--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up in Kansas City. I got here when…" description: "\"I grew up in Kansas City. I got here when I just turned 21.\" — Tony Gonzalez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/tony-gonzalez-3785_city_i-grew-up-in-kansas-city-i-got-here-when_2343425.jpg" --- # I grew up in Kansas City. I got here when I just turned 21. ![“I grew up in Kansas City. I got here when I just turned 21.” quote by Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/tony-gonzalez-3785_city_i-grew-up-in-kansas-city-i-got-here-when_2343425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/tony-gonzalez-3785_city_i-grew-up-in-kansas-city-i-got-here-when_2343425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/tony-gonzalez-3785_city_i-grew-up-in-kansas-city-i-got-here-when_2343425.jpg) > “I grew up in Kansas City. I got here when I just turned 21.” [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. Reflects on personal origins and the transition to adulthood in a new city. **In simple terms:** Recalls moving to a new city at 21. Key Takeaway Embrace new environments as growth opportunities. Themes identity transition place growth Mood nostalgic reflective Type personal reflective When to use this quote - starting a career - college life - relocating for work - building community Key Concepts personal history urban migration Questions to Reflect On - What did the move symbolize for you? - How did Kansas City shape your identity? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper motivations behind the move. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kansas/) [Kansas city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kansas-city/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in Kansas City from when I was about two years old to my mid-teens. Kansas City at the time was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/i-grew-up-in-kansas-city-from-when-i-was-about-two-years-old-to-my/) [Eldar Djangirov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldar-djangirov/) > [When I grew up in Kansas, I was always getting in trouble for my blue sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/when-i-grew-up-in-kansas-i-was-always-getting-in-trouble-for-my-blue/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [My mom grew up in Kansas, my dad in Indiana. They had boring childhoods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-mom-grew-up-in-kansas-my-dad-in-indiana-they-had-boring-childhoods/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [I love Kansas City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-love-kansas-city/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [The first professional training I received of any kind was when I was 14 years old and we were in Kansas City, Missouri. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/the-first-professional-training-i-received-of-any-kind-was-when-i-was/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [Kansas City is truly an awesome town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/kansas-city-is-truly-an-awesome-town/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [I have been robbed of three million dollars all told. Everyone today is playing my stuff and I don't even get credit. Kansas City…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jelly-roll-morton/i-have-been-robbed-of-three-million-dollars-all-told-everyone-today/) [Jelly Roll Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jelly-roll-morton/) > [The Eternal Kansas City song came from a dream sequence. It was actually kind of weird. I had this dream about a Kansas City…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-eternal-kansas-city-song-came-from-a-dream-sequence-it-was/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [The E Street band casts a pretty wide net. Our influences go all the way back to the early primitive garage music, and also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-e-street-band-casts-a-pretty-wide-net-our-influences-go-all-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If I had the hand strength to sign autographs for everybody in Kansas City, I would... but its just impossible to get to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-hall/if-i-had-the-hand-strength-to-sign-autographs-for-everybody-in-kansas/) [Dante Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-hall/) > [I really like Kansas City Royals stadium - Kauffman Stadium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-blyleven/i-really-like-kansas-city-royals-stadium-kauffman-stadium/) [Bert Blyleven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-blyleven/) > [I've always been happy playing in Kansas City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-butler/i-ve-always-been-happy-playing-in-kansas-city/) [Billy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-butler/) > [Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and knowing nothing about Picasso, I had the audacity to knock on his door, became his friend, and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/born-in-kansas-city-missouri-and-knowing-nothing-about-picasso-i-had/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [From the time I won the Kansas City Match Play championship at age 14, I never wanted to be anything but a golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/from-the-time-i-won-the-kansas-city-match-play-championship-at-age-14/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [I love everything about Kansas City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-butler/i-love-everything-about-kansas-city/) [Billy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-butler/) ## 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 City quotes > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Though 'Fat City' was written long before cellphones or the Internet, its human apparatus is state of the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/though-fat-city-was-written-long-before-cellphones-or-the-internet/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [Even after my family moved West, I would come back to Long Island as a teenager, stay with aunts and go to the city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/even-after-my-family-moved-west-i-would-come-back-to-long-island-as-a/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [We all got driven out of Manhattan. It was a very conducive place for artists when I was growing up, and now it's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/we-all-got-driven-out-of-manhattan-it-was-a-very-conducive-place-for/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [We have an obligation at the local level to do everything we can with the resources we have. And we do those things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-have-an-obligation-at-the-local-level-to-do-everything-we-can-with/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) [Browse all 5,394 City quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up in Kansas City. 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