What did you want to be when you grew up? Your childhood career aspirations

Marine Biologist - Sylvia Earle was a neighbor ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Earle ) she inspired me. She's a bit older than me, and I am sure never knew who I was, but I sure knew of her. Living on the Gulf of Mexico helped.

In the 8th grade they gave us a test to see what professions would best suit us. My top two were anthropologist and mortician.
 

My High School English teacher told me I was a talented artist and should do layout design for the yearbook. I did, enjoyed it, wanted to be a Graphic Designer, went to VCU. Then Corcoran School of Art in DC. Became a Graphic Designer in Washington DC. Then Art Director of a firm. Then worked in Hollywood for a design firm.

Got married (second, first didn't count lol). Then left the smog and rush hour for motherhood while I started a home business of Freelance Logo Designs in coastal southern California (won award for one in the nationwide publication of Communication Arts). Then started my own mail order silkscreen printing company.

Husband died young...never remarried. Became a full time mom (ages 1,2,4,6) until they were finished with schooling. Then worked full-time at a hospital for 8 years and then retired. Enjoyed all my careers.
 
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David777 said:
@Don M. , did you after Lackland AFB basic, also go to school at Keesler AFB?
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After Basic training at Lackland, I spent a full year at Lowry AFB in Denver, studying electronics and the weapons control systems....radar, sight system, and bombing computer on the F105's, The training was extensive, and equal to, or better than what a university would have supplied.

Since I lived in Denver, the AF gave me "separate rations" and allowed me to live at home during that year....so it was like having a regular 8 hour/day job, and I just commuted to the base 5 days/week with no military baloney. That was a Great year.
 

Yeah half my military time was actually in schools. Once overseas for a week, had wee hours into sunrise flight line guard duty carrying an M16 where F105D's "Thunderchief's" were taking off. Of course at dawn when the land surface is cool sound waves bend downward thus carry over long distances. Listening to a F105D take off from the starting end of a flight line where they turn on afterburners is about as loud a thunderous sound as is imaginable.

Was 30133 Electronic Warfare Repairman, SECRET FBI clearance.
 
Bretrick said:
The problem I had as a young person was I never had time to think about such matters.
My upbringing was a constant torment so all my time was spent just trying to ward off the negativity.
It was not until I was over 40 and past all that torment that I thought if given the opportunity back then to explore and develop what was inside of me I would have studied creative art.
Painting, sculpture, mosaics, photography, drawing, interior design et al.
Sure, I could try some of them now, and I have done some wonderful art works, though I do not have any of them to show.
I painted 5 metre murals on my apartment walls, never had inspections. Where I am now I have inspections. I asked if I could paint a mural and was told no.
I create stuff from what people call junk. I create stuff from flotsam and jetsam.
I see beauty all around me.
I am very creative and that is way I am rather upset that I was not given the chance to explore and develop my creativity.
These days I am rather jaded and tired.
If I make retirement age, maybe I will explore my creative side and see what comes out of my head.
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Go for it! It's never too late to learn.
 
Lara said:
My High School English teacher told me I was a talented artist and should do layout design for the yearbook. I did, enjoyed it, wanted to be a Graphic Designer, went to VCU. Then Corcoran School of Art in DC. Became a Graphic Designer in Washington DC. Then Art Director of a firm. Then worked in Hollywood for a design firm.

Got married (second, first didn't count lol). Then left the smog and rush hour for motherhood while I started a home business of Freelance Logo Designs in coastal southern California (won award for one in the nationwide publication of Communication Arts). Then started my own mail order silkscreen printing company.

Husband died young...never remarried. Became a full time mom (ages 1,2,4,6) until they were finished with schooling. Then worked full-time at a hospital for 8 years and then retired. Enjoyed all my careers.
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Sorry that your husband died young, @Lara ! Your strength and courage shows in your taking care of your four children until they finished schooling! Glad you enjoyed all your careers. :)
 
charry said:
My hubby was atop footballer and played for a well known club, until his dad told him to get a proper job…lol.
so he decided he wanted to be a diamond cutter…
in the end he was an architect….that designed some of the most beautiful mosques in the world ….
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That’s interesting Charry, is your husband Muslim?I thought it is not permissible to allow a non-Muslim to build or design a mosque.
 
David777 said:
Yeah half my military time was actually in schools. Once overseas for a week, had wee hours into sunrise flight line guard duty carrying an M16 where F105D's "Thunderchief's" were taking off. Of course at dawn when the land surface is cool sound waves bend downward thus carry over long distances. Listening to a F105D take off from the starting end of a flight line where they turn on afterburners is about as loud a thunderous sound as is imaginable.

Was 30133 Electronic Warfare Repairman, SECRET FBI clearance.
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If you were overseas on a base in Europe, with F105's was it Bitburg or Spangdahlem in Germany??? If it was in Thailand, Takhli, or Karot? I spent 4 years at Spangdahlem, and 1 at Takhli.

Yup, that engine on a F105 was a real brute. At Spang, the base offered a ride in the back seat of a F-105F to those who made "airman of the month"....so for a few months I "saluted" and "yes sired" everything that moved and won the award. What a hoot!!! The pilot put the beast into full afterburner until about 20K ft. altitude, then leveled out and hit about Mach 1.5. He went through some maneuvers that almost made me upchuck. After about 45 minutes we returned to base, and one of the first things I did was to check my drawers to make sure I hadn't soiled them.
 
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Jamala said:
That’s interesting Charry, is your husband Muslim?I thought it is not permissible to allow a non-Muslim to build or design a mosque.
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no....he is english.....and he has designed alot of mosques in saudi arabia , istanbul etc
i dont know where you got that information from, but its wrong
he also designed and built the government offices in Riyad SA
 
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...career aspirations??? Oh yeah I aspired or was it conspired to talk to that new cute girl sitting in front of me!!
 
When I was 8 or 10, I wanted to be what used to be called a "white hunter" (safari guide) in Kenya. Then I wanted to be a famous zoologist. Then I found out how hard science was. Then I wanted to be a famous novelist. Then I found out I didn't really have anything to write about. (My parents' fault for being nice and giving me a normal childhood -- no neuroses etc.)

So I did what I did and it worked out ok. Now I'm 70. I still want to be a famous novelist. Maybe I'll give it another try.
 
I wanted to be a teacher, cause I so admired all my teachers.
But, instead I spent most of my working years being a customer service rep.

For a wheelchair manufacturer, and an auto parts rebuilders.
 
Well, I wanted to serve. However, I derailed that at 10 (but was unaware then) my BIL. Was army.
I looked into that, the recruiter was a bit unfriendly. Got up and left. Worked in various companies. From Tektronix, Fender amps, Nike, Adidas, security for 3 different companies, all sucked.

But injured on the job was when I found out that my hip had been damaged at 10 jumping out of a tree. So no military or police type job. Trained on trucking, no success. Now, but physically can't do it.

So I have wandered this life. No roots anywhere. As Tony Randall said in the movie. "Seven faces of Dr. Lao" when he was reading a woman's future that when she dies "it will be as if you've never been born"

I can believe that
 

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