my-mother-that-s-who-you-want/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I think every person and place is interesting, and there's an interesting story behind every door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-every-person-and-place-is-interesting-and-there-s-an/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [A lot of times, people will have after-parties or try and host an event for comedians, and they misunderstand us. They think it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/a-lot-of-times-people-will-have-after-parties-or-try-and-host-an/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I'm fascinated by caddy Buddhists popping up all over Hollywood and people that take themselves too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-fascinated-by-caddy-buddhists-popping-up-all-over-hollywood-and/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I love devastating movies, documentaries and hummingbirds (yes, in that order).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-love-devastating-movies-documentaries-and-hummingbirds-yes-in-that/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I definitely still like writing one-liners, but I also think that I've changed a lot in that I've allowed myself freedom to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-definitely-still-like-writing-one-liners-but-i-also-think-that-i-ve/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I'm the luckiest unlucky person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-the-luckiest-unlucky-person/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I didn't know whether I'd be attractive to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-didn-t-know-whether-i-d-be-attractive-to-anybody/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [The hardest lesson to learn always is to just have faith in that you will always have something to say or a story to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/the-hardest-lesson-to-learn-always-is-to-just-have-faith-in-that-you/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [My age makes all my wrinkles and gray hair make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/my-age-makes-all-my-wrinkles-and-gray-hair-make-sense/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [It's almost embarrassing how much support I have. I mean, I always tell people I feel like I'm perfectly set up to have cancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/it-s-almost-embarrassing-how-much-support-i-have-i-mean-i-always-tell/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I am just at tragedy right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-am-just-at-tragedy-right-now/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) [Explore all 125 Tig Notaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) ## More Eighth grade quotes > [When I was in eighth grade, I got the nickname Bean. It was from one of the seniors on the team. She called me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/when-i-was-in-eighth-grade-i-got-the-nickname-bean-it-was-from-one-of/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) > [“If the day had gone as planned, it would have faded into the sky unmarked, swallowed without a trace along with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-day-had-gone-as-planned-it-would-have-faded-into-the-sky/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In eighth grade, when I was just the school weirdo, my drama teacher put me in a play, and we came up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/in-eighth-grade-when-i-was-just-the-school-weirdo-my-drama-teacher/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [She had observed that the more education they got, the less they could do. Their father had gone to a one-room schoolhouse through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/she-had-observed-that-the-more-education-they-got-the-less-they-could/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [When I was in school, in eighth grade, someone recognized something in me. She was an English teacher, and we read a play out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/when-i-was-in-school-in-eighth-grade-someone-recognized-something-in/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) > [“But back then we had to amuse ourselves, and fighting seemed to be all we had. Looking back, it was good for us. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/but-back-then-we-had-to-amuse-ourselves-and-fighting-seemed-to-be-all/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [In eighth grade, I went to home school, but it was a program meant for stay-at-home moms, and both my parents worked, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-lago/in-eighth-grade-i-went-to-home-school-but-it-was-a-program-meant-for/) [Scotty Lago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-lago/) > [I would never be popular. I didn't want to be; I liked being shy. I'd never be the smartest or the hottest or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-would-never-be-popular-i-didn-t-want-to-be-i-liked-being-shy-i-d/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I was one of those weird kids who didn't really speak or smile. I remember my teachers would call home and ask if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessia-cara/i-was-one-of-those-weird-kids-who-didn-t-really-speak-or-smile-i/) [Alessia Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessia-cara/) > [My mothers dad dropped out of the eighth grade to work. He had to. By the time he was 30, he was a master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/my-mothers-dad-dropped-out-of-the-eighth-grade-to-work-he-had-to-by/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [I grew up in Sydney, Australia, and I started doing acting classes when I was in eighth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-grew-up-in-sydney-australia-and-i-started-doing-acting-classes-when/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I played football in eighth grade, and even though I had a passion for it, it turned out I'm no good at playing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-played-football-in-eighth-grade-and-even-though-i-had-a-passion-for/) [Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/) > [I was not good in school. I could never read very fast or very well. I got tested for learning disabilities, for dyslexia. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/i-was-not-good-in-school-i-could-never-read-very-fast-or-very-well-i/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [I was going to different neighborhoods around Brooklyn battling cats back in - this started in '82, so that's like eighth grade. Maybe 13, 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/i-was-going-to-different-neighborhoods-around-brooklyn-battling-cats/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Marriage and fatherhood heighten the disillusion that we all think we are born handy. We confidently believe that we can fix things around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/marriage-and-fatherhood-heighten-the-disillusion-that-we-all-think-we/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Browse all 119 Eighth grade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighth-grade/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I failed eighth grade twice, and then they moved me up to ninth grade. Then I failed that and dropped out. 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