I was pretty consistent with career aspirations as a kid so the memories are clear. Age 4-5: Gymnast. Weird aspiration for a 4 year old boy but I grew up in a proudly "progressive" household. Nixed due to lack of athleticism. Age 6-8: Veterinarian. Had plans to open a clinic with my friends. Age 8-12: Lawyer. I had no idea what being a lawyer was like, just wanted to make lots of money. Age 13: Genetic scientist. I infrequently wish that I had followed up with this one but it would mean being stuck in a lab doing research and TA'ing freshman biology right now and I don't mind the cube life (so far). Age 14 onwards: Engineer. I went through the engineer path and it's been a pretty solid choice. I now work as a software engineer for a mid-cap computer hardware company. The only other thing I could see myself doing is some sort of personal training or fitness instruction since that's my biggest hobby. I'm fairly sure I can combine those two skills and interests, just waiting to get a solid idea down.
I don't really remember what I wanted to be when I was really young. There were a few weeks where I was considering law as I'm really fucking persuasive and love to argue (my 5th grader mind thought that's all I'd need). But I quickly decided that I'd be bored whenever I wasn't in a court room. Mostly, I was trying to balance my desire for money, with my geeky interests. I flip-flopped between a math, electrical engineering, and commerce degree. However, from the end of grade 5 onwards, I was pretty set on going into computer science. I figured that with my love of problem solving, and the chance to make a pretty good living, this would be a good choice. I'm currently in my 3rd year of undergrad and hating it. Not the comp sci aspect, rather the actual going to university part. When I think about how much money I could make being a dance instructor, it's hard to continue studying for finals.
I wanted to be a fighter pilot. Then my vision went to shit in middle school. I excelled in every English class I took, I read a shit ton of books, and already as a seventh-grader I figured life would be best spent coasting by on natural talents and not actually working hard for anything. So I decided if I couldn't fly fucking badass F-16s, I'd grow up to be a writer. I was that kid in high school who spent all his class time scribbling fantasy novels in a black composition notebook. And though I didn't show them to anybody except my girlfriend (what she saw in me, I don't know) I thought I was J.R.R. Tolkien reincarnate. Then I got to college. I intended on majoring in Creative Writing, but the CRW101 teacher gave me my first negative feedback ever and I said "fuck this" and switched to English, where once again, I got As without even trying. My first job after graduation was at a small daily newspaper with a circulation of about 20,000. I'm unemployed right now but, because it's what I'm most qualified for, my next job likely will be in journalism as well. I still try to write fiction on the side but it's hard to force yourself to write after doing it eight hours every day. Going back, I wish I'd pursued a better degree in college (high school students, say it with me: Computer fucking Science) and entered into a high-demand, well-paying field, rather than a dying one. Plus I'd be more likely to write on the side if I didn't do it for a living.
As a kid I always wanted to be an astronaut. Still kind of do. Then I wanted to make video games, and almost got a scholorship from Cisco for programming. Then I wanted to be an actor, which was a terrible idea. Currently I am a Karaoke host. And before any of you judge me, you should know I'm EXPECTED to drink at work. And I meet drunk bar skanks on a daily basis.
When I was young I wanted to make video games, then I wanted to do PR. Right now my official job title is the poor bastard who has to put up with drunk peoples shit. (Bouncer) If I ever get my ass back into school I will probably just go into teaching. (Good vacations, plus I could help coach a wrestling team.)
I have two feelings on this. I watched Top Gun way too much as a kid, and it led to me being in the Navy (though not a pilot, unfortunately). But I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Because they gave us a completely predictable test, and I was too smart for it, I thought I should be a doctor. Anyone else have that problem? The "This is what you're suited to be" test was too predictable?
Professional Freestyle BMX rider. I actually was on the way, had a couple sponsors, was placing well in competitions, and then I destroyed my knee. Took me out for close to a year, right when I got a car. After a year of driving, didn't want anything to do with the bike anymore. So then I chose rock star. Read every single autobiography, all the industry type of junk, and got pretty far in to it. Was in an alt-rock Pearl Stone Temple Alice in Soundgarden band that was courted by a major, and then the three other guys in the band all got married, or had kids. One of them hosts an open mic. I realized that the big radio rock dream was not only highly unlikely, but a bad business decision. Started playing a style of music I actually liked, and have played in 47 of 50 states so far. I'm currently a touring fill-in for a band you've never heard of, and own a small company that makes stuff for other bass players.
When I was three, I wanted to be a cow. Yeah, I know, I lived in Wisconsin, and it looked like a pretty peaceful life. Fuck off, I was three. At 5, I wanted to be a firefighter. Then I realized that fire was hot, and I'm exceedingly pain averse. That went by the wayside. At 10, I wanted to be a truck driver. I have no idea why. Maybe it was the allure of ugly hookers and meth. At 11, my life changed. My parents bought me Van Halen's "1984" as a gift because I was playing in our little league championship the next day. I popped in the tape (yeah, I'm old) and listened. The album opens with 1984, and I thought, 'ok, interesting.' Then "Jump" came on, and I thought, 'wow, I like this song.' Then it happened. The opening strains of "Panama" came growling out of the speaker like an angry puma on the hunt. I was transfixed. At that moment, I said to myself, 'I don't know what makes that sound, but whatever it is, that's what I want to do with my life.' So from 11-23 I wanted to be a musician. I can play three instruments well, but I never got to the point where I could make a living off of it. Actually, I doubted myself, but that's another story for another time. Now, I'm an attorney and a cook. And a writer. I write about being a frustrated musician, attorney and cook. So I should say I'm a pretty boring writer. I'm hoping that my future career will be a porn star. Once the industry moves to 'shorts' (films of 18 seconds or less)- I'll be in.