what do you want to be when you grow up...
as i rolled out of bed this morning, simultaneously welcoming and dreading a new day at work, i started thinking about all the careers i wanted as a child.
the days of becoming a pediatrician or a divorce lawyer are long gone, but why? as a little girl i had dreams that went far beyond my wildest dreams, expectations of a life that had no boundaries. my parents always instilled in me that faith that i could do anything i wanted with an education and hard work. and for the most part (except for bloody racism), they've been right, but where has my faith gone to?
when i was eight, i wanted to be a poet. at 11, i dreamed of being a pediatrician. at 13, i knew that i wanted to be a divorce lawyer, representing women in cases so they wouldn't get screwed over by their husbands. lastly, i dreamed of being a child psychologist, until my mother crushed my fantasy by informing me that most psychologists go crazy.
by high school, i had it figured out because i had to. college applications were due and you had to make a decision. i thought i had made the right one, until i went on an internship and instinctively knew this was not what i wanted to do with my life. then another career choice had to be made.
most people i know rarely end up in the field they majored in or have the career they fantasized about. when we're young, the sky's the limit -- then life happens. can you think back to what you wanted to be when you grew up? a doctor, a nurse, the president?
did you accomplish what you set out to be?
posted by Brains Nbooty @ 8:22 PM
14 Comments
14 Comments:
Nope!
Over the years, I wanted to be: A poet, author, concert pianist, psychology (which is what I majored in), college professor, talkshow host, new anchorwoman....
You're right about life getting in the way. But eventually we all find our career niche. I'm happy where I am and it actually involves doing what I ultimately set out to do: Help others!
Great post, B&B...
I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer when I was little... Actually it was one of those things the family always said when I was young, "Yeah, Lee gonna be a doctor," or "yeah Lee gonna be a lawyer". My family is extremely artistic, but they would have balked at me picking something artsy as a career...
I think somewhere along the line, many of us lost that kid-like imagination. Just imagine where we would be if we could have kept THAT type of faith and imagination??
I went to school, got my doctorate in Organic Chemistry, but that's not even what I do now. I work in another type of chemistry. Is it what I planned to do? Not really, but it's likable. Plus the money is good. Can't say I'm all that passionate about it, and in the end, in the long run, I think that's what's key. The passion for what you do...
True post.
When I was younger I wanted to to a veterinarian, then a doctor, then a forensic scientist *b4 all these crime shows existed* and I am currently in school for physical therapy.
Hopefully I'll find my career in PT, but who knows. Like you say most people don't get jobs in their college major.
Until I was in 4th grade I wanted to be a tree surgeon...Don't ask...LOL
Then I went on a class trip to a law firm. I was in love when I saw the law library. I asked what they did there and was told that they get paid to read the books and tell people what it means. I came home that day and told my parents that I was going to be a lawyer. So, here it is all these years later...and what am I...yeap...a Lawyer
Well I went through the phase of wanting to be a teacher so I could see all the answers and now I'm in the I want to be a lawyer stage...ask me again in 5 years LOL
Great post..especially with the new year starting
girl, naw..... I wanted to be a "pediatrician" but when I discovered the inordinate amount of schooling needed and REALLY realized that a whoooooooooole lot of studying had to be done and me didn't click, well.....I gave up on that (yeah it's the lazy nigga in me). But on the other hand I have become who I planned to be. A caring person, wife and mother. Friend to many, and hopefully enemy to none.....so I don't think that i did too bad...*wink* :-)
i see a lot of us had dreams beyond what we're doing now. i still hope to make some of my new dreams come true.
i was listening to a talk show one day that said if you want to figure out what your dream career is, you should go back to your childhood and think about what made you happiest. then you pick a career that closely resembles that. might be good advice.
Well, I actually went back to college after stopping for a few years to pursue what I truly wanted to pursue. It was the first time in years that I hadn't picked a major to impress people or to just to stay in my family's good graces because I had messed up horribly years ago. Hopefully, I'll be fulfilled and all that good stuff. I feel at peace with my decision for now.
wonderful post as usual, bnb
i haven't even come close, really. in fact, blogging is the closest i've come to my childhood dream of being a writer.
You’re right. Most of the people I know are not working in the field that they went to school for or that they dreamed about for that matter.
For me, when I started college, I knew that I wanted to be in the medical or health field but I did not want to be a hands on ‘blood and guts’ type person. So that meant being a doctor or nurse was out of the question. I wanted to do something where I would be working in an office setting and still helping people.
Eventually I came to decision of working in the field of public health and I went back to school and got my masters in it. I graduated in 1999 and it took me until now to finally get a job working in my chosen profession. I’m so happy and I honestly was beginning to think that it was never gonna happen, but finally I’m here. YEAH!!!!!!
I wanted to be a lawyer (doesn't just a about everyone?). Then one day out of the clear blue I decided I wanted to be in the medical field. Now I'm dying to get out and become a real estate agent.
it's funny. from childhood i always wanted to know how buildings stayed up or why bridges didn't come down, and now that i know the principle behind it, i don't have a desire to work doing it.
Peace.
Growing up I wanted to be either a journalist or working with computers in some capacity. I majored in Comp. Sci in college and did get a job in my field. I've been doing it for over ten years now. I'm at the point that I want to start a second career. I'm currently looking into daytrading.
And where u at? It's been over a week since this post..:-)
I wanted to be a fireman or a truckdriver. But really I just wanted to survive my childhood and maybe one day be able to help others who had similar childhoods.
In the end I think that just working really hard to be ourselves with strength and courage, especially as women, is the most amazing unending goal.
I try to always be proud of what I do for money. And most of the time I really love what it is.
I think it's important to redefine success so that all of us, in our disparate ways, can fit into it.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home