--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Personally, getting into college was a…" description: "\"Personally, getting into college was a big deal because I realized it's probably one of the only things I've fully planned. The rest of my life has bee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/yara-shahidi-12217_accident_personally-getting-into-college-was-a-bi_1063785.jpg" --- # Personally, getting into college was a big deal because I… ![“Personally, getting into college was a big deal because I realized it's probably one of the only things I've fully planned. The rest of my life has been, for the most part, a nice little happy accident. I'm glad that it happened this way, but it's nonetheless unintentional.” quote by Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/yara-shahidi-12217_accident_personally-getting-into-college-was-a-bi_1063785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/yara-shahidi-12217_accident_personally-getting-into-college-was-a-bi_1063785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/yara-shahidi-12217_accident_personally-getting-into-college-was-a-bi_1063785.jpg) > “Personally, getting into college was a big deal because I realized it's probably one of the only things I've fully planned. The rest of my life has been, for the most part, a nice little happy accident. I'm glad that it happened this way, but it's nonetheless unintentional.” [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects that college planning felt intentional, while life beyond feels serendipitous and unplanned. **In simple terms:** College was planned; life feels accidental. Key Takeaway Embrace both planning and spontaneity. Themes personal growth education life philosophy Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational personal When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship building - travel plans Key Concepts intentionality serendipity Questions to Reflect On - What balance of planning and chance works for you? - Do you regret any unplanned outcomes? A Different Perspective Life’s randomness can undermine long‑term goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Unintentional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unintentional/) ## Related quotes > [Getting a college degree used to be free or low cost because, as a society, we saw providing higher education to young people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/getting-a-college-degree-used-to-be-free-or-low-cost-because-as-a/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [Congratulations on getting through college without getting pregnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-on-getting-through-college-without-getting-pregnant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some boys go to college and eventually succeed in getting out. Others go to college and never succeed in getting out. The latter are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/some-boys-go-to-college-and-eventually-succeed-in-getting-out-others/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Even getting a college degree does not guarantee a minimal knowledge of U.S. history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/even-getting-a-college-degree-does-not-guarantee-a-minimal-knowledge/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [It's just become such a business, getting into college. I see that a lot in my friends, their parents were so on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/it-s-just-become-such-a-business-getting-into-college-i-see-that-a/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [Prior to getting back into college, I had lots of free time, so I was like, ahhh, I've always wanted a master's, let's go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecia-torres/prior-to-getting-back-into-college-i-had-lots-of-free-time-so-i-was/) [Tecia Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecia-torres/) > [I might say that in retrospect, looking at where the community college system is today, I think we may have gone too far. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-evans/i-might-say-that-in-retrospect-looking-at-where-the-community-college/) [Daniel J. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-evans/) > [In college, my big money memory was saving up to buy a car with my boyfriend, whom I lived with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/in-college-my-big-money-memory-was-saving-up-to-buy-a-car-with-my/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [Completing college is a big deal, and commencements do a good job of making the moment feel big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/completing-college-is-a-big-deal-and-commencements-do-a-good-job-of/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [If you're in big-time situations all the time - like for me, high school was big-time situations, college, big time situations - you adapt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/if-you-re-in-big-time-situations-all-the-time-like-for-me-high-school/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [I know that college is a big step from high school. So I wanted to make sure I was ready for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-know-that-college-is-a-big-step-from-high-school-so-i-wanted-to/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [For me, college was a big learning experience on and off the court, just growing as a person, becoming more mature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-brady/for-me-college-was-a-big-learning-experience-on-and-off-the-court/) [Jennifer Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-brady/) > [Living in Chicago as a country boy, basically, and going to college made a very big impact on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-eychaner/living-in-chicago-as-a-country-boy-basically-and-going-to-college/) [Fred Eychaner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-eychaner/) > [Our family story here is one that we're proud of, and that is that, as the ninth of 10 kids in our family, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/our-family-story-here-is-one-that-we-re-proud-of-and-that-is-that-as/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) ## More by Yara Shahidi > [If you look at the history of art and fashion, it's always been political. It's always been pushing boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/if-you-look-at-the-history-of-art-and-fashion-it-s-always-been/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [I try to preface everything with "this isn't new." Because most social movements have happened before and I get that. Nothing I'm doing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/i-try-to-preface-everything-with-this-isn-t-new-because-most-social/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [I'm double majoring in social studies - which is sociology, anthropology, economics, and philosophy - and African-American studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/i-m-double-majoring-in-social-studies-which-is-sociology-anthropology/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [I feel comfortable putting my political stances out there without feeling as though I am filling some sort of quota. I don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/i-feel-comfortable-putting-my-political-stances-out-there-without/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [I really love hip hop. My cousin Nas came out with an album 'Life Is Good,' and I love that album, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/i-really-love-hip-hop-my-cousin-nas-came-out-with-an-album-life-is/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [I try to use social media as a tool for good. Fortunately I can say that social media has treated me pretty well. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/i-try-to-use-social-media-as-a-tool-for-good-fortunately-i-can-say/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [The more you learn about someone, how could you not want to protect them and their rights? The more you learn about a culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/the-more-you-learn-about-someone-how-could-you-not-want-to-protect/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [What modeling taught me at a young age was how to say 'no,' which is something girls - we're not always good at saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/what-modeling-taught-me-at-a-young-age-was-how-to-say-no-which-is/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [L.A. is great, but it's a completely different beast. I go back to Minnesota, and I borrow a bike from my neighbor and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/l-a-is-great-but-it-s-a-completely-different-beast-i-go-back-to/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [On a personal level, I think dressing is such a form of expression, and when you do events, it's important to feel as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/on-a-personal-level-i-think-dressing-is-such-a-form-of-expression-and/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [Quite honestly, I'm the kind of person to get my feelings hurt over something somebody said on Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/quite-honestly-i-m-the-kind-of-person-to-get-my-feelings-hurt-over/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [When you are in the public eye as a person of color, you are given very little room to mess up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/when-you-are-in-the-public-eye-as-a-person-of-color-you-are-given/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [Week-by-week you grow with your character and it's an interesting challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/week-by-week-you-grow-with-your-character-and-it-s-an-interesting/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [When we moved to L.A., I started going out for more commercials, and then one day they emailed me a movie script. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/when-we-moved-to-l-a-i-started-going-out-for-more-commercials-and/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [Scenes change all the time. Scenes will change while you're shooting them, and you just have to roll with it 'cause that's what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/scenes-change-all-the-time-scenes-will-change-while-you-re-shooting/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) [Explore all 55 Yara Shahidi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) ## More Accident quotes > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [People dont get married by accident and they dont get divorced by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/people-dont-get-married-by-accident-and-they-dont-get-divorced-by/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [A tragic car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes and dreams for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/a-tragic-car-accident-put-me-in-a-wheelchair-and-dashed-my-hopes-and/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/accident-ruled-every-corner-of-the-universe-except-the-chambers-of/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [However, I met with a horrible accident while riding my bike in Sangla Valley. The accident was a wakeup call for me stop getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/however-i-met-with-a-horrible-accident-while-riding-my-bike-in-sangla/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 922 Accident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Personally, getting into college was a big deal because I realized it's probably one of the only things I've fully planned. The rest of my life has been, for the most part, a nice little happy accident. 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