Arnold Schwarzenegger knows a thing or two about being back. He also knows a thing or two about not letting anything hold you back. The actor recently received an honorary doctorate from Ulster University. He used the moment to reflect on his long, historic career.
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Schwarzenegger was all smiles as he reflected on how he went from bodybuilding in 1966 to one of the biggest action movie stars ever.
"People always talk about, 'It must have been difficult for you in the beginning with the Irish accent,' and I said, 'I didn't even know there was an accent,' because I didn't speak English," he reflected. "So the only words that came out of me was, 'I no speak English.'"
Arnold Schwarzenegger Reflects on Career
Schwarzenegger said that the first time he spoke in public was very difficult and a bit mortifying.
"Everyone jumped up and gave me a great applause," he also added. "And then [the host] said, 'Tell them you're going to be back,' and I said, 'I come back.' At that time, I didn't say 'I'll be back,' that was in Terminator, so I said 'I come back' and standing ovation."
"He said, 'Thank you very much, Arnold, that was fantastic. Your first time that you spoke in public, you did such a great job and your English was great,' " Schwarzenegger continued. "And afterwards I left, and I said to myself, 'Oh my God, I thought I was going to die when I spoke in front of people, but this was the most encouraging audience.'"
The actor has come a long way in the years since then. Now, Schwarzenegger jokes that it is hard for anyone to shut him up. The actor had some wisdom to share with the students at the school.
"The most important thing in life is to have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish," Schwarzenegger via the school's release. "If you don't know where you're going, it's very hard to get there. I always had a clear goal — to be a bodybuilder and to be a movie star. You need a blueprint."
"Anything that comes easy is not worth getting. The harder it is, the more valuable it becomes," he added. "Have a vision, go after it, and don't let anything hold you back. See it and follow it."
