High expectations weren't nurtured in my neck of nowhere back then - children weren't fawned over from an early age as 'gifted' and groomed for a prizewinning future self-esteem was considered something you had to pick from the garden yourself.

Summary

This quote highlights that in the speaker's childhood, there was a lack of emphasis on high expectations and success. In their upbringing, children weren't overly praised or labeled as gifted, nor were they groomed for future achievements. Instead, self-esteem was something that had to be built independently, by overcoming challenges and nurturing personal growth. The quote implies that in this environment, individuals had to cultivate their own sense of worth and accomplishment rather than relying on external validation or preordained paths to success.

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