What I want to be when I grow up...
I was thinking about all the different careers I've wanted to try, what I want to "be when I grow up." There have been a lot of them! And these are just the things I wanted to do professionally (not just as a hobby).
Here they are (as many as I can remember), in roughly chronological order:
actor
teacher
farmer
singer
storyteller
puppeteer
librarian
zookeeper
teacher
actor
artist
ad copy-writer
book writer
doctor
circus aerialist
rock star
astronaut
paleontologist
actor
dolphin trainer
teacher
astronaut
heart surgeon
novelist
actor
singer
pastor
architect
astronaut
genetic engineer
singer
lawyer
novelist
activist
folk singer/guitarist
journalist
magazine designer
actor
movie reviewer
folk singer
legislative aide
copy editor
graphic designer
novelist
intellectual property lawyer
fashion designer
chef
singer
actor
dancer
artist
jewelry designer
graphic designer
costume designer
jazz singer
actor
novelist
web designer
ren-faire performer
screenwriter
artist
filmmaker
font designer
motion-graphics designer
actor
playwright
blogger
singer
make-up artist
actor
It's interesting to see which things don't change at all (my more-or-less continuous desire to be an actor) and which things do. Some things I think are a product of age: e.g. I wanted to be a puppeteer because I was a little kid in love with the Muppets and the storyteller's hand puppets, not because I am naturally fascinated by the art of puppetry.
I had a real thing for science when I was younger, so that's part of where astronaut, doctor, genetic engineer came from. I wanted to be a heart surgeon for the entirety of fourth grade. But I also knew I was smart, and smart people become doctors, right? It seemed logical, and it took me a while to realize I didn't really want to be a doctor. In junior high and early high school, I was fascinated by the science of DNA, and that was my final science-related career goal.
The only reason I didn't want to be a graphic designer earlier in my life was because I didn't really know that career existed or what it was called. On the other hand, I remember being fascinated by advertising copy at age 6 (!) and writing little commercials in my head.
I've probably forgotten tons of other things I've wanted to be. And I didn't include things I wanted to be for a millisecond only (veterinarian, interior decorator, police officer) or impossible things (princess).
And... well, I didn't need to write this down to figure it out, the one thing I've always wanted to be is an actor. Always. From farmer (?) to astronaut to fashion designer, I've still always wanted to be an actor. And then, in general, I've always wanted to do artistic things. So I'm pretty happy that I've ended up as a make-up artist. But I still want to be a professional actor...
Here they are (as many as I can remember), in roughly chronological order:
actor
teacher
farmer
singer
storyteller
puppeteer
librarian
zookeeper
teacher
actor
artist
ad copy-writer
book writer
doctor
circus aerialist
rock star
astronaut
paleontologist
actor
dolphin trainer
teacher
astronaut
heart surgeon
novelist
actor
singer
pastor
architect
astronaut
genetic engineer
singer
lawyer
novelist
activist
folk singer/guitarist
journalist
magazine designer
actor
movie reviewer
folk singer
legislative aide
copy editor
graphic designer
novelist
intellectual property lawyer
fashion designer
chef
singer
actor
dancer
artist
jewelry designer
graphic designer
costume designer
jazz singer
actor
novelist
web designer
ren-faire performer
screenwriter
artist
filmmaker
font designer
motion-graphics designer
actor
playwright
blogger
singer
make-up artist
actor
It's interesting to see which things don't change at all (my more-or-less continuous desire to be an actor) and which things do. Some things I think are a product of age: e.g. I wanted to be a puppeteer because I was a little kid in love with the Muppets and the storyteller's hand puppets, not because I am naturally fascinated by the art of puppetry.
I had a real thing for science when I was younger, so that's part of where astronaut, doctor, genetic engineer came from. I wanted to be a heart surgeon for the entirety of fourth grade. But I also knew I was smart, and smart people become doctors, right? It seemed logical, and it took me a while to realize I didn't really want to be a doctor. In junior high and early high school, I was fascinated by the science of DNA, and that was my final science-related career goal.
The only reason I didn't want to be a graphic designer earlier in my life was because I didn't really know that career existed or what it was called. On the other hand, I remember being fascinated by advertising copy at age 6 (!) and writing little commercials in my head.
I've probably forgotten tons of other things I've wanted to be. And I didn't include things I wanted to be for a millisecond only (veterinarian, interior decorator, police officer) or impossible things (princess).
And... well, I didn't need to write this down to figure it out, the one thing I've always wanted to be is an actor. Always. From farmer (?) to astronaut to fashion designer, I've still always wanted to be an actor. And then, in general, I've always wanted to do artistic things. So I'm pretty happy that I've ended up as a make-up artist. But I still want to be a professional actor...