As a child, did you think you’d “grow up” to be a firefighter? Doctor? Ice cream maker? Construction worker? Veterinarian? Princess? What was it that you thought you’d “grow up” to be?
We’re curious to learn how many of you ended up working in a career that you dreamed of as a child. If we had to guess, we’d guess not that many of you actually did. But, we’ve been pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion! Please tell us by voting in the poll below. If you want to make our day, leave a comment saying what you thought your career would be when you were a kid.
Since the age of 8 years old, I always wanted to become a Police Officer. 12 years later, my dream came true (I WORKED HARD and got into the exact specialized unit and shift I dreamed of as a kid within the Police Department).
While I was growing up, when anyone asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, my response was always the same….a Police Officer. I was in Law Enforcement for 35 years and served my community with pride and distinction. I didn’t get rich, but I was able to serve and protect those who needed it.
Thank you brother!
I grew up watching “Emergency.”. Every Saturday night I was glued to the TV. I dreamed of becoming a paramedic. Now I’m approaching almost 45 years as a paramedic. So I guess it’s true and it became my dream job.
As an ER nurse for many years, I respect and admire the EMS folks more than you know. You are the first medical personnel on scene in a very chaotic environment and have to be able to keep your wits about you and do skilled procedures under very difficult conditions. I salute you!
Sort of, I wanted to be a teacher or a brain surgeon. I ended up a nurse, in which I’m always teaching about health and managing chronic health issues. Some of these include the brain!!
No. I wanted to be a Veterinarian, but am a Veteran. After my factory closed (25 years), I went to college and received a degree in Counseling with a Minor in Psychology. I began rehabbing teens in a detention center who thought of themselves as lost to society.
Thank you for what you do (did). Saving teens does more than save just their life.
I think the majority of people don’t get their ‘childhood dream job’. Otherwise the world would be nothing but cowboys and ballerinas. My path has been NOTHING like I imagined, because the things I’m doing now didn’t really exist when I was growing up! (I am a cybersecurity Specialist, and retired from the Air Force) All I CAN say, is, it’s been an interesting ride, and I am satisfied. and what more can you want?
When I was only 3 years old, I told my mom that I wanted to be a Navy pilot. I got my wings September 1969 and retired with 22 years of service. It was all and more than I expected.
As early as 4 years old I wanted to be a pilot. It was the goal that kept me focused all the way through school. I did not know until my daughter was diagnosed with ADD that I realized that I had ADD before anyone knew what it was. I was able to complete a very successful 33 year career in the USAF doing what I felt was the best job ever. I have always felt blessed…
I wanted to be a pilot. Then I took a flight and hated the experience so I moved on to other things.
Funny, I wanted tp fly but worked Air Traffic Control until I lost my Class I flight physical. I did acquire a pilots license and did fly but not for a living. Enjoyed my time as ATC/ Also taught school for 20 years. Overall great life.
I always wanted to be a Firefighter. Proud to say mission accomplished, as I just retired after 32 years in the fire service, retired at the rank of Fire Captain on September 1st 2022.
Cop. From as young as I can remember. Even when playing cops & robbers and cowboys and native americans, I was always the good guy with a stick (no guns allowed☹️).
38 years in LE along with several successful side gigs.
What a dummy, my first department had 20 and out with a 100% retirement. Of course I was young and dumb and just HAD to move a few times! No regrets our life is great just the way it is.
I wanted to be a veterinarian but lacked math skills necessary for the schooling. I ended up being a social worker specializing in the elderly severely mentally ill. I placed the last patient of a state hospital into foster care in 1989. She did really well after having lived in a hospital for 40 years.
I knew at a very early age that I would be a nurse…thats what I did and loved every minute of it!
I wanted to be an artist (my dad wanted me to be a lawyer). I ended up being a professional photographer and had the most amazing wonderful, artistic career ever.
When I was in my sophomore year my social studies teacher one day decided to survey the class as to what we planned to do for a career. Most said they were going to be Drs, lawyers, engineers, pilots, etc. when it came my turn I said a factory worker because my dad had been employed by GM for 5 years at the time and financially we were better off than any time in my life. Everyone laughed at me, after serving in the Marines for over 7.6 years I got a job at GM in their locomotive plant, later moving to an automobile parts factory making 6 figure income. I sometimes wonder what became of all those plans by the other kids.
Bob p – look them up in Classmates! You’ll get ALL the lowdown on each one (I bet). Most of my graduating class (1966) ended up AS doctors and lawyers (and per our 30-year reunion) a high mess of drunks LOL!
For most of my youth I was in the veterinarian camp even to the point of volunteering at a vet’s office for many years. However it became clear that I didn’t have the necessary mental application for all that study (a doctor for many species!). I was also interested in flying and applied to the RAF as a pilot, they told me I wasn’t mature enough and should go away and see some of the world, 45 years later I still live 5000 miles from ‘home’, but that maturity thing…
My next potential career was just by default, I attended college while working at an agricultural research station, so chemist was my aim. One night on a bowling trip my friends were talking about writing a tic-tac-toe game for a computer and despite never having seen a computer I discovered that I understood the concepts, major switched, degree in computer science obtained and a useful career followed. (Including USAF B52 simulators and 10+ years at a chemistry company)
I answered no however I always wanted to be an electrician but never thought I would be an electrical engineer with a second degree in electronic engineering. I describe myself as a glorified electrician!
Just wanted to roam. My father in construction, I hated construction. So saw m at opportunity to travel via USAF. I traveled, advantured and had a heck of a career. Retired and worked in education yet hated school. Retired again and tossed the work book away. After all that I do light maintenance part time now. I just wonder how many have gone back to work part time as just to keep ahead of the flames with inflation on their heels.
Not sure what age is “a child”. It was not what I originally envisioned but once I was introduced to computer programming in high school I never wanted to do anything else.
I read the whole list, and it is interesting and fun to read.
As a young child (last of 3), we lived on a boat. At an early age, I discovered that the tug boat’s engineers got to play with all the neat machines below. Sure, someone can steer. While growing I gained several licenses, but had to go to a college to become a real licensed engineer. I did that for more than a few years until it began real clear that this was not the life for a family. So, I came ashore to work in engine development in Detroit. This was all very near to my dream. I still sail small boats and build engines for RVs.
I had no clue what I wanted to do as a kid. I just wanted a job that paid enough for me to get a new car and chase women. What an aspiration eh? But after working at a few factory jobs (and a stint in management at UPS) I found myself enamored with trucks and truck driving. Rest of story? I spent 35 years driving trucks (of ALL kinds). Loved every bit of it! Always lived below our means and saved, saved, saved. Today we are comfortably retired with only health worries. No monetary worries.
…it’s like getting a transfusion. Once exposed, the diesel fuel gets into you blood and it is hard to transfuse out… or exchange. (Secretly, I think we all had that same youthful/teen aspiration as you stated Tommy. I know I did; and I did!
Exactly right DW/ND. Once I got the diesel fuel in my blood there was no going back. Even today I still keep up with my two best buddies at my company, and haunt a few websites and pages on FB dealing with trucking. And of course, my p/u is diesel!
I was raised in an outdoors environment and as a kid had a desire to go into law enforcement…so being a game warden would fit the bill! Unfortunately my color vision is not normal … a requirement for a LEO.
In the end I had a very good global career of 38 years with a large tech company. Meeting and working with people from every corner of the globe was the highlight…but it was always work and not a “dream.” 🙂
Yes and I recently retired from it. I always liked working on cars. After 35 years of owning and running a shop, even being a used car dealer, it was rime to enjoy the great outdoors more.
I knew at the age of 8 that I wanted to be a nurse. I’ve been an RN for 40 years and a Nurse Practitioner for 22 years and truly love my career choice!
Fighter pilot, corporate pilot, and now retired airline pilot. Yes, I got to do what I wanted to do.
I had no dream. Although I wanted to be an astronaut and thought that wearing glasses would exclude me….not being a girl, that didn’t enter my mind. Grew up in a strict Italian Catholic family. Girls were suppose to get married and have kids. I left when I was 19, while my parents were on a trip😬. After working a couple of office jobs, went to an employment agency. Got a job with a Silicon Valley start up (no idea what that was…lol) as a clerk. Worked my way up. After they were acquired former boss hired me at another small hi tech company that did well. Both companies had no issues with promoting woman. When they were acquired by a huge company, was asked to stay a year with a big bonus. Turned out to be 2 years. I was 50 when I left….ended up retiring. Convinced my now husband to retire 6 months later at 55. We haven’t looked back. Did some big motorhome trips. We have been incredibly blessed.
After working in factories, the last one for 31 years, I ended up in a career I honestly didn’t want. However, I did end up falling in love with it. That career was becoming a Pastor. This did require me to go back to school and get my degree in Ministry at age 54 and did extremely well, grade wise.
No dream, just tried to pick a major that I wouldn’t hate after 5 years. I hit the jackpot, found my passion. Retired after 32 years in hydrology & natural resources. And I hesitated to retire because I still loved 95% of my duties… but traveling was calling me & it was time to turn the reins over to the younger generation.
I was a late bloomer. At 35 I finally decided to get a real career in museum work. Four years and a masters degree later I was at the EAA museum in Oshkosh. Retired in 2016.
I failed to dream of a career when I was young. Later in life I came to want to teach college, which I did for several years.