What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little I wanted to be a Doctor, then I considered teaching, and then working on an oil rig (don't even ask, I have no idea why!). I think my dream job changed depending on what film I'd watched recently - for ages I wanted to work in the oceanagraphic institute like Hooper on Jaws!

Reality set in as I got older and I realised how much work was involved in med school, and how that me being painfully shy when I was talking in front of more than two people ruled out teaching too. Ended up falling into accountancy and haven't found my way out since.

In a perfect world where money were no object, I'd love to look after lost/abandoned cats and kittens (no surprise there!).

So, what did you want to be when you were a child, and how did it differ to what you ended up doing? What's your dream job (ignoring money implications)?

what did you want to be when you were a child? I wanted to be a rock star! In my teenage years I wanted to be an Interior Designer.

and how did it differ to what you ended up doing? Uh... I'm at a desk job... in Sales. major difference ...

What's your dream job (ignoring money implications)? I'd still love to design the interior of homes (decorate). I think I've done a dandy of a job with my own house, til I see 'rich people' houses. And then I think, boy am I glad I'm in Sales and NOT decorating cuz I'd be really poor.

This sounds like fun!

When I was really little I wanted to be a ballerina, then I had to do a project on the Humpback whale and I decided to be a marine biologist. When I was about 8 years old my dad and uncle took me to an airshow in London Ontario and this really nice F-111 Aardvark pilot from somewhere in the Carolinas (if I remember correctly) let me sit in his jet and answered my questions. After that.... I was hooked. I told my mom and dad, teachers and friends that I was going to be a fighter pilot in the US airforce (and I'm a Canadian ...I was young I didn't know).

My parents and friends always supported me but teachers did not. They told my parents and me that I was not smart enough to be a pilot. Well HA HA!, one thing I am is very stubborn. I took all that negative energy and decided I could and I would do it!

I went through several phases growing up. The typical dancer, doctor, laywer, actress. But I also wanted to be a school bus driver at the same time, so I would have been a school bus driving doctor. I'm not sure why I wanted to be a school bus driver but I did.

As a teen I wanted to Interior decorating too. When I applied to college, it was for marketing.

And I wound up being an accountant, I like the order of it. I don't think I'd be very happy with a job that didn't have a certain order about it.

I wanted to be an Aeronautical Engineer when I was a youngster till I found out I just didn't have the aptitude for the higher maths needed.

I went through the marine biologist stage, too, because I loved dolphins and whales. Then it was a vet, obviously due to a love of animals. Finally, I settled on working with young children in special ed. The last choice won out. I'm an early childhood special ed major, specializing in autism. Right now I'm at home with my youngest, but I'll be back at work in a couple of years. I love it!

I wanted to work at NASA (but not be an astronaut, because as far as I was concerned, that was terrifying). And then for a long time I wanted to be a film editor, even got a film degree.

Now I'm an administrative assistant - but I'm quitting soon and looking to get into non-profit work.

I'm still hoping to one day publish a few books.

i always wanted to be a dancer for popstars..
well i never got it because i moved so often and i put on weight and my mother never sent me to dancing school.
now i dont know.

I always wanted to be an interior designer/fashion stylist...and then it switched to wanting to be a big CEO in a big building in New York. (Too much watching the Apprentice!!)

Now I'm an administrative assistant at a Body Shop within a car dealership. I've learned that I love working in the car business, (I've been working at a dealership since I was 13 with my Grandpa) so I know the tricks of the trade! 7 years experience and I'm only 21...looks good on a resume!
I think I'm stuck working at a dealership forever, I love it!

This sounds like so much fun.

When I was younger my mom used to put me in Beauty Pagents for Hawiian Tropic and then did some modeling, and that's what I wanted to do as an adult. But my mom stop putting me in pagents and taking to auditions, she said I wasn't worth the trouble of driving to San Francisco and L.A. Still wish I could do some, I just like being in front of the camara. My husband laughs at me, Ok I like being center of attention.

Then I also wanted to work for the FBI, it always facinated me. But then again my school councelor told me that I wasn't smart enough for that.

So, know I'm a saty at home mom and cares for two beautiful kids and two lovely furbabies and life is just fine the way it is, surrounded by love

Originally Posted by CaliGirl

Then I also wanted to work for the FBI, it always facinated me. But then again my school councelor told me that I wasn't smart enough for that.

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I wanted to work for the FBI too!! Didn't cross my mind that I lived in the wrong country!

When I was child I always want to be Astonaut and only drive the shuttles! ...

Doctor.

When I was little I wanted to be a teacher or own my own company. When ever I played "house" I was a teacher or I was President of some kind of company and my friends and/or stuffed animals & dolls were customers. Then when I got older I wanted to be an RN, an actress, or a model. I went to school to be an RN but changed my mind and quit.

Then I decided I wanted to be a teacher again, but I just stopped 'feeling' it and knew I had to do something with animals.

My dream job would be a wildlife biologist--I want Jeff Corwin's job!! Unfortunately I'm not patient and I don't want to go to school forever, so I decided to be a vet. tech. but I haven't started yet because I'm enjoying my life way too much as it is. Maybe 1 or 2 more years. Of course, my mind could change again by then.

I have always wanted to be a Veternarian!

This is a great thread idea, Clare!

Gosh, I had so many different plans! I originally wanted to be a circus acrobat (because I was a gymnast, I assume!), then a fireman, then a vet until i realised that you actualy had to do operations (i thought you just stroked them and made them feel better! ) After these, I went onto wanting to be an Journalist (lots of experience here), photographer, Interior designer, graphic designer and artist!

I am now finally at the artist stage and am loving it! Going to get a carpentry qualification at some point too!

I'm just loving being my own boss! ....and i'm in my ideal job (only I'd like the more recognition stage to move a bit quicker! )

I always wanted to be a Nurse Missionary, like in the awful stories that they handed out at church. My parents, of course, encouraged me, as they're religious, and think that nursing is a great profession for women.

But I started to be not-so-religious, and drifted for a few years. I thought that ER made being a doctor look exciting, I thought that firefighting might be rewarding, and NASA sounds fabulously exciting.

But my sophomore year in high school, an engineer from the local HP lab came to my school and told us about the class that he was going to begin teaching the next term, teaching the basics of mask design and other microprocessor design type stuff. I was absolutely rivited, especially about how he was so interested in getting a good girl quota. I took the class my junior year, and got a job at the lab at the end of the school year, at the age of 16. I was the TA for the class the next year, and I still work in the lab.

If the job that this internship will turn into isn't my dream job, than my dream job might be being a mechanic. There's really just nothing like making things work again, and when you work with metal parts instead of human/animal innards, there is much less face time with the people one is accountable to. I'm not a real people pleaser. Engineering pays better (in general) than working in a garage, and it keeps the nails cleaner.

Originally Posted by Sar

This is a great thread idea, Clare!

Gosh, I had so many different plans!

I originally wanted to be a circus acrobat (because I was a gymnast, I assume!), then a fireman, then a vet until i realised that you actualy had to do operations (i thought you just stroked them and made them feel better!

) After these, I went onto wanting to be an Journalist (lots of experience here), photographer, Interior designer, graphic designer and artist!

I am now finally at the artist stage and am loving it! Going to get a carpentry qualification at some point too!

I'm just loving being my own boss!

....and i'm in my ideal job (only I'd like the more recognition stage to move a bit quicker!

)

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Thank you! I think it's fascinating the things we want to be when we're young, and how the 'real' world impacts on it. Shame we have to consider money, otherwise I'd be doing something much less office based.

Good luck with the carpentry qualification, just think of all the great furniture you'll be able to have in your home, and to be able to say you made it all yourself would be wonderful!

Originally Posted by Purity

Thank you! I think it's fascinating the things we want to be when we're young, and how the 'real' world impacts on it. Shame we have to consider money, otherwise I'd be doing something much less office based.

Good luck with the carpentry qualification, just think of all the great furniture you'll be able to have in your home, and to be able to say you made it all yourself would be wonderful!

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Thank you!

It is amazing the ideals we have as children! What would you really like to do? Why don't you go for it?! we only live once!

Im think carpentry will be great - it will bering some money in too! I love furniture and (although it sounds odd) I find it exciting! My Dad does furniture restoration and I think that would be great to learn too!

When I was young I wanted to be a dolphin trainer! I spent all my summers in Cape Cod, Mass., so had alot of exposure to the ocean. Eventually that faded and by high school I wanted to be a commercial artist. I took it as a vocation in school and worked in the related field for a few years after high school. Eventually I went back to school for landscape design. I LOVE plants and drawing so it's the perfect fit. If I could have any job it would most certainly be something to do with animals! I should have gone to veterinary school in hindsight, but at 38 I'm out of that kind of ambition.