Baton Rouge, LA When I was 7 or 8 I wanted to be a vetra... veter...animal doctor. When I was 12 I wanted to be a pro wrestler. Now I want a bookdeal. Alias Irrelevante
At first I wanted to be a veternarian, then I realized I needed to be good in science, then I wanted to quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. For some reason, I gave up on that dream.
Ernest, 28
Washington, DC
I used to want to be an ER physician (real one, not the Doug Ross type).
Lindsay, 21
Harrisonburg, VA
I wanted to be a tightrope walker. I wanted to be a vet. And I wanted to be an author. I still want to be an author, and maybe I can throw some nature photography in there too--and if I'm REALLY lucky, some burger-flipping!
Karen, 20
Marshelltown/Ames, IA
When I was 3, I swore I would be an actress. My godmother and her husband were very hip people; actually, they were hippies :) My uncle wanted to be a director, so he would stage these mock movies with me as star. Apparently, there's an old reel to reel "documentary" of me, aged 3, holding an interview with my adoring fans. I went through many different careers after that: singer (even though I couldn't hold a tune if it had handles), president (although I hate politics), musician (played the trumpet for 13 years), and novelist/poet (still working on that one). For years, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer because that's what people said I should do. I majored in poli sci my first semester of college and hated it. I worked at a law firm that summer and loathed it. So, I sucked it up, became an English major, and followed my secret dream of teaching literature. I found my calling. I know I won't be famous (even if I publish books, very few people will read them), I know I won't be rich, but this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I look forward to teaching every day. I love it. That's the most important thing; if you can wake up in the morning and get excited about your job, it doesn't matter if it doesn't pay well or if there's no fame involved. As cheesy as it sounds, doing what you love is wealth enough.
Amy, 23
Baton Rouge, LA
Really Famous.
Shayna, 28
Somerville, MA
I wanted to be a giraffe. . .
mothmc, 35
Pensacola, FL
I'm a product of the '50s. Being a wife and mother seemed inevitable.
Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA
I definitely wanted to be the first woman President of the United States. I even had it in my plans that I needed to become a lawyer first before working toward that since so many former Presidents had been lawyers. For a short time I wanted to become a saint, but realized that it required a lot of work. Also a movie star with the eternal staying power of a Marilyn Monroe was on my list. Basically, anything that meant my impact would last beyond my natural life.
Felicia, 34
Somerville, MA
Elk Grove, CA I haven't worked that one out yet!! Helena, 31
Sydney AUSTRALIA Good question. Could someone please clue me in on this? It would be quite helpful for next year… Elizabeth, 18
Rochester, MN I want to be a high school teacher or professor. You get the summers off and part of the weekends. But you have to put up with kids, which is a pain. Professors however...hmmm.… Ray, 17
Toronto CANADA Depends on the age. A journalist, a teacher, a nun, a mother… Laura, 34
Lowell, MA You know, I remember being six years old and wanting to be an artist. I never wanted to be a ballerina. And through the grace of God, I am an artist. Janet, 42
E. Brunswick, NJ