How old were you when you realized what you wanted to be when you grew up?

Question

I'm still not sure what I wanna be! A teacher, a writer, a mud wrestler, or a pretty pretty princess. Hmmmm.....

Answer 1

Hmmmm......

I was 4 years old. When I had a "4 head". And my dad had a "22 head". And my brother wasn't even a year old yet so he was just "Little head Camron". The 3 of us were in the living room of our "castle" (read trailer) having this conversation over pot pies (that's what men did then when the women went on vacation without them). I remember having the impression that we were gonna starve to death because mommy wasn't there to feed us based on a mildly sarcastic conversation my parents had prior to her departure. So because we were eating and very much alive- and having fun too- I had determined that I wanted to be everything that my dad (then just beginning as an electrician) was- lacing up my work boots just as fast, working harder than everyone else, and making sure that my kids would never starve if their mommy had to ever leave. He took great care of us all, he kept us all safe, and he loved us. I felt so strongly then that that was what I was supposed to be.

Since then, I've wanted to be an electrician, a doctor, a dentist, a cop, a firefighter, a pilot, a race car driver, a teacher, an actor, a musician, a welder, a plumber, a pizza man, a waiter, an engineer, an accountant, a business owner.... and probably 200 other different occupations. And as a father of 3 of the most precious little angels, I have had the opportunity to be every one of them at least once- if not for a brief period of time.

I'd say I've been pretty accurate along the way... but had the most accurate vision the first time... I do believe.

So, my pretty pretty princess, you can be anything and everything your heart has ever dreamed of- a teacher, a writer, a musician, a gymnast, a dancer, an ice skater... the world's greatest mommy and wife.... and everything else in between- because nothing or no one could ever stop you.

Answer 2

3

Answer 3

About 8 or 10

Answer 4

5

Answer 5

I was about three. My dad was an advanced combat military teacher in Maine and served in Viet Nam (1st Air Cav, 2nd of the 8th for those interested). He was my hero. He trained in Tiger Land (Fort Poke LA.)

He was an M60 gunner and a few years older than most of the boys over there.

He came home with two purple hearts and the Bronze and Silver star.

He shot expert with everything from being raised in the Uinta Mountains, Utah.

He can out shoot anyone I know and consistently proves it at the range.

I wanted to be a sniper and serve in the Army.

It wasn't until a few years ago I started dealing with the daemons of military that I understood where most of his fears and social issues came from.

'The Dogs Of War' have a way of turning on great solders a long time after the physical battle front.
He was the one who told me to get out, and told me why I should.

There was a Clint Eastwood Movie that explained it best. Unforgiven.

It went something like:
'It's a hard thing killing a man. You take away everything he has been and is, and everything he ever will be.

I'm blessed with two other jobs as an AV engineer for numerous venues and a CAD CIM/CAM Tech for a great custom electronics company.

I'm still humbled when people stand for the flag or when some old man in the store salutes my dad when they see his infantry pin on his hat. America has so many forgotten heroes.

My dad is a hero to me even though he talked me out of doing what he did.
Always have a back up he told me...

Answer 6

12

Answer 7

I never realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be so many different things as I grew. When I was still in Grade School, my dream was to become a teacher. I was infatuated with the idea of getting to spend my work days with kids, and having my own desk seemed to be a top priority. Just the thought of being associated with school the rest of my life made me feel like it would carry less responsibility than another career would have. I was so wrong about that.

Then I grew some more and retired from that phase. Next, it was wanting to become this "superstar." What kind of "star" ......I'm not really sure. But I was determined to become someone famous. Wether it was a pro athlete or an actor....I just knew the spotlight would be right for me. The atleticism was there, yet I never really excelled completely in one sport alone. I felt I could play any sport. So, trying to determine which one I would conquer became a challenge. I would end up playing many and sort of become a jack of all trades and master of none....so-to-speak.

That phase quickly ended when I found out the challenges of trying to impress colleges so much into giving me an athletic scholarship. Oh, and far as acting or anything like that was concerned.....well....lets just say there was lack of opportunity in my area and I really didn't know how to make myself known...or really what to do at all at that point. Then it hit me. Ok, I'll be a broadcaster. I didn't care what kind...radio, t.v., or even just running a camera. I pursued this carrer choice in attending a school for it. I once again, was in for a harsh reality that I didn't want to face. It was so demanding. The time and effort was more than I thought I could ever handle, so I slowly started to change my mind again.

Once I changed my mind, I ended up falling back on what I had secretly been doing since very early in my youth. My father was self-employed in concrete and masonry work. He would take me to his jobs and put me to work as early as the age of 12. I can remember thinking to myself....."Nep, you really need to find another career when you get older.....this is not the way to go."
I just hated it so much! I hated everything about it. I look back now and I know why I hated it. Its because while I was out being responsible and learning the value of a dollar.........my friends were out having fun and enjoying "kid" things. Well, needless to say, and to make a long story short......I am doing that very thing to this day. Do I want to be something else?...Of course I do. What exactly do I want to be?...... I still don't know. I really don't think I will ever know the answer to that. Sure I am content with the path I have chosen and have had some great experiences along the way. I just sometimes wish that I was more sure about exactly what I wanted to be. I look at lots of others and they seem to have known forever what they wanted. I grew up changing my mind many times and am still left guessing.

Answer 8

Well, I was eleven when I realized I wanted to be an archaeologist, and that dream stayed with me through the rest of my school years and into the short time I spent in college. Before that though, I'd always wanted to be a mom, and that dream came true but at a high price. There is nothing I wouldn't do for my daughter....

I still want to be a writer, but these days I'm just trying to survive...

Answer 9

Funny you should mention the mud wrestling. At age 15, I decided that when I grew up I would be the owner of a topless bowling alley that ran mud wrestling every Friday night.

Of course, if I had made that come true, I would have never grown up.

Answer 10

I knew/thought I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl in elementary school. Went all the way through school knowing/thinking that. Got out, taught middle school for one year...that wasn't quite for me and I'm no longer a teacher....still not sure what I want to do when I "grow up"...