---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have any idea what I wanted to…"
description: "\"I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.\" — Tom Sturridge"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg"
---

#  I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.

![“I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.” quote by Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg)

> “I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A youthful lack of direction reflects uncertainty about future identity and aspirations.

**In simple terms:** Unclear future goals.

Key Takeaway

Explore interests early.

Themes

identity uncertainty growth

Mood

confused hopeful

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

- school decisions
- career counseling
- mentorship
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

self‑discovery career exploration

Questions to Reflect On

- What passions could you uncover now?
- How can you test potential paths?

A Different Perspective

Lack of vision can limit motivation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [I didn't have any idea what politics was like. I was surprised at how difficult it is to get something done. In the private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markwayne-mullin/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-politics-was-like-i-was-surprised-at-how/)

[Markwayne Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markwayne-mullin/)

> [“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

> [I didn't have any idea that I would be able to have a career in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-that-i-would-be-able-to-have-a-career-in-film/)

[Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/)

> [At an early school, when I was about 5, they asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Everyone said silly things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/at-an-early-school-when-i-was-about-5-they-asked-what-we-wanted-to-be/)

[Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/)

> [“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/)

> [“Men didn't have any idea about regret before God felt so once after created us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/men-didn-t-have-any-idea-about-regret-before-god-felt-so-once-after/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [“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/)

> [I wasn't trying to be no national name or nothing. I didn't have that idea to even think that was possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/i-wasn-t-trying-to-be-no-national-name-or-nothing-i-didn-t-have-that/)

[Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/)

> [So when I made some money, I didn't have any idea how one handled such a situation because no one in our family ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/so-when-i-made-some-money-i-didn-t-have-any-idea-how-one-handled-such/)

[Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/)

> [I really didn't have that much of an idea about Xena or about the Amazons, it was all a bit over my head at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-sky/i-really-didn-t-have-that-much-of-an-idea-about-xena-or-about-the/)

[Jennifer Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-sky/)

> [I think if I were asked to do as many as fifty takes, I would assume the director had no idea what he wanted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-think-if-i-were-asked-to-do-as-many-as-fifty-takes-i-would-assume/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Pop music for introverts is an idea I wanted to explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/pop-music-for-introverts-is-an-idea-i-wanted-to-explore/)

Shura

> [I had an idea that I wanted show which would keep me happy for five years. I tried to figure how I'd feel if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-had-an-idea-that-i-wanted-show-which-would-keep-me-happy-for-five/)

[Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/)

## More by Tom Sturridge

> [It's not often talked about what a wonderful feeling it is to see someone that you care about love and be loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/it-s-not-often-talked-about-what-a-wonderful-feeling-it-is-to-see/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [My career may look bizarre to some, but I have very strong reasons for doing every single job I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/my-career-may-look-bizarre-to-some-but-i-have-very-strong-reasons-for/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [Even the way Mamet describes silences within his plays is different. There are pauses; there are pauses within parentheses; there are pauses before dialogue;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/even-the-way-mamet-describes-silences-within-his-plays-is-different/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [Scary things are good, aren't they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/scary-things-are-good-aren-t-they/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [I shouldn't be right for every role, because I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-shouldn-t-be-right-for-every-role-because-i-m-not/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [Some people are defined by what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/some-people-are-defined-by-what-they-do/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [As a Shakespeare character, if you can persuade someone in a sentence or a speech, you've got it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/as-a-shakespeare-character-if-you-can-persuade-someone-in-a-sentence/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [In England, theater auditions are gentler experiences. You sit down with the director and talk about the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/in-england-theater-auditions-are-gentler-experiences-you-sit-down/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [There are few things that are more revealing about someone than the way that they talk about a piece of literature or a play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/there-are-few-things-that-are-more-revealing-about-someone-than-the/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [I don't think I could do a superhero movie. I'm just not really that type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-don-t-think-i-could-do-a-superhero-movie-i-m-just-not-really-that/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [I felt that my decisions, whether good or bad, would always be supported by my parents, because I was loved and respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-felt-that-my-decisions-whether-good-or-bad-would-always-be/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [There I am, watching Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of my favourite actors in the world, walk into the room dressed up as Father Christmas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/there-i-am-watching-philip-seymour-hoffman-one-of-my-favourite-actors/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [To be an English person in my 20s, doing a Broadway show - it's one of the mountains I wanted to climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/to-be-an-english-person-in-my-20s-doing-a-broadway-show-it-s-one-of/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [You know that scene at the beginning (of 'Pirate Radio') where I take The Count a cup of tea in the studio, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/you-know-that-scene-at-the-beginning-of-pirate-radio-where-i-take-the/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

> [The phrase 'dream career' sounds pretty stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/the-phrase-dream-career-sounds-pretty-stupid/)

[Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

[Explore all 49 Tom Sturridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/)

## More Any quotes

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/)

[Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/)

> [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/)

[Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/)

> [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/)

[Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/)

> [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/)

[Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

Browse all 6,938 Any quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Sturridge"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Any"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/tom-sturridge-13634_any_i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to_3159232.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I didn't have any idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.” — Tom Sturridge",
                "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": "Tom Sturridge",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I didn't have any idea what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
