As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

@Toofancy (548)
United States
September 18, 2010 10:04am CST
When I was little, I thought my Daddy wanted me to be a nurse. I, of course, wanted to be a secretary, a model, a singer and dancer, or a writer. I can remember playing "secretary" in our screened-in front porch (which was my "office"). Well, as it turned out,I was far too shy to perform in public, so singer and dancer went out the window. Then I wanted to go to fashion college to pursue modeling, but never did. I was lucky enough, however, to do a few amateur modeling jobs (runway and print), but that was it. But I did work as a secretary for many years until I finally went into the accounting field. As for writing...well I still write, but I am not published. I still hope someday to publish a book, or write for a magazine or newspaper. So that's my story about childhood ambition and how it turned out for me. What did you want to be, and did you reach that goal?
4 people like this
15 responses
@Catana (735)
• United States
18 Sep 10
I've always been a compulsive reader, so growing up to be a writer was my obvious and earliest choice. I wanted to be a novelist because I'd read so many novels that I admired. I thought being a published novelist was probably the most wonderful thing in the world. The problem was that I've also been very scattered and have trouble finishing projects. Somewhere along the line I found that I was very good at writing nonfiction, so I concentrated on that. But the desire to be a novelist was still back there in my brain. I entered National Novel Writing Month several times, and when I finally completed my first novel last year, I knew I was on my way. I've written two novels, and have a few more partway finished. I plan to get the first one published early next year as an ebook. It's never too late. I married, raised two kids and became a widow, and now I'm going strong on my original dream.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Thank you SO much for that information. I will definitely look into it when I reach a point that I am ready to publish. Again, good luck to you with your writing and publishing your books.
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Sounds like you have put a lot of hard work into your writing. How do you go about publishing as an ebook? Someone else suggested that to me, but I don't know anything about it. Anyway, good luck to you. I wish you great success.
1 person likes this
@Catana (735)
• United States
18 Sep 10
There are online publishers who put out books both as ebooks and in print. Though one new one that I saw recently is going to be ebooks only. If you go through a publisher, you have to submit your manuscript just the way you would with traditional publishers. But you can also publish yourself using Amazon or Smashwords. They both have a way to turn your book into an ebook, and they both sell your book on their sites. I haven't reached that point yet, but when I do, I'll use Smashwords. If you're at all interested, they have free ebooks that you can download. One is on marketing, one is a style guide, and the other is on how to publish with Smashwords.
1 person likes this
@nightkid (89)
• China
19 Sep 10
I once dreamed of being a scientist when i was a little kid.Though i was only 6 years old i thought that scientists were so cool.They were able to make many machines and save lots of people.In my heart,they were sagacious heroes at that time.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Scientists are very cool. Thank goodness for them. I hope a lot of people continue to want to be Scientists because we need them. That was a good dream for you to have. Good luck to you in whatever you decided to pursue! Thanks for responding.
• Philippines
18 Sep 10
I want to be a good Chef and to manage my own restaurant that's why I took up BS Hotel and Restaurant Management .
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
That is awesome. Good luck to you.
• Philippines
18 Sep 10
Hello! Thank You! When I was a child I am dreaming to become a doctor, teacher, and scientist... And honestly...those dreams had been fulfilled by Jesus! I became a doctor because God used me to heal some one when it comes to body pain...I used to reflex them.., and in sickness. I pray them... I became a teacher because I teach the word of God...I become a remedial teacher in the high school student! I became a scientist because I am now a computer scientist! So...if you want to fulfill your dreams...envision it,,,and believe on Jesus!
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
19 Sep 10
How inspiring! I am glad your dreams came true. You sound like you have a wonderful, full life. God bless you.
@handy91 (113)
• Thailand
19 Sep 10
when I was small i dreamed about being an air hostess, I dreamed myself would travel to many place in the world but I soon give it up because it's really difficult to become an air hostess. I dreamed to be an super star too, but I have no talent so I think it's impossible lol
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
20 Sep 10
I thought that being an air hostess (we called them flight attendants, or stewardesses) would be fun and glamorous. I couldn't pursue that because I had children when I was very young, and could not travel away from home to work. Maybe you could have been a super star....you might have a talent that you haven't discovered yet. :) Thanks for your response!
• Philippines
19 Sep 10
Ever since, I wanted to be a teacher but I turned out to be different. But I don't have any regrets at all though the passion and interest is still in my heart. Well, I still have time to work on it. I am planning to take master's degree and eventually I will be able to teach. Aside from teaching, I also love dancing. I participated a lot of activities with dancing involved in fact I joined dance club when I was still a student. But lately, I haven't done it. So sad.. :( but hopefully I can dance again in front of many people. ^.^.. i so love it...
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
20 Sep 10
That is wonderful that you like to dance in front of lots of people. I loved to dance, but I was too shy to dance in front of people. Good luck with your Master's Degree. You sound like a positive, upbeat person. I am sure you will reach whatever goal you want to achieve. Thanks for your response!
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
18 Sep 10
I wanted to be a chef! I had a neighbor who was a chef working in a restourant-he was fat and potbellied, in my ignorance, I thought a fat potbellied man was a truely well todo person-that was my motivation for being a chef
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
That is funny! So, if you did not become a chef, what did you do? Chefs have become quite popular, and that is a career that a lot of people are pursuing these days. I wish I could cook well enough to be one.
@Ramaditya (1227)
• Indonesia
18 Sep 10
That was a lot and awesome! You've got so many goals back there. And, how about now? I wanted to be a computer expert at that time, because when I was child I played video games a lot and I misunderstood between real computer and video games. I also wanted to be a good book writer, that was because my father read me a lot of good comic books.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
As I have gotten older, my concentration is mostly on being a good wife, mother and grandmother. I've done my share of work in the outside world. I would still like to be an accomplished writer. Do you still write? Did you pursue working with computers? Those were great goals. Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do in life. Thanks for your response.
@kquiming (2997)
• Philippines
18 Sep 10
well i always said i wanted to be a teacher, but i didn't turn out to be a teacher... but until now i think i still want to be a teacher. i prefer to teach preschoolers cause kids are more fun and easier to deal with...but i don't mind teaching college students too.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Teaching is a wonderful profession. I don't remember why that was not one of my goals, because I loved school and learning. Good luck with your dreams!
@marguicha (214281)
• Chile
18 Sep 10
Your choice of careers were very similar to mine, except that I wanted to be a doctor instead of a nurse.But I was sure they would ring on my houseĀ“s bell to ask me to go to Holliwood to be a movie star or a famous singer. As for writing, I have done it all my life and suddenly, without meaning to, I found myself being a writer. I have been published in my native language and one of my stories was translated into English in an anthology. At some time of my life I also wanted to gat married and have lots of kids. I got married at 18, was wise enough as to have only 2 children and the perfect husband.
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Congratulations on your writing! That is so exciting. Sounds like you are having a great life! Good luck to you.
• Philippines
18 Sep 10
When I was a child, I dream of becoming a nun. Ironically I was more than I thought I was. If life treated me a little bit more kindly then I would have just kept my dream. Today, I have no regrets of being a single mom of three. More outgoing and more feisty. I guess being a nun was not for me.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Being a mother is a very important job, and I am sure that you enjoy it. I am a mother of 4, and a grandmother of 4, and I love it. Thanks for your response!
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
18 Sep 10
From the time that I was maybe 3 until I was about 14 or 15 I wanted to be a paleontologist. Don't even ask me how the heck I knew what a paleontologist was at 3, but I guess I just read the right books! xD When grown-ups asked me, I always had to explain what it was because none of them ever knew. (In case you're wondering, paleontologists are the people that study fossils and bones...think dinosaurs ^_^) The idea went great for a while. I was reading books and trying to remember little facts and things that I thought would help get me there and I studied a lot of science, but then when I got to high school I realized that that's not really what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to have a family and a stable life and being a paleontologist really requires a lot of travel and I didn't want to impose that amount of instability on my family, so I chose a different field. :) I still think that being a paleontologist would have been fun, but I think that the field I'm currently going for (Computer Science) is more suited for me.
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
My goodness, you were a very smart 3 year old! Good luck to you in the Computer Science field. I hope you are a great success. Thanks for your response.
@damned_dle (3942)
• Philippines
18 Sep 10
I was just thinking about posting this question minutes ago. When I was 5 yo I wanted to be a pilot. But that never happened and I don't want to be a pilot anymore. Instead I want to travel the world now as a first class passenger. But that haven't happened yet. But my dream is still alive!
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
Well, I hope you become a first class passenger, traveling the world. That would be great. Good luck!
• China
18 Sep 10
lots of . doctor teacher trader.and now i am a stock trader
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
18 Sep 10
I guess we all had a list of things that we wanted to do when we were kids. But sounds like you picked a good profession. Good luck with stock trading! Thanks for your response.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
12 Apr 11
I wanted to be a lot of different things. A teacher, a ballerina, a model, an actress, a race car driver, and a veterinarian just to name a few. I even took ballet lessons, although I quit shortly after I started. I never did become any of those things. The closest I ever got was working in a veterinary hospital. However, I wasn't a veterinarian. Shortly after I became pregnant with my oldest I quit that job. I've been a stay at home mom ever since. Happy mylotting!