“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
This question is frequently asked of most of us during childhood. And in the beginning we seem so sure.
In my first year of primary school I shared a classroom with future doctors, nurses, firemen, acrobats, astronaut’s, singers and sports heroes.
When the teacher called my name, after a few seconds in contemplation, I confidently answered: “Cat”. Which I considered the best life anyone could possibly have. Everybody laughed of course & I felt cross that the instructions for the lesson had not been properly explained.
The next time somebody asked me the question I answered just as sincerely: “actress and movie director”. As it turned out, this idea was met with more skepticism than “cat”.
This made me even more cross & a little obsessed with trying to find the right answer to the question.
At some point people stop asking us this question. And for those that are lucky or driven, or had un-divorced supportive parents, we stop asking and start doing whatever it is that we chose to do… Or not.
I am now 29 and still asking myself what the hell I want to be or do and I still get just as cross and stressed out about it as I did when I was five.
The idea to write about this came after a conversation with my younger sister who at 23 is also looking for answers in the quest for career fulfilment.
Her latest idea is to adopt some nice but strict Asian parents that will direct her in what she needs to do and force her to stick to it by feeding her with fear of disappointment and dishonour.
Well why not? Anything is now possible in this crazy world right? Right?
Back to my own quest:
I think back to my primary school class and I wonder out of those 33 potential doctors & astronaut’s, who if any, fulfilled their dreams?
I made a list and surprisingly I managed to remember everybody’s name, first and second, with no trouble at all. Now the easy way to find out would be Facebook, but I deactivated my account months ago & wasn’t too keen on going back, (that’s another story for another time). I also want to know how many of them are happy in their current choice of life path? something I would better gauge in person than through the net of lies.
So mission set, I took my list and caught a bus to my old home town.
I only knew the whereabouts of two primary school friends that I am still in touch with. But they might know some more. So it was a good, and, well; the only place to start.
I will update this post with my findings as and when I get them,
In the mean time I will continue to write my rantings,
and also consider the wise words of two great minds;
Noel Coward When he said ‘Work is more fun than fun’
And then everything this guy says;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pscjBGTr_o
Originally Published @ cusscake.blogspot.co.uk
October 10 2012 17:49 Pacific Standard Time
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