I was a little girl with a pot belly and Afro puffs, hyperactive and overdramatic, and I found the theater and I found my home.
Audra McdonaldRead
I just wanted to go to New York and be on Broadway, but then I was accepted by Juilliard, where they trained me in classical voice. It was great in the end, but at the time, I thought, 'What am I doing here? This is not my path.' But it was absolutely my path and where I was meant to be.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the unexpected journey and how initial doubts can lead to fulfilling experiences.
Audra McDonald expresses her initial uncertainty about being accepted into Juilliard instead of pursuing her dream of performing on Broadway in New York. However, her experience at Juilliard turned out to be crucial for her growth as a classical vocalist, highlighting that sometimes the paths we are meant to take may not align with our initial desires but can lead to our true calling.
Themes
JourneySelf-DiscoveryPathGrowthClassical Music
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech, this quote can inspire students to embrace unexpected opportunities.
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