"I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I was going to perform as a singer; I was going to perform as a dancer, and I was, you know, going to do movies and be an actress. I was going to do it or die trying. That's what my life was"
About this Quote
The subtext is less “dream big” than “leave no exit.” “Do it or die trying” is melodrama, sure, but it’s also a psychological strategy. If you’re a Latina from the Bronx entering industries that historically treat women like interchangeable parts, you don’t get to dabble. You commit with the intensity of someone who knows talent isn’t the only barrier; access, aesthetics, and gatekeepers are. The line turns ambition into survival logic.
Context matters because Lopez’s career is built on crossing borders that the culture likes to police: singer versus actress, dancer versus celebrity brand. She frames that crossover not as opportunism but as destiny, which is how a “multi-hyphenate” becomes legible and defensible. Even the casual “you know” works as a wink of relatability, sanding down what could sound like ego into something closer to testimony.
It’s motivational, but not in the generic way. It’s a reminder that star-making is often less about discovering a calling than refusing to accept an alternative life.
Quote Details
| Topic | Never Give Up |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lopez, Jennifer. (2026, January 17). I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I was going to perform as a singer; I was going to perform as a dancer, and I was, you know, going to do movies and be an actress. I was going to do it or die trying. That's what my life was. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-just-knew-that-was-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-was-31871/
Chicago Style
Lopez, Jennifer. "I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I was going to perform as a singer; I was going to perform as a dancer, and I was, you know, going to do movies and be an actress. I was going to do it or die trying. That's what my life was." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-just-knew-that-was-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-was-31871/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I was going to perform as a singer; I was going to perform as a dancer, and I was, you know, going to do movies and be an actress. I was going to do it or die trying. That's what my life was." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-just-knew-that-was-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-was-31871/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.



