PHOTO: TAYLOR HILL/WIREIMAGE

Thanks to years of innovative art-pop albums and a new vampiric turn on American Horror Story, Lady Gaga has established herself as a passionate creative artist. But even she admits she’s had doubts about her career path in the past.

In a recent talk at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Gaga told high school students from across the country that she has struggled with conflicting emotions about her career.

In a clip of the talk posted to a Facebook fan page, Gaga said she even considered quitting music a few years ago.

“I don’t like being used to make people money,” Gaga said.

Gaga said she started saying “no” to requests (for selfies, or appearances, or glitzy events) in an attempt to reclaim her integrity.

“Slowly but surely, I remembered who I am,” Gaga said. “And then you go home and you look in the mirror and you’re like, yes! I can go to bed with you every night.

That person, I know that person, that person has balls, that person has integrity, that person has an opinion.”

This is not the first time Gaga has shown dedication to the emotional well-being of young people. Her Born This Way Foundation seeks to provide resources and research for young people in need.