When I was a first grader, the teacher asked us to draw what we wanted to be when we grew up. It was the very first time the question crossed my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle loving mind. Once coming to the realization that I couldn’t be a Ninja Turtle, I knew that I would one day become a Trash Man. Those guys on the back of the truck looked like they were having so much fun. Rain or shine they were on the back of that truck, stopping at each house to rid of our trash. Not only did it look cool, but it sounded like a great time as well. In the early morning I could hear the truck from far up the street. The sound of bottles smashing, various items crushing, and empty trash bins being thrown back gently to the curb had me smiling. Oh yeah, that’s what I was going to be!
For some reason, we never forget our answers. Kids spend much time wondering what exactly will come of us when we are an adult, and unlike now, time didn’t fly when we were that young. Back then, 6 months would feel like 6 years. Adults seemed so old, and it was strange to think of growing up as a kid. A first grade field trip led to a bus conversation/argument with my two best friends at that time. We were arguing about who had the oldest father. Having the oldest dad was a cool thing, obviously. At one point in our friendly argument I shouted, “Oh yeah!? Well, my dad’s almost 40!”. The teacher must have told my mother about this because it’s brought up every now and then.
At that age, we all picked jobs for ourselves that sounded fun. What happened to us? In the process of “growing up”, we began thinking about things like salary for specific careers, which industries will be hiring in the future, going into the family business for whatever reason, and a slew of other thoughts that certainly didn’t have anything to do with the fun level of the job. Many people (not children), that I talk to today joke with me and say, “I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up”. Well, even if you are joking, to answer that question let’s think about what your answer was when you were a kid. Let’s have some fun with this, shall we?
Reply back to this post answering the following questions?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- What did you actually become, or choose to be (if still in school or training)?
- Optional Question. What do you want to be when you grow up, if asked now?
I’ll start us off!
- What did I want to be when I grew up? – Trash Man
- What have I become? – Recruiter/Staffing Specialist in Human Resources
- And, if asked what I want to be when I grow up now? – I want to be a kid again, one that absolutely loves the thought of being a Trash Man.
