--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth…" description: "\"Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth and seventh grade has made me a better football player, believe it or not. You have to come to a point when yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/tony-gonzalez-3785_ball-player_dealing-with-bullies-when-i-was-in-sixth_3063153.jpg" --- # Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth and seventh grade… ![“Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth and seventh grade has made me a better football player, believe it or not. You have to come to a point when you're like, 'I've had enough, and I'm not going to be kicked around and pushed around anymore.'” quote by Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/tony-gonzalez-3785_ball-player_dealing-with-bullies-when-i-was-in-sixth_3063153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/tony-gonzalez-3785_ball-player_dealing-with-bullies-when-i-was-in-sixth_3063153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/tony-gonzalez-3785_ball-player_dealing-with-bullies-when-i-was-in-sixth_3063153.jpg) > “Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth and seventh grade has made me a better football player, believe it or not. You have to come to a point when you're like, 'I've had enough, and I'm not going to be kicked around and pushed around anymore.'” [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing bullying taught resilience, later applied to football success. **In simple terms:** Bullying built resilience for sport. Key Takeaway Turn adversity into strength. Themes resilience bullying sports Mood inspirational reflective Type interview sports When to use this quote - team sports - school environments - coaching Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How did bullying shape your mindset? - What strategies helped you overcome it? A Different Perspective Resilience may not erase trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullies/) [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-player/) [Seventh grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventh-grade/) ## Related quotes > [I remember dealing with bullies in high school and being put down because I was different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-remember-dealing-with-bullies-in-high-school-and-being-put-down/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I try to get stronger every year, that's part of me trying to be better as a football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-mariota/i-try-to-get-stronger-every-year-that-s-part-of-me-trying-to-be/) [Marcus Mariota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-mariota/) > [Everything I am I owe to Sterling Sharpe. He made me a better football player, a better father, and a better man. He was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/everything-i-am-i-owe-to-sterling-sharpe-he-made-me-a-better-football/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I'm just going to continue focusing on becoming a better football player, attacking the offseason with the mindset of getting stronger and doing everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-going-to-continue-focusing-on-becoming-a-better-football/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [I try to take what's given to me and then mold it to be a better football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/i-try-to-take-what-s-given-to-me-and-then-mold-it-to-be-a-better/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) > [We're dealing with men here. What we're trying to do is help them become the best players they can be, and we're all collectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/we-re-dealing-with-men-here-what-we-re-trying-to-do-is-help-them/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) > [Every single year is a year for me to take a look at how I've grown and how I can get better and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/every-single-year-is-a-year-for-me-to-take-a-look-at-how-i-ve-grown/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [I am more mature. I'm a better football player. I just feel like this is my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-am-more-mature-i-m-a-better-football-player-i-just-feel-like-this/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [I take the mindset that regardless of what happens on the field, I try to learn from my mistakes, and fix those things and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-take-the-mindset-that-regardless-of-what-happens-on-the-field-i-try/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [I think that every guy who has come through New England would say that he gained a lot of knowledge and experience that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-think-that-every-guy-who-has-come-through-new-england-would-say/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [Fear can be conquered. I became a better person and a better football player when I learned that lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig/fear-can-be-conquered-i-became-a-better-person-and-a-better-football/) Roger Craig > [I'm just trying to improve on being a better football player. Being a better teammate, trying to manage expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/i-m-just-trying-to-improve-on-being-a-better-football-player-being-a/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [We don't want our players to be monks. We want them to be better football players because a monk doesn't play football at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/we-don-t-want-our-players-to-be-monks-we-want-them-to-be-better/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [What I will miss the most about Guardiola? His obsession with the game and his knowledge, which makes you a better football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/what-i-will-miss-the-most-about-guardiola-his-obsession-with-the-game/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Football is my love. Football is what I'm going to do. I'm a football player first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/football-is-my-love-football-is-what-i-m-going-to-do-i-m-a-football/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## More by Tony Gonzalez > [You learn a lot more about yourself and the opportunity for growth is so much greater when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/you-learn-a-lot-more-about-yourself-and-the-opportunity-for-growth-is/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [The Super Bowl obviously wasn't in my cards, and I'm OK with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/the-super-bowl-obviously-wasn-t-in-my-cards-and-i-m-ok-with-that/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been able to play for some of the best fans in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-able-to-play-for-some-of-the-best-fans-in-the-nfl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been on some really good teams, but we weren't able to get over the hump. It's offense, defense and special teams, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-on-some-really-good-teams-but-we-weren-t-able-to-get-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-want-to-go-to-the-super-bowl-and-win-the-super-bowl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [Football is my love. Football is what I'm going to do. I'm a football player first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/football-is-my-love-football-is-what-i-m-going-to-do-i-m-a-football/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I think when you give, that's probably the highest form of living. It's better than almost any feeling you could think of. It's way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-think-when-you-give-that-s-probably-the-highest-form-of-living-it-s/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When I got to the NFL, they asked me what number I wanted, and I said No. 44, but they told me tight ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-i-got-to-the-nfl-they-asked-me-what-number-i-wanted-and-i-said/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My career, it's turned out to be something more than I ever thought and more than I ever dreamed. It's been an unbelievable ride.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-career-it-s-turned-out-to-be-something-more-than-i-ever-thought/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [As far as the regrets go, that's just not part of my makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/as-far-as-the-regrets-go-that-s-just-not-part-of-my-makeup/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've always wanted a ring. That's been my main goal as a player over the last 15 years of my career. You're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-always-wanted-a-ring-that-s-been-my-main-goal-as-a-player-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When you find yourself in those situations where you have to take action in a crucial situation, you just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-you-find-yourself-in-those-situations-where-you-have-to-take/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I didn't start my whole rookie year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-didn-t-start-my-whole-rookie-year/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [There aren't many football players other than kickers who are Latin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/there-aren-t-many-football-players-other-than-kickers-who-are-latin/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My grandfather spoke fluent Spanish and I have family members who speak fluent Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-grandfather-spoke-fluent-spanish-and-i-have-family-members-who/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) [Explore all 122 Tony Gonzalez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## More Ball player quotes > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [“I can’t wait to knock you up and have a whole team of little baseball players around this place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-can-t-wait-to-knock-you-up-and-have-a-whole-team-of-little-baseball/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [MOST AMAZING FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD && IN REAL MADRID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-amazing-football-player-in-the-entire-world-in-real-madrid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [I'm a basketball player, so I want to do whatever I've got to do to be on the floor and I'm prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-a-basketball-player-so-i-want-to-do-whatever-i-ve-got-to-do-to-be/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [“Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere. While others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeing-yourself-in-print-is-such-an-amazing-concept-you-can-get-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/people-say-baseball-players-should-go-out-and-have-fun-no-way-to-me/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [“The great thing about baseball players, from the point of view of personal hygiene, is how seldom they break a sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-great-thing-about-baseball-players-from-the-point-of-view-of/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [A lot of scouts and people are enamored with athleticism and youth. So they take that any day over mature, high-quality basketball players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/a-lot-of-scouts-and-people-are-enamored-with-athleticism-and-youth-so/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I'm a baseball player. I've done this my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-m-a-baseball-player-i-ve-done-this-my-whole-life/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) Browse all 1,395 Ball player quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dealing with bullies when I was in sixth and seventh grade has made me a better football player, believe it or not. 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