Ben and I went out for a drink the other night and started talking about what our dream jobs would be. Our conversation then led to, “What did you want to be when you were a kid?” You know, the classic, “When I grow up…” essay.
I went first. I think the first thing I ever wanted to be was a ballerina. I remember dressing up as a ballerina for Halloween one year and also took some dance lessons for a while. That dream soon flew out the window when both my mother and I realized I was WAY too clumsy to be a dancer. Now, what can you be if you want to be pretty like ballerinas but can’t dance?
Next dream: Beauty Queen. HA! That didn’t last long – especially when you’re less than 5’4″ tall and wear retainers. Let’s see, can’t rely on good looks…talents maybe? I had always loved to draw and had piles of sketchpads and notebooks filled with doodles and pencilled portraits – an artist possibly? Those dreams also soon fizzled when I realized I didn’t want to do the only two things I thought artists could do: teach art to school children or go into graphic design. By this time I was in high school and thought, “Oh crap, I really better figure this out” and started looking for other ideas.
After considering veterinary school for about two seconds and then radiology for another two I enrolled in college as an undecided and on a whim freshman year declared my major as Physical Education more looking towards working in Health Education. It took me a semester to realize A) I don’t especially care for children I’m not related to and B) Teachers make no money, to start looking elsewhere for another occupation when I stumbled upon Exercise Science (Fitness/Wellness) – fell in love with health promotion and now here I am 5 years later working in a wellness job I love.
It sure is crazy how things work out. What did you want to be when you grew up? (Also, stay tuned for the next blog entry, “When I Grow Up Continued” by Benjamin D.)
I still have no idea what I want to do when I grow up.
Just FYI, I never thought you were too clumsy to dance! I was disappointed when you wanted to quit dance. But I think you found the right fit in professions..
I wanted to be a cheetah when I grew up. So I could run really fast
No, seriously, I wanted to be a zoo keeper. Until that poor lady was killed by tha jaguar at John Ball Zoo when I was 5
I think then I wanted to be a vet for about next 10 years… until I figured out that I sucked at math and chemisty.