35 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
35 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

What did you want to be when you grew up?

by Kurt
31 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
Thinking back to the time you were 8-9-10 or so, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be either a vet or a pro baseball player.
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I wanted to be an Archaeologist. While I didn't get there - I do get to associate with many so get all the off the record scoops and a lot of great free education from some very astute experts. I think I'm almost as happy with how it turned out as if I had actually realized that goal.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1267959].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      I wanted to be an inventor.

      I just love the thought of designing things, making them, and hopefully getting them out in the marketplace.

      I took the route of becoming a 'hired gun', in essence being paid handsomely to help create products for corporations. This turned out to be very satisfying as my designs and invented components have sold in the millions of units in most major retailers like W-M, Pep Boys, Home Depot, Lowes, and a host of others.

      In fact, a design I came up with for one of the largest battery/flashlight companies in the world is still one of their top sellers after more than 12 years.

      In an era where product cycles can be measured in months that kind of longevity is very gratifying.

      Gynocology was a field that crossed my mind about every other thought when I was younger, but the possibility of getting cooties made that line of work seem dangerous.

      KJ
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268061].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Electronic Engineer. In 1979 or so I changed it to computer programmer.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268052].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author myob
      I have always wanted to be a philanthropist. There is no money in that, so I settled on a lesser ambition of becoming a business tycoon.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268068].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        I have always wanted to be a philanthropist. There is no money in that, so I settled on a lesser ambition of becoming a business tycoon.

        LMAO. If I ever do a work that requires quotes from the successful, I'll have to include that one. Priceless. Hahahahahahahahaha.
        Signature

        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
        Beyond the Path

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268641].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wirelessgeek
    At first I wanted to be a teacher. Then I wanted to be a singer; only problem with that is that I can't sing a single note.
    Signature
    I will make a Squidoo Lens for you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268062].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    To this day, I have no idea why I wanted to be this: a mortician. lol.
    That's my earliest career aspiration, and I believe I was about 8 yrs old.

    Kinda blows me away when I think about it. The thing that gets me is I
    have no earthly clue why.

    But then I wanted to be an archaeologist. I still have a fascination with
    the ancient, mysterious, even other-worldly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268108].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
    Taller!

    Seriously as I struggled through school due to health issues I knew I'd not get an academic job so always was plotting ways to 'do well'. My godfather was an early influence on me as he was always trying things to make money and hit the jackpot when I was 7 with selling land to the government which enabled him to have a great house and nice cars. As I got older I also met a few of my dad's wealthy clients (he was a lawyer) and a lot of them were self made. Actually interesting thinking about the influences these people had on me at a young age.

    Rich
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268464].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Since I took dancing lessons of every imaginable type from about 4 to 17, I suppose a dancer.

    In junior high school it changed to Beatnik Poet

    In high school, FBI agent.

    ... oh well!
    Signature

    Patricia Brucoli
    Plug-In Profit Site Helpdesk

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1268639].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I STILL want to be a rock star!

    Rock on!
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1269190].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author henrylcoles
    hmmm... nice question!
    I just wanted to share that I was thinking back then of becoming a pilot...
    flying an aircraft is cool... you could see the world from above.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1269232].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    When I was about seven years old, I saw some movie with Yul Brynner as a businessman, sitting at that desk with all the phones on it.

    He called in his assistant and said "buy all the shares you can of this company at any price." Off goes the assistant, and in short order people start going "hey, so-and-so's buying up all the shares of this company!" and buying it themselves.

    After an hour or two, the assistant comes back and says "we only got this many shares, because everyone else was buying too." And Yul Brynner says "sell it."

    And I thought, "I wanna be that guy."
    Signature
    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1269417].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    I wanted to be a mercenary. seriously

    When i was about 10-11, I was really into collecting military gear, especially edged weapons (bayonets mostly). On my wall hung about 25 or so edge weapons when i was in 5th-6th grade. I had a complete waffen ss uniform and a doughboy uniform complete with gas mask. I wanted to go to war.

    When all the other kids were reading mad and cracked magazines, i was reading soldier of fortune. Some kids were into building forts out of cardboard boxes. My forts were more like vietnamese tunnels. Mine dug back into hillsides and came with built in grenade pits and water drainage.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1271248].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
    Physicist... then my college counselor nudged me away from it because of the "bad job market" (her words)... and nudged me toward my second choice - Computer Science... I love physics. I wish I hadn't listened to her.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1271988].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by Michael Ellis View Post

      Physicist... then my college counselor nudged me away from it because of the "bad job market" (her words)... and nudged me toward my second choice - Computer Science... I love physics. I wish I hadn't listened to her.
      I should have gone into physics, too - but when my Astronomy and Logic professors sat me down to talk to me about considering it, I was still strung out on math anxiety. Had a few bad teachers that blew me out of math and didn't think twice about it because back then there was still this idea floating that women weren't good at math. Had I been able to shake that social stigma early enough, I'd be a physicist now.

      Conversely - when I talked to the counselor about computers (this was 1982) I was told not to bother unless I wanted to be a secretary because I'd probably never have to use one.

      Now I wonder if you and I went to the same school...U of M?
      Signature

      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
      Beyond the Path

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272312].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
        Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

        I should have gone into physics, too - but when my Astronomy and Logic professors sat me down to talk to me about considering it, I was still strung out on math anxiety. Had a few bad teachers that blew me out of math and didn't think twice about it because back then there was still this idea floating that women weren't good at math. Had I been able to shake that social stigma early enough, I'd be a physicist now.

        Conversely - when I talked to the counselor about computers (this was 1982) I was told not to bother unless I wanted to be a secretary because I'd probably never have to use one.

        Now I wonder if you and I went to the same school...U of M?
        U of M it was! It makes me wonder how many great scientists or mathematicians or whatever the world missed out on because of some ill-advice by the so-called college career "experts".

        My Son is only 3 but I'm going to force that kid to do what he loves. Forget the job market... Some wise person once said "do what you love to do and you'll never work a day in your life". I don't know who that was, or if the quote is 100% accurate, but it sure makes sense.

        KimW - I hear ya about the going back... However, I'm currently only 2 classes shy of a M.S. in Software Engineering... but I've been 2 classes shy for 3 years now, and it's not just a coincidence that my Son is 3 as well... that dude just takes up all my free time. Lol
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272497].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Renate
    When I was six years old I wanted to become an opera singer and I wanted to become a stewardess with TWA, to be able to study at Juliard College in New York during stand-by at New York. I stuck to this wish till I was 24 and recognized my big problem after finishing the opera class at music highschool:
    I just was grown too tall. 180 cm was to tall for a soprano and was to tall for working in a plane.

    So I had to give up and kept singing and operas as my favorite hobby till I lost my singing capability thru a surgery (right word for clinical operation?).
    Signature
    Want To Get THE Tools To Make Your Advertising Soar?
    Emailing for profits just got a whole lot easier.
    Try Viral Mail Profits Now:
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272054].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Amelia O
    I wanna be a teacher!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272097].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author balamasti
    I want to get married! Of course with the one I love!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272174].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Michael and Sal, its never too late.
    I gave up my government job (and job security) to go back to school and get my degree while I was in my forties.
    Go for it!
    Kim

    By the way, I wanted to be either a magician Like Dante or Blackstone ( most folks here are too young to know who I mean), or a crime fighter like The Shadow when I grew up!

    Signature

    Read A Post.
    Subscribe to a Newsletter
    KimWinfrey.Com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272330].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author earlyt766
      I think that back in those days all I wanted to be was a grown up beer drinking,smoking ,cursing farmer and look at me now ( darn I wish those days were back) lol
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272368].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SeattlePurple
    I wanted to be a Rock Star!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272577].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    LOL - yep. I learned just a tad to late to listen to the profs and ignore the counselors. It's a wonder how they can draw such incredible minds to teach and how their offices can be staffed by such clueless droolers.
    Hmmm - it also explains why you and I were less upset over our tiff in another thread a couple of years back than everyone viewing it. LOL - one day in the halls of that school would be a good induction for people that like to debate philosophy.
    Of course - you're young and missed the real rebellion heyday there. I think the whole poli-sci department was parked on the lawn at Lansing at least once a month. Um...if you ever make it there, avoid the cupcakes and hot chocolate at all costs.

    Ya know - when I got out after taking 3 straight semesters of 28 credits, I swore I never wanted to walk into the door of another school as long as I lived. Lately, though, I've been thinking of going back -- something conservation oriented. After seeing some of the areas that have been trashed beyond redemption out here I've become a big fan of the controversial and hated Project 21. Right now, though, the schools out here are not real stable. There are some good conservation programs, but funding is tight even for regular age students, prices for classes are sky rocketing, and you can never tell what they are going to cut one semester to the next. I have been browsing the websites and brochures though and might find something that I can plan on getting enough time into to actually get to work in the field if I can get into an area that will connect with my current background closely enough.

    I sure hope you can get your classes in. Would be worth it as close as you are. Wolverines just rock! You can tell a person from U of M -- you just can't tell em much.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1272588].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      LOL - yep. I learned just a tad to late to listen to the profs and ignore the counselors. It's a wonder how they can draw such incredible minds to teach and how their offices can be staffed by such clueless droolers.
      Totally agree... it's a shame.

      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Hmmm - it also explains why you and I were less upset over our tiff in another thread a couple of years back than everyone viewing it. LOL - one day in the halls of that school would be a good induction for people that like to debate philosophy.
      It makes sense, but I'm still sorry about that one...

      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Of course - you're young and missed the real rebellion heyday there. I think the whole poli-sci department was parked on the lawn at Lansing at least once a month. Um...if you ever make it there, avoid the cupcakes and hot chocolate at all costs.
      Yes, the poli-sci scene has always been an interesting one at UofM, but I'm a guy that tends to lean in a slightly different political direction than most of my state's colleges (politically), especially UofM.

      Now wait a minute, I'm 36, and I know you can't be much older than that! I'll say 40 tops, so perhaps we were classmates. Small world... I do remember sitting next to a few firecrackers that called it as they'd see it.

      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Ya know - when I got out after taking 3 straight semesters of 28 credits, I swore I never wanted to walk into the door of another school as long as I lived. Lately, though, I've been thinking of going back -- something conservation oriented. After seeing some of the areas that have been trashed beyond redemption out here I've become a big fan of the controversial and hated Project 21. Right now, though, the schools out here are not real stable. There are some good conservation programs, but funding is tight even for regular age students, prices for classes are sky rocketing, and you can never tell what they are going to cut one semester to the next. I have been browsing the websites and brochures though and might find something that I can plan on getting enough time into to actually get to work in the field if I can get into an area that will connect with my current background closely enough.

      I sure hope you can get your classes in. Would be worth it as close as you are. Wolverines just rock! You can tell a person from U of M -- you just can't tell em much.
      You know, I probably would find time if i knew it would benefit me, or if I found it interesting and applicable. I know that sounds strange, but I really lost faith in the program about half-way through it. Being taught by professors that had never actually implemented the stuff they teach doesn't sit well with me. I was a programmer for years and could see some of the things being taught were actually obsolete.

      Nowadays, however, I'm too involved in IM. Programming and algorithm development still fascinates me, and I do try to keep up with the technology by reading but there are only so many hours in the day.

      Maybe one day when my Son's grown up and I'm a millionaire living on an island somewhere...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1274902].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ConcordeWarrior
        I wanted to be a fighter pilot. For a woman at the time, this was rare. I did not have the family for it.
        I came from parents with little academics. They did alright as they were hard workers but they had both barely reached high school level.
        They could never help me with school work and there was no money for private lessons. I had to do it all myself.
        I still love planes a lot. I have prestigious pilot friends with indredible careers but I never made it in the field myself.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1275069].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        [quote=Michael Ellis;1274902]


        It makes sense, but I'm still sorry about that one...
        No need to be sorry...it never bothered me in the least. I said what I thought - you responded in kind and with honesty.....it's called truth in communication and you should never - NEVER be sorry for telling the truth.
        What I'm sorry about is that everyone else was so shocked and found it their place to intervene on our behalf. That is how a society gets reduced to censorship.



        Yes, the poli-sci scene has always been an interesting one at UofM, but I'm a guy that tends to lean in a slightly different political direction than most of my state's colleges (politically), especially UofM.
        Uh...yeah, I noticed that one, LOL.

        Now wait a minute, I'm 36, and I know you can't be much older than that! I'll say 40 tops, so perhaps we were classmates. Small world... I do remember sitting next to a few firecrackers that called it as they'd see it.
        Holy Moly - if I had something I thought you wanted, I'd be calling you a con artist for sure right now....LMAO. I didn't start college til I was 27 - almost 28 - and graduated after 3.5 years with enough credits to be halfway to a master's in about 3 fields.........anyhow....I'm old enough to be your mommy...55 in a month. We might have been there at the same time, I graduated in Dec of 84. I doubt we had any classes in common though. The profs in my fields were some of the best in the country - then. I imagine that the educational standards have denigrated there just as they have elsewhere though.

        Going back could actually be advantageous for me so I might just do so. There's not a lot of places that are going to understand old school U 0f M attitudes now though so I'm not sure I can last long in one of these new adult day care centers they pass off for Institutes of Higher Learning.
        Signature

        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
        Beyond the Path

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1275222].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thomaskruger281
    HMMM..nice question! Actually, my first dream is to be a doctor someday... but somebody change my perspective in life. I want to be a medical insurance agent - a California medical insurance agent to be more specific; I want to help my neighbors here in California.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1274484].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vagabondette
    when I was that age my cousin asked me that question. I remember telling her that I was going to go into the navy. All the time I was growing up I was always interested in the military and I did finally enlist when I was 20. My family never understood why I had this military fetish because no one in my family had served (at least not by choice or while I was alive).

    2 years ago I re-watched the wonder woman series and, strange as it sounds, I think that's where I got the idea to go into the Navy. I was obsessed with wonder woman when I was young and I'd forgotten about it until I re-watched the series but she was in the navy. it's the only link I have so that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

    In real life though, I've worked in multiple industries ranging from social service to politics so I have a very well-rounded background. Had I been able to stay in the military (I was discharged for medical reasons) I'd have been in 15 years now...scary!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1275367].message }}

Trending Topics