As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Are you far off the mark?

[applegrove]

I wanted to be a nun with an orphanage. I was not catholic but I felt for a nanny I had who grew up in a catholic run orphanage. Later on, as a young teen I wanted to be divorced. Not married.... divorced.

No surprise I am solitary and single as an adult. LOL!

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I wanted to be an artist.

I am an accountant. Go figure. The mark is here.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I am here.

[nolabear]

2. I wanted to be a writer.

I'm a therapist and a writer. Pretty good! Took me a long time to get around to it, but I did.

[femmocrat]

3. I wanted to become so many things.... a teacher, a veterinarian, a librarian....

I did become a teacher. When I went to college, there weren't many other options for girls.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. A pirate.

That didn't work out, although I still sail for fun.

[Chan790]

5. I wanted to be an adventurer.

I'm a screenwriter with a steady day job (because as awesome as getting paid $50-$200K every 2 or so years is (with no future promise of earnings beyond shitty residuals), it's a lot better if you've got a weekly baseline paycheck.) working as a licensed banker for NPOs and foundations. The irony is that I tell people I'm a writer and they say "Oh that's sooooooo cool!" and I hate it. I'm gifted with a natural talent I don't appreciate in the least and I'd trade for almost any other skill. The day job takes no skill, it's all rote and training.

The whole problem with the adventurer thing isn't the job, I got that down pat. I've never figured out how to monetize that shit. It's not really a job if you're not getting paid for it.

[Generic Brad]

6. I wanted to be a monkey

You be the judge.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I wanted to be a brain surgeon...

...I ended up getting a cosmetology license. For a time, I worked on people's heads with sharp instruments. Suuuuper close to the mark. I just worked on the outside, instead of the inside.

[Mendocino]

8. I wanted to be a forest ranger,

ended up working for a fed agency that has little to to do with the outdoors. But I can retire next year. YEAH!

[IcyPeas]

9. I wanted to do medical illustration....

never got close

[Luciferous]

10. I wanted to be a lawyer or an editor. I stay at home and take

care of my kids, so not even close to the mark.

[struggle4progress]

21. I always thought parents got to practice lots of attorney-like arguing with their kids,

from about age two on

[Luciferous]

46. Ha, yeah, especially with my kids. They are stubborn and

argumentative... kind of like their mom :)

[Xipe Totec]

11. I wanted to be an astronaut

Instead, I got to work on Shuttle on board flight software, for STS-1. Not far from my mark.

But that's ancient history now.

[applegrove]

12. That must have been so cool.

[Xipe Totec]

13. Yes, indeed. Wicked cool

Very pleasant memories; seeing history made all around me. Some of my friends are still there even today. But others like myself have moved on. Just last week one of my buddies who was a shuttle flight controller passed away.

[Grantuspeace]

14. I wanted to be a farmer.

So I could be out standing in my field.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Welcome to DU!

Enjoy the conversations!

:hi:

[applegrove]

52. I'm honored you picked my thread for your 2nd post.

[Grantuspeace]

15. I tried to get a job in an orange juice factory.

But I just couldn't concentrate.

[applegrove]

53. I'm honored you chose my thread for your 2nd pos...... hey wait a second. Your post count isn't

working. Anyhow.... WELCOME!!

[hailhydra]

16. I wanted to be Spider-Man...

Then a veterinarian.

I ended up working with special needs kids.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. I wanted to be a nurse...

And I actually got to be one.

Eventually, I decided it wasn't for me, and moved on.

[fizzgig]

19. at six i decided i wanted to be a journalist

at 22 i was.

at almost 27 i lost the job in a way that left me absolutely crushed. i am a better person for my time in news, but i decided never again.

i just turned 30 and now manage a call center. i'm light years from where i thought i'd be but happier than i'd ever imagined.

[struggle4progress]

20. I wanted to be a comedian

Go ahead -- laugh



;)

[applegrove]

50. You are funny. I was funny as a teen/young adult. I got

traumatized at 30 onwards and lost my sense of humour. I no longer look for the joke in everything.

[struggle4progress]

55. "Being happy is a way of being wise"

[applegrove]

63. Oh yeah. My set point is definitely happy these days.

[HeiressofBickworth]

22. A lawyer...

I wanted to be a lawyer. Instead, I was a Legal Secretary for a while and then a Paralegal for 40 years. Retired in 2009. It was a great career!

[bluesbassman]

47. Enjoy your well earned retirement, and welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Incitatus]

23. A cop.

Just a tad off. }(

[dmr]

24. I wanted to be Sandra Dee

I was in :loveya: with Bobby Darin.

Then I wanted to be a school teacher.

I ended up a pharmacist. How I made that turn is beyond me! I always hated science & math.
:rofl:
Retired now.

[AllenVanAllen]

25. I wanted to be Godzilla,

But ended up an artist.

[Heidi]

66. You are Artzilla!!!!

And I'm Co-President of your international fan club! :loveya:

:hug:

[Bake]

26. Let's just say I missed it by a country mile.

That is all.

Bake

[HopeHoops]

27. A part-time (everything) firefighter, policeman, vet, zoo keeper, ice cream man, etc.

Computer geek wasn't in that list. So, yes, I'm far off the mark on all counts.

[cbdo2007]

28. I wanted to be a rock star

I'm definitely NOT a rock star, but my wife and daughter think I am and really that's all that matters :)

[raccoon]

29. (1) Movie star. (2) Yes.

Also wanted to be a writer.

[LiberalEsto]

30. I got to be a newspaper reporter

It was my absolute dream job, and I got to do it for about 25 years. Loved almost every minute of it. Got to work for the biggest paper in my home state.

Now, five of the six newspapers I worked for have gone out of business, and the last one is a shadow of its former self.

After some time off to raise kids, I became a marketing writer for several years, then got laid off a couple of years ago because of the economy. Currently unemployed, with work skills about as useful as those of a typewriter repair worker in today's reality. And no money for re-training.

[av8rdave]

31. Pilot. Yes.

When my son was in the 4th grade, one of his friends told me he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up.

I told him he couldn't have it both ways. The kid got it and nearly bust a gut laughing. Bright boy. Just earned his Master's Degree last week.

[Ninjaneer]

32. I wanted to be a Ninja.

Became a chemical engineer instead.

The hours are better and more options as far as outfits go. Happy where I ended up. :)

[rbnyc]

33. The very first thing I wanted to be was a writer.

Later I wanted to be a paleontologist, then a musician, then a writer again.

I did work as a musician for a while. My BA is in Creative Writing. I do a lot of writing for my work. I'm a not-for-profit fundraising executive.

I love my career, but I've landed in a bad environment.

I was just thinking last night about how I need to start free-writing or keeping a journal again. I think that would help me cope with everything.

[PassingFair]

34. I wanted to be rich.

I am SOOOOOOO off the mark!

I later discovered that I didn't like to
sacrifice time for money, and that made
the probability of my becoming rich pretty
small.

I also discovered that I didn't want to
lie, cheat or steal to get rich, so those
avenues were closed off.

I also discovered that I didn't want to
"perform" for people, so I wouldn't sing,
dance or sleep my way to riches.

Ahhhhh, so, I "settled" for love and children
and jobs that I can do between living.

I wouldn't change anything, but I'd still
like to be RICH!!!

[hifiguy]

35. When I was a kid

I wanted to be a veteranarian or a lawyer. When I was in my late teens I wanted to play bass in Yes or some band like them. :)

Wound up going to college, then law school and being a lawyer who loves cats and still plays bass.

[Iggo]

36. I didn't want to be anything.

And nope, not far off the mark at all.

:rofl:

[bif]

37. Wanted to be a scientist

Or some sort. Ended up as an advertising copywriter. Maybe in my next life.

[bikebloke]

38. I wanted to be an adventurer or oceanographer

For the latter, I've been to the beach.

My world travels have put me close to adventurer.

But I pay the rent as a cube rat.

[NV Whino]

39. I wanted to be an archeologist

then a reporter. I settled on being an artist. These days I manage property for rich folks, paint, do graphics, write and do photography. In a round about way I sorta, kinda came close to the mark.

[RebelOne]

40. I wanted to be a veterinarian

but ended up as a copy editor.

[Avalux]

41. I wanted to be an artist.

I lived most of my adult life taking care of kids and men, painting every now and then. Recently, I've been painting a lot (just decided to DO IT) and will soon have a showing of my work. So I guess after all this time, I'm getting close to my mark. Whether or not I can live off of it is another matter entirely so I live a dual life, working for my corporate overlord and painting in my spare time.

[MorningGlow]

42. I wanted to be a rock star (lead singer of course)

And I am...in the car, in the shower...

I also wanted to be a writer, and I am, although I haven't hit the "big time" yet. We shall see. ;)

When I was really little I wanted to be a teacher. Did that for one whole year. Yep. It was enough.

Also when I was really little I wanted to be a nurse. Couldn't get past the idea of cleaning up effluvia, but my interest in the medical field has really helped me be my own advocate for my illness (thyroid disease) and has also helped me advocate for my parents. Score.

Not bad, all told, I guess. :)

[Philippine expat]

43. I wanted to be just like Grandpa, retired

and I made it

[Moondog]

44. I wanted to be a piano player in a New Orleans bordello.

I became a lawyer in Washington, DC.

I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not that is far off the mark . . . .

[madmom]

45. I wanted to be a teacher, closest I got was Girl Scout Leader and a mom. I guess I made it then.

[abq e streeter]

48. Baseball or hockey player, then rocknroll star and/or DJ

Became obvious pretty early on that the first two weren't gonna happen (although I was a pretty decent 3rd baseman-center fielder)...I did become a respected rock/blues (etc) musician in my city. Pretty damn far from being a a "rock star" but I've at least played with a few semi (or more)-famous people (usually but not always just a single time) or sidemen for famous bands . Glad I didn't become a "star". I'm positive now, in hindsight, that I couldn't have handled the pressure nor the temptations of that life.

[bluesbassman]

49. Unchartably far off.

:(

Hobbies make up for it though. :)

[IDemo]

51. Wanted to be: an artist, a writer, an architect, an astronomer

Am - an electronics tech.

[tabbycat31]

54. I wanted to be a vet

Those dreams died when I dissected a frog in 7th grade biology and threw up from being so grossed out. I am now a field staffer on political campaigns.

[Kali]

56. veterinarian, detective/lawyer, space colonist, rock star

I'm a liberal rancher in a rural, red county. Close enough!:rofl:

[freshwest]

57. Garbage man, photographer, professional artist, geologist, environmental engineer, forest ranger...

And long haul truck driver. This was mixed in with a lifetime of political activism, gardening and eventually managing a small ranch and farm. That was all about traveling and being outdoors.

My gender and/or family demands kept me out of all of those jobs professionally, although things changed and women now do all of those things. I had no emotional support from my significant others with anything but what I eventually did to pay the rent.

I ended up working outside, then got into a lot of stuff that was extremely challenging to me emotionally: marriage, kids, cooking, teaching, and all of that. I found that my love for those close to me gave me the focus to do all of those things in an commendable or to some people's view, even a heroic manner.

Only my dearest friends know that person I did not become. In the last few years I have learned a lot about what I needed on a very deep level that proved my going off my first plans was correct. They were what I wanted to do to explore things about life that a more conventional path would have not accomplished.

I needed to learn some things that my first inclinations would not have taught me, they would have been much too easy. So I went against my own grain, in a way. I wasn't ready for those things, or they would have failed to keep my interest. And with what I did, I found all my inner strengths.

It's nice to see what others have done, their pathways. But I'm essentially a very content person on my own solitary journey.

[freshwest]

60. I forgot, also wanted to be a Zen monk.

[MikeW]

58. fireman ... joined our VFD 15 yrs ago and going strong

even in the weeee hours of the am when we get calls.

[zen_bohemian]

59. A music producer or a journalist...I am way off mark

I listen to music and read other's journalistic works.

[Auggie]

61. I wanted to write and direct movies

Ended up in advertising

[elana i am]

62. i wanted to be a fine artist

but then i grew up and realized you have to be dead to be successful, so i became a graphic artist instead. i guess you could say i'm in the general vicinity of the mark.

[MilesColtrane]

64. Growing up during the 60s, it was natural for me to want to be an astronaut.

I let go of that when I found out that, in order to be an astronaut, you had to be a pilot first, and that you couldn't be an Air Force pilot without non-correctable vision.

After that, I wanted to be an astrophysicist. But, I reached my inherent "math ceiling" when I took a course in calculus in high school. So, that was right out.

Now I am a musician. Because I love music, and some aspects of playing it came easily to me.

[Brigid]

65. I wanted to be a flight attendant.

Or an airline stewardess, as they were called back then. It was the ultimate glamor job for a woman. The uniforms, the travel to exotic places . . . Now we have male flight attendants quitting their jobs by grabbing beers out of the galley and sliding down the emergency chute. How times have changed.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

67. I wanted to be a something....

....but I'm a corporate whore, and I just woke up out of a 6 year long stupor. I am going to start eating right, lose weight, and see if I can't become a cop. It's what I have wanted for a long time, but I'm too out of shape right now to immediate jump in. But that's probably good. I'll work and the pay off will be that much better in the end.

[laylah]

68. I wanted to be a dancer and/or

sing on the stage of the Grand Old Oprey. Well, I DO dance...with myself, and I can't carry a tune in a bucket with a lid on it so, suffice it to say, I am waaaaaaaaaaay off the mark! :rofl:

[JonLP24]

69. NFL WR

I'm currently way off the mark.