What to be when I grow up?

[Cincy'sMom]

Good question!! This is something I have been thinking about a lot recently. My degree is in Biochemistry. I have done lab work, and it was interseting, but not totally my thing.

For the last 2 years, I have been working as a technical specialist, where I worked with our clients and advise them on the testing they need to do. I really like what I am doing and I think I'm pretty good at it. But I also see that I can advance and do more...but what direction doi want to take.

I have some people at work who think I'd be good sticking to the science side of things...writing reports, making presentations, etc. There are others who have questioned if I would like to persue the sales side of things, and essentially do what I am doing, but be on the road more and working mroe face to face with our clients. In fact there is a territory open now that I have been kicking around applying for. But I don'tknow that I want to be gone 4-8 days a month.

And of course, there is the whole other side of it. Is this what I want to do at all? My company will pay for classes, and I would love to take advantage of that. But the ultimate question is, what do I want to be if I ever grow up?!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Good thread! I am currently taking a course to become a vet assistant!

[Jessika]

I went through this for years after graduating High School and never finishing college. I took a semester of college and then dropped everything to move with my (now) hubby and started working full-time.

I was so worried about finances while I was in school - how would I pay the bills if I couldn't work full time while in school, etc, but hubby sat me down and said look, you gave up everything and packed up and moved to be with me, it's time that I return the favor to you. Apply for school, quit your job, I'll pick up extra work, we'll be fine.

So I applied at a college back in my home town into their Vet Tech program... and got accepted!! True to his word, we packed up and moved back home and we are now living with my in-laws to save money on rent and utilities, but dang it, I'm going to school to do something that I love.

I don't feel so worthless anymore, because now I actually have something planned for my future besides just working to get by.

[Barbara]

When I was a kid I wanted to be an Indian chief
After that an archeologist (I wanted to discover temples in Mexico).
Then a chemist (I wanted the Nobel prize)
Then I studied mathematics and physics (still wanted the Nobel prize
You can see that it took me forever to grow up.
After my degree I had no idea what to do and I did not want to work in a technical company so I started with an encyclopedia publisher as an editor.
And now I have two jobs with another publishing company- I am an editorial director for travel guides in Germany and a general manager of another travel guide company in London
Quite old by now but still curious what life will bring.
Whenever I was worried about my job (and there have been quite some times) I thought I can any time teach kids maths. I could cook in a sandwich bar and I could get a license to drive a taxi. It never came to that but I think it is good to know some simple things that may help you even when you have to emigrate to China

[Suki Wingy]

I don't know! I'm about to graduate HS so that's a question a lot of people have been asking me. Part of me really wants to persue my intrests in genetics and breeding, part of me just doesn't want to deal with it because I can never turn anything in on time and just be a park ranger or something. I'll probably end up doing some freelance graphics and art no matter what.
Within the last few years I have wanted to be a zoologist, archaeologist, geneticist, a professional handler, or just live on the fringe, always moving around and exploring. I find myself more often wishing we had the exploration and discovery opportunities of antiquity. Charles Darwin got to sail around the world on the Beagle for five years developing his theory, writing, discovering new people and animals and climates. I want that. No matter he lived in a closet sized space while aboard.

I'll probably end up doing the peace corps after a year of two of community college, then perhaps army (I can't believe I'm actually considering it) or becoming a groom or working student for a top proffesional dressage or showjumping rider, or one of the two midwestern colleges that have varsity equestrian teams for a degree in equine studies, ecology, zoology, or biology. I can't seem to stay in one place for too long.

For quite a while I wanted to be a zoo keeper, then I learned you needed more than just a four year degree, then the hours are long, pay is cheap, and that leaves no time for my own animals or horses.

[Karen]

I wanted to be an artist. Always has been the top of my list. It's not that it was the only thing on my list, but it was tops!

By 5th grade, maybe 6th, I had it narrowed down to 6 people. If I could be 6 people, then I could pursue everything I wanted to.

[Giselle]

When I was REALLY young, people asked me and I replied, "A vet."

When I hit adolescence, people asked me and I replied, "A vet."

Now that I'm about to embark on the biggest changes of my life, my reply is still, "A vet."

Except, now, I've discovered how much I really like dogs, training, and agility, so I see that in my future somehow =) Okay, so my reply is: "A vet with a slight obsession with agility."

[Alysser]

I am 15 years old, so I am guessing that still counts as growing up. As some of you know, I just recently got my first job working at an amusement. I didn't even start training yet, but it's not really something I see myself doing for the rest of my life. Unless I work 24/7 or am retired I cannot live off this job. I make minimum wage. It's one of those temporary teenager first job type things. It's not really anything permanent and honestly, this is one I'm in for the money.

I don't know what I want to be. It HAS to be something involving animals or photography. I believe I have a pretty good shot at both, though. My true passion is animals. I believe getting this job has opened a lot of doors for me seeing as Six Flags is a HUGE corporation. My local Six flags is the most unique one. It has the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world and more record breaking coasters, etc. It also has the Wild Safari park. Being 15, I am not old enough to work there yet. I plan to work the next 3 years at this Six Flags to show them I am reliable enough then apply for an internship at the Safari Park working behind the scenes and REALLY getting involved in what I want to do. Preparing food, feeding the animals, cleaning cages, and providing enrichment activities and possible training. With this Six Flags job and My FFA/Animal and Batonical sciences program I have a good shot at alot of things. People keep telling me that. Hopefully they are right

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Finally, found what I want to do......

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...64#post2011964

[Twisterdog]

When I was a child I wanted to be a veterinarian (didn't we all?) and/or a cosmetologist. When I was a kid, though, they weren't called "cosmetologists", they were called "beauty operators" ... at least where I lived.

I decided I couldn't be a vet because I really, really cannot stand the sight, or even the thought, of internal organs or surgeries. No brainer there. And I am not really much of a "people person" who is friendly and chatty, so the cosmetology thing was probably out, too.

When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be an attorney. Kind of fizzled in college.

I majored in accounting, and actually worked as a financial analyst for five whole years.

Then I bought a grooming shop and boarding kennel ... hmmm ... full circle to the childhood dreams of veterinarian-without-the-gore and cosmetology? I guess so, although it was unconscious.

I think what I REALLY should have been was a biologist. I LOVED my high school and college biology courses, especially genetics. And I loved the probablily and statistics courses in math.

Alas, I thought I just needed to get a marketable degree where I could support myself immediately after four years of college. I'm a classic underachiever in a family of underachievers. We all seem to value our free time, peace of mind and sanity more than we value money and status. Not necesarily a bad thing, IMO.

Don't know what I'm going to do when the kids are all grown and moved away. Something different ... but don't know what.

[Edwina's Secretary]

My oldest sister retired after more than 30 years in advertising with a major insurance company. She is now the executive director of a non-profit organization.

My next older sister was in education -- truancy program director and teacher of at-risk kids. She retired and now runs the senior program at a couple of Y's and teaches English as a Second Langauge.

I have read that people will have different careers that will be chapters in their lives. So it is never too late to pursue something new!

p.s. I am the much, much younger sister....

[Medusa]

I was so worried about finances while I was in school - how would I pay the bills if I couldn't work full time while in school, etc, but hubby sat me down and said look, you gave up everything and packed up and moved to be with me, it's time that I return the favor to you. Apply for school, quit your job, I'll pick up extra work, we'll be fine.

That's a good husband ya got there.

[Medusa]

I wanted to be a minister and a missionary. I used to watch the faith healers on TV in the 50's and said "I want to make people better", meaning that I wanted to have a part in their healing. I had quite a sickly childhood and my mother convinced me that being a missionary wasn't possible. So later on, I wanted to be an actress and was involved in theater until I got married and became a wife and mom. I regret not becoming a minister but feel that, at the least, I'm helping to heal animals whenever I get the opportunity.

[Laura's Babies]

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a nurse..and a mother... I became a mother and that made me into a nurse and many other things that go with being a mother. I often thought of trying to go to nursing school but my passion has always been cooking and I just sort of fell into that as a profession and have always supported myself as a cook. I LOVE cooking, creating and I can get excited over how pretty a pot of beans will cook up. I find it a very satisfying profession.

I realize a long time ago we ALL have a place in the world and no matter what that place is, be happy with it and don't let other peoples opinion of what you do concern you. If YOU are happy with what you do and can get excited about it, find it satisfying and you are happy doing it, that is your place in the world. I have spent the last 33 years of my life, supporting myself COOKING and I still get as excited about it today as I did in the beginning. This is my place, it makes people happy, I am happy and making a comfortable living at it so what more could you ask for?

[smokey the elder]

I always knew I wanted to do some sort of science, since 2nd grade. By 11th grade I knew I wanted to be a chemist. Then I went to college and faced the "what flavor of chemist?" dilemma. I loved organic class, but only ever succeeded in synthesizing stuff that could be best found in the La Brea tar pits! Eventually, I wandered into various fields of analytical chemistry, and have been doing that for 20+ years.

If I ever hit the lotto and become indepently wealthy I want to do pet sitting, and do more stuff with my rescue group.