Perhaps it's just me, but I recall being asked that question A LOT when I was a kid. Strangely, my own kids don't remember being asked so much. But there was no doubt in my mind what I would be one day, far off into the future, when I stopped being a kid and transformed into a full-grown man: a SCIENTIST!
I was obsessed with science as a child. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Abels, taught me to read in a single day via the magic of phonics. Science books were soon being devoured. And I was fascinated with things like bugs, crawdads, tree leaves, birds, and various things I found living in the dirt while excavating with Tonka equipment.
Ergo, needless to say, someday I would ply my trade by wearing a white coat, being surrounded by loads of laboratory equipment, and making world-changing discoveries.
Well, like with most of us, life took a different turn for me. I spent twenty-three years working as an electrician. It was a decent trade, but hardly what I envisioned as my life's work when I was seven years old.
Fortunately for me, my love of science somehow translated into an affinity for all things computer. So I was able to make an incredibly rewarding career change at the age of forty to professional web programmer. I don't wear a white coat to work, I wear khaki slacks and polo shirts. My discoveries don't change the world, but they do help the profitability of my employer. I'm not surrounded by beakers and test tubes, but do have lots of Dilbert cartoon on the walls.
Above all, I enjoy my job, which was what I DID envision myself doing at the age of seven.
Had we gotten our wishes, the world would now be full of firemen, astronauts, ballet dancers, cowboys, policemen, and perhaps a handful of scientists.
That's how things turned out for me. But what about you, friends? What did you see yourself doing when you grew up? And how did it turn out for you?
Please share your thoughts with the rest of us. The floor is yours.
Comments (4)
My life plan was to reach high for the stars and to become an astronaut. My bed room walls were plastered with photos of the “Original Mercury Astronauts”. Since I could not meet the height requirements and had flat feet, life as an astronaut was not in the cards for me.
I instead became a forester and for the most part, enjoyed the career for over thirty years!
Posted by Steve Skinner | September 19, 2008 1:20 AM
Posted on September 19, 2008 01:20
This ought to be fun...just remembering all of them...
At age:
3-I wanted to be an artist
5-I wanted my own helicopter business to fly around major cities dropping off millionaires on roof tops
6-I wanted to drive a caterpillar
8-I wanted to be a scientist and cure world hunger (hey it could still happen) LOL
9-I wanted 9 kids and a house with two stories and a swimming pool. I wanted my own baseball team, that was why I wanted 9 kids.
13-I wanted to be a crime detective (I started reading True Detective stories)
15-I wanted to be a fashion designer
16-I wanted to be a clothes buyer for a major department store.
18_ I decide to be an Art Therapist
20-I wanted to live to be 21! LOL
56-I want to be young again and keep the knowledge I have attained over the years
I did become a Milliner and designed clothes, costumes and hats...
I did have a program for minorities, handicapped and disadvantaged for development...
All in all I am a happy camper.
I hope your dreams came true too!
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by The Baby Boomer Queen | September 19, 2008 2:54 AM
Posted on September 19, 2008 02:54
Nothing unusual here! I wanted to be an astronaut just like the Mercury and Gemini astronauts! That's all I can remember really wanting to be. Fireman, been there done that! Last place I ever figured working in was the funeral industry, but that is what I do!
Posted by Rivers End | January 6, 2009 3:14 PM
Posted on January 6, 2009 15:14
I have an odd take on this one. As I see it, prospects for employment were nearly wide open in the 50s and 60s, though it was getting a little bit tighter in the late 60s. There was a big infrastructure to be built to support the Cold War climate and big ambitions for this nation, in my opinion.
We had lots to be done and not enough to do it. So immigration was also big as well. But the country was so spread out that for years we did not notice. Further, since many from Europe continued to come over and they looked much like the majority, also helped to escape our notice.
My father was very uneducated and yet got jobs that now require degrees or lots of good job experience. The myth spread in school and everywhere was that you could be whatever you wanted and the sky was the limit. I remember this well. It was a nice thought but not very honest.
I thought an artist or scientist when young but by high school, things were looking different. I was unsure. Being from a working class family with no excess money, it seemed pretty obvious that I would be doing manual labor. I still had hopes of showing who I was and was capable of but I don’t think that helps either.
My parents were fighters and that is the last thing you want to be if you want to be accepted and promoted. I found out the hard way. Attitudes matter.
We don’t ask and we don’t tell now. We know better. Kids don’t ask cause they know better. Everything is locked up and what caste or class you belong to does matter. And things have been all sealed up now so that only a chosen few are allowed to progress.
For those how might disagree, I only ask that you wait 1 more year before responding. IN that time you will understand better what I say and why I say it. Right now too many still have jobs. You had them because there were an abundance of them. But not much longer. What will become more obvious is when few have jobs, who are they that have them.
Check their economic backgrounds and their networks and you will have your answer. Sorry kids, but the jobs are all gone and so are our days as a great empire. It happens to all empires sooner or later. IN the words of Porky Pig: Th-th-th-th That’s all Folks!
Posted by Scott Irv | May 23, 2009 5:34 PM
Posted on May 23, 2009 17:34