When I grow up I want to be a...............

horseless carriage

Well-known Member
What was your childhood ambition? The age of steam had reached it's zenith when I was a small boy, so many cohorts had aspirations of driving a steam train. Not for me thank you, after seeing the train crew covered in coal dust, no thank you!
What intrigues me is those workers in the sewage disposal works, what was their schooldays ambitions?
My wife probably planned to be a professional shopper, judging by the vast amount that we have prepared for storage pending our house sale.
My father explained that the one in charge is usually the one who earns, if not the most, then at least, very well. He also said that it would mean going to college after I had left school. That's exactly what I did. No being a fireman for me.
 

I wanted to be a Journalist... I couldn't because my father forced me to leave school just after my 15th birthday so he could have a paycheck every week from me...

Anyway long story short.. I ultimately ended up as a Journalist/researcher working for the BBC..among other TV & Film franchises...
Yeah, me too! I was going to be the modern Nelly Bly, exposing things right and left, reporting from exotic locations, so I majored in Journalism in college. I did end up working for a major newspaper.....however, it was selling advertising.
 
I was an air Traffic Controller in the air force. That's all I wanted to be. But when I got out of the services and applied the line was so long that I needed to look else where. Ended up in the Phone company for which I am still doing work for as a consultant. 53 years have gone by. Still love planes, still wish that I could have gone that route but life leads you in different directions. Don't regret how life turned out. Sometimes God knows better.
 
No Clue.

Early years growing up no vision of what I might do as an adult.

In high school the new program that made it possible to attend school during the morning & work at learning a trade in the afternoon was great.

After training to be a retail butcher & offered a job at a Kroger store I did know I didn't want to be stuck doing the same thing day after day. The U S Navy gave me the opportunnity to learn multiple skills. Served my time & came out confident that no matter where we went or what job I got I would be successful doing.

Without the Navy security blanket of medical, dental & a wage civilian life was challenging. A variety of jobs that built a great resume finally paid off in a job that had variety daily. Then I had enough experience to bid a management job that had upward movement potential.

10 years in management with planning developed by my wife early retirement was possible.

30 years later retired with no debt & more income coming in than going out I can look back & be happy that no clue worked best.
 
Now don't be coy, IrishEyes. What did you end up doing?
:ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: I wound up taking care of children, something I did not want to do after all mine began school. I wanted adult conversations finally.
It was my late husband who told me I should work with kids as I was quite suited to it. He was right, I loved it. I went to college and got my degree in Early Childhood Development & Education then did Early Childhood Licensed Childcare for 32 years.
 
So many fascinating and interesting replies, thank you. My ambition to attend higher education after leaving school, was almost a non-starter, but passing the driving test for trucks, we call it HGV or Heavy Goods Vehicle, meant that I could work at weekends and study throughout the week. Did anyone work whilst still at school. A newspaper round maybe, or help out in a shop?
 
I was going to be a nurse. Always. If it didn't work out, I'd be a teacher. Graduated and even checked out a top nursing school. Well, I ended up being a freelance writer/journalist/music publisher, and I wouldn't have it any other way... Not even real sure what the major turning point may have been, but I'm glad for it.
 
My father explained that the one in charge is usually the one who earns
He who has the gold makes the rules.

I pushed this hard on my two daughters when I was a struggling single mom. Now, one is a physician and the other works for a major corporation. They both are living the good life, if you believe the good life includes large expensive houses, cars, vacations, etc. They are both also the bread winners in their families. Married to Mr. Moms.
 
Growing up, I always wanted to be a nurse. Graduated HS in 1969 at age 17 and begged my parents to let me join the military, become a nurse and serve in a MASH unit in Viet Nam. They adamantly said "NO". So I became a secretary.

Fast forward to age 40 and I went to school for BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Graduated four years later, went to work in a hospital and that was the best thing I ever did in my life. To this day, I wish I had gone against my parents wishes and when I turned 18, signed up without their permission.
 
So many fascinating and interesting replies, thank you. My ambition to attend higher education after leaving school, was almost a non-starter, but passing the driving test for trucks, we call it HGV or Heavy Goods Vehicle, meant that I could work at weekends and study throughout the week. Did anyone work whilst still at school. A newspaper round maybe, or help out in a shop?
I was a milk delivery girl from 12 to 14 ....start at 4am... all weathers.. incuding hard Scottish snows and ice.. deliver to 6 ...20 storey high rise blocks and 8 surriunding roads... back home for 7 am..just in time to get changed for school, and get a 1/2 a roll for breakfast... never got paid a oenny for it.. my father was the Milkman...
 
When I was a pup I wanted to be a cop or a heavy equipment operator when I grew up....didn't end up being either one but for the most part I'm okay with the cards I ended up being dealt.
 


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