April 14, 2010

What do you want to be when you grow-up?

Find your Passion- What are you good at? Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you, to leave this world better than you found it. -Wilfred Peterson

Well, at 8 I wanted to be a teacher, then at 11 I wanted to be a P.E. teacher. Six years later I thought I’d show the world I could be a Navy Pilot. Yep, sure did. Living in a city that trained Navy Pilots, it seemed logical. However, I didn’t want to cut my hair. I wasn’t afraid of the physical side of training (that much…just don’t make me run too much). But the shaved heads scared me. Yikes! And it didn’t matter if you were male or female…..equal rights and equal opportunity employment. But being the practical gal that I am, and knowing how much i hated Physics, even though I loved math….I had to reconsider. Fell into my profession since the counselor’s at my University seemed to know where to steer the “undeclared”….so off I went to study biology, microbiology, botany, chemistry, bio-chemisty and medical technology. It’s been a good profession. I’ve been able to work anywhere I’ve lived, full or part-time/ half-days or full-days. But was this my passion? Ummmmmm……I wanted to help people, and stay healthy (hence medicine), but CSI- work (non-field) can get a little mundane.

So, armed with all my little mini-ideas of professions. I asked my DD who has one year left in High School. What do you want to study? What are you interested in? At first the only answers were 3 words: “I don’t know”….”I don’t care”….followed by her quick exit from the room!!!! You see she’s young, she has no clue what’s out there, she doesn’ t know what she doesn’t know. But, I’m thinking “throw me a bone, here!" Please! Anything. I see my role with her as a supplier of information. If she said she was interested in veterinary school, well then I’d be feeding her all kinds of articles about dogs/cats/ cows! Heck, I’d even be planning the pictures I’d make to put on the walls of her clinic! I’d be so excited! But…this isn’t about me.

As hard as I’ve been on her over this issue, I think I’ve figured it out. She doesn’t want to make the wrong choice, so she’s not making any choice. Now, you’d think I’d know how to treat a pre-college student concerning their future since she has an older brother. But as easy as he made the path for me, he made it twice as hard for her. He knew at 5 what he wanted to be. I thought it was me that helped him figure it out way back when! But….this isn’t about me.

So, now….I know as she gains experience and sees the real world and talks to real people about real work, and listens to herself…..listens to herself….listens to herself!!! She’ll figure it out.

This drawing is dedicated to her. Cuz it’s stuff that’s worked for me over the years. Wait, it’s not about me….but these are general truths so it’s all-inclusive.

image

Today- I’d probably answer that question as Textile Artist or……

What about you? What do you want to be?

5 comments:

ABCcreativity said...

o my i just love this page! and also “I don’t know”….”I don’t care”…. totally love it!

as for me - i just want to be happy.

Serena Lewis said...

Yep...it's not an easy decision but I'm sure she'll figure it out. A career choice doesn't have to be set in stone for the rest of one's life. I read somewhere that the average person can change careers three or more times in a life-time. One of my sons originally wanted to be a chef but, when he graduated high school, he went into retail management...now, he is doing animal studies. I figure they have their whole life ahead of them to play and find their niche in the world. I'm happy as long as they're happy. Btw, I LOVE your drawing!

Janet said...

This is a great post! I love that you're helping your daughter make a decision but not trying to influence her in a specific direction.

I wanted to be a designer when I was in high school but that didn't happen! I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up!!

lori vliegen said...

i love this quote.....and you've illustrated it beautifully!!! as for me, i'm still trying to figure out what i want to be when i grow up.....and i think i'm still hoping for an option of "you don't have to grow up" will come my way one of these days!!! :))

JP said...

I wish I had sent this to Ali....

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By day...I work in the Healthcare field, where every .. i.. has to be dotted and every ..t.. has to be crossed. This blog is the place where I can let myself go and have some fun. I am on a journey. A journey I started a long time ago, but it has been a bit sidetracked with Navy Wife relocations and raising kids. I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I have got some time for me. No, I will not be one of those moms walking around the house with Empty Nest Syndrome, I have got way too much to do, to learn, to create. Sure, once the kids are gone I will miss them....but hey, there is always the phone, the email, the texting and the Plane tickets! I love my life and my family and It is fun moving into this new stage. I am into Digital Scrapbooking, photography, journaling, Art Journaling and Drawing. I am a do-it-yourselfer and I am trying to teach myself to draw. I am finding that it takes a lot of patience, lots of practice and a good eraser! And if you're really curious there's a 3 part Interview by Eileen: HERE All the best, Eden