What did/do you want to be when you grow up?

[Sara]

Up until about age 15 I wanted to be a vet.  Then I worked for one and changed my mind.     Then I went to zoology, and to horse training/behaviorialist.  Now I'm stuck...my top 2 are nursing (RN) and social worker, maybe combine them. 

[Bajanne]

I wanted to be anything but a teacher.  My dad was the principal of a school.  My mother was a teacher before she was married. I was born on school property.  My aunt was the principal of a school.  My first 3 brothers and sisters were teachers when I was born.  No teaching for me!
I wanted to be a lawyer.  But what turned me off, was the fact that in those days (the 50s, 60s) Latin was very important for lawyers and I never thought I would have passed it for my GCE (General Certificate of Education, like High School Diploma, but an external British exam).  And the irony is that I did pass (barely, I must add).
When I finished my 'A' levels (grade 13), I had no idea what I wanted to do, but since I was not in my home country (we were living in Antigua then) I decided to work for 2 years to get some money since university, though free, was back in my home country and my parents would not have been there.  So I said  I might as well teach, since that would keep my mind in educational things.
And after one month, I WAS CAUGHT!  I could never see myself being anything other than a teacher, even today with the challenges of this modern generation.

[goofynina]

I really didnt think about it much when i was younger,  too busy having fun, ditching school, partying just acting crazy with my friends,  i did want to work with the elderly, so i became a cna and worked in a convalescent hospital,  it was too sad there, especially getting attached to the patients and then they pass away, so i quit that and started taking care of kids, got a job in customer service for a large printing place, was not happy, needed to be with kids, so i quit that, got licensed and ran a daycare for 14 years (well, almost 14) until i got sick then i had to close it down, move back with my mom and well, here i am,   now,  all i want to be when i grow up is ALIVE

[deej]

I always wanted to be an astronaut. But at that time, (late 50´s and early 60´s) only men were being trained as astronauts. I was sooooo disappointed. Then I thought about being a scientist and working for NASA, but again that fell through. I swore I would never be a teacher because teachers were mean and crabby people (previous experience from grade school  ). I tried many, many jobs but by the time I went to college, I knew I was a "born" teacher.  Now I teach English as a second language (ESL). I have a passion for teaching and would never give it up.

[kevno]

Alive

[SpeedFleX]

well when i was young i wanted to do something with computers well soon i will be starting my apprenticeship as a computer technician I can't wait!

[kitkatz]

Darn this computer.  I had a great post and the great white internet shark ate it!  Just because I changed the volume on the computer!  Drat!

Here goes. Let's see if I can remember what I wrote a few minutes ago.

I am teacher now. I am hooked on special ed kids. 
Originally I wanted to be a doctor, but when I saw a film of the eye and an eye operation I kinda was grossed out and thought, not for me.  Then thought about being a nurse, but could not get past the needles thought.  Got a degree in Anthropology so I could work in a museum, but did not really get into looking for work.  I would love to dig at an archeology site and be paid for it.  But the money is frugal there and you have to be published to be recognized in the field.  And what did I know as a fresh graduate.  Went into education because my great great grandmother was a teacher, great grandma was a teacher, grandma taught, and mother taught.  Great great grandma wa sone of the first credentialed teachers in San Diego, CA. So why not? 
 I am not a good teacher when I am thirty five to one, but a GREAT teacher as support for other teachers or with a small class size!  I love my special ed classes!

[deej]

well when i was young i wanted to do something with computers well soon i will be starting my apprenticeship as a computer technician I can't wait!

You still are young!!  Good luck with the apprenticeship.

[Joe Paul]

I really wanted to be a jet mechanic, but when I was younger,they told me id be better suited for the electronics side of the repair. I ended up being an auto technician, specialising in on board computer diagnostics and repair.The money was good, but not as good as it would have been, working for the airlines. Id have had more than enough time in to retire from that job, with a nice pension. As it turned out, at 40, I did retire, the hard way. I fell and broke 2 vertebrae in my lower back, ending my career. Now 5 years later, to the day almost, my kidneys quit on me. This isn't my idea of a happy retirement.

[Epoman]

HONESTLY. I read Donald Trumps book "The Art of the Deal" back when I was about 12 or 13. I really wanted to be a Real Estate Developer. I knew all about Trump and LOVED Trump WAYYYYY before he became a household name. When I turned 18 I got my Real Estate Sales license and was off to a good start even though I was only working part-time in real estate due to working full-time managing a major retail drug store. I also had a couple of other jobs alone the way I was VERY driven. Then I found out I needed dialysis and the rest is history. Who knows what I could have accomplished. 

[Rerun]

I grew up in the 60's and 70's when women entered the work force.  I didn't know what I wanted to be, but I wanted to work outside the home.

When I entered College/University, I wanted to be a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).  My first class the Professor, who didn't want to teach "Freshman" Accounting, made it really hard and scared me out of that career.  (I wish I would have stayed now)

Then I wanted to be an Archaeologist or Earth Scientist.  My counselor talked me out of it.  Said there were no jobs and no money.  A year later Mt. St. Helen's blew 500 miles away from my home.  Tons of jobs!!

So, I graduated in Advertising with a Business minor in 1983.  Worked for a Newspaper in advertising for 2 years, got married and moved and got a job with the Government.  Glad I did because my kidneys failed 2 years later in 1987.  I received my transplant in 1988 and it lasted over 17 years.  Back on dialysis in September 2005, and was approved for disability in July of 2006.  I get 40% of my high 3 year salary, but I'm much rather be healthy and working.  I just could not do both and do eather any justice.

[goofynina]

Who knows what I could have accomplished. 

Boss, dont look at what you "could've accomplished"   look at what you "have accomplished"  The work you have done here has helped literally hundreds of patients, myself included, in so many ways.  Ihatedialysis.com has become such a big part of my life, i dont remember what i used to do before i found this site but i can tell you that not a day goes by that i dont look forward to coming here and reading all the new info that has been shared,  whether it be a joke, a recipe or someone just venting, bottom line is i know i am not alone and YOU made that all possible.  So again, from the bottom of my heart, i thank you...

[jdat]

I wanted to be an engineer around 9 years old but I was told I needed to be good at math so I gave that up but that still followed me the rest of my life. I worked in a research office for a couple years in the US but with no diploma and now back in Europe they don't give a hoot about my experience they want a diploma.

I never went to college because I had too many interests and I was honestly depressed living in the area where I would have gone to school ( ohio ).

Otherwise I am/was interested in graphic design but never fully pursued that.

To come back to the original question; I really don't know.
It's an accumulation of things ( esrd only being a small part of it ) that have made me very confused about who I am and what I want to be. 

[MelissaJean]

Since I was in first grade I wanted to be a teacher.  I just got my first job as a Special Education teacher which starts next Monday.  I know it is hard to work with dialysis but I just want one year.  One year of teaching and my life's complete.  Although  I wouldn't complain if I get more.... it is great to see the other teachers on the site... gives me some hope.   

[Rerun]

Melissa Jean, the people on this site who still work are teachers.  It seems to be a job that works around/with dialysis.  Plus Summers Off!  (Sorry, I had to say that)  And every other holiday you can think of!  (Sorry, I had to add that) 

My sister is a teacher and so is one of my best friends.  I give them crap too.

[Bajanne]

Melissa Jean, the people on this site who still work are teachers.  It seems to be a job that works around/with dialysis.  Plus Summers Off!  (Sorry, I had to say that)  And every other holiday you can think of!  (Sorry, I had to add that) 

My sister is a teacher and so is one of my best friends.  I give them crap too.

Well, it seems that there are people in our Education Department who think that teachers get too much time off.  And the thing is that many of the administrators were originally teachers!  They do everything to try and cut down on our time off.  Students start their summer holidays as soon as the seniors graduate - second last week in June.  But teachers have to stay on until the end of the first week of July.
The students are due back on Sept 04.  However, we have to attend seminars the week of Aug 21 and then we have to report to our school on Aug 29.  Two years ago, many teachers left out the seminar and their pay was docked (we get paid during summer months).
I just consider that life is not fair to me. When I was a student, they told us that the holidays were not for us, but for the teachers.  Now I am a teacher, they say the holidays are for the students not the teachers.
When I was a student (50s, 60s) students had little rights - whatever the teachers did was right.  Now I am a teacher, the students have all the rights, and ours are being eroded daily.  Just can't win, can I? [I am also one of those people who can help but choose the line that moves the slowest]

[deej]

Since I was in first grade I wanted to be a teacher. I just got my first job as a Special Education teacher which starts next Monday. I know it is hard to work with dialysis but I just want one year. One year of teaching and my life's complete. Although I wouldn't complain if I get more.... it is great to see the other teachers on the site... gives me some hope.

One year is never enough!!! You´re going to get addicted to teaching. Then you´ll see how you can teach and be on dialysis at the same time. In fact, I think dialysis will make you a better teacher because you know how precious life is and you will teach your kids like there´s no tomorrow. And the better you teach, the better your students will respond to you and then you will give more and the snowball just keeps getting bigger. At least it´s that way with me.  You´ll do great!!

[goofynina]

great advice deej.  MelissaJean, go for it, you seem like you would be a great teacher.  Good Luck..

[JerseyGirl]

I've always wanted to be a nurse and am glad I am.  My mother really pushed me and provided the resources I needed.  I was (am) very lucky I am doing what I love to do.  We all have "could have, should have, would haves" in our life -  we're only human after all!  Can't look backward - have to look to the future. 
BTW Melissajean how is the cycler going?  I am happy you are going to take that job after all - you will do well.  I'll bet you make a great teacher! 

[Hawkeye]

This is gonna sound funny, but when I was little I wanted to be Kermit The Frog.  Yes I know he is not real, and yes I also knew that then.  I wanted to do his voice.  I used to imitate the voices from cartoons and shows like the Muppets all the time and thought that would be the perfect job.  Well needless to say that didn't pan out, so instead I ended up doing my second favorite thing.  Pulling stuff apart, seeing out it works / fixing it, and putting it back together.  Sometimes I have a few parts left over (Just Kidding) but I enjoy it.  Now if only I could find a better place to do it.

[Joe Paul]

Haweye, having left over parts shows signs of being an excellent "shade tree" mechanic LOL j/k

[Hawkeye]

Hawkeye, having left over parts shows signs of being an excellent "shade tree" mechanic LOL j/k

Not such a good thing when you work on Dialysis machines for a living though.

[Sara]

Kind of dumb question for the teachers, but I've thought about doing it because I love working with kids, I love learning in general and enjoy teaching others, but I hate making speeches.  I've always had a lot of anxiety about it.  But I can go tutor or play with a group of kids and it's not a big deal.  Does that sound like what you do, or do you feel it's more like standing up and making a public speech?

[Bajanne]

Public speech is not teaching.  Just speaking is the way to make the kids of today tune you out.  Our job is to encourage them to do the speaking.

[kitkatz]

Teaching is addictive.  You will do fine. Remember to REST on the weekends and holidays.  Also put some of the hand sanitizer in your classroom and teach the kids to use it daily.  You use it too.  Wipe your desks clean at least once a week to keep germs down.  (No, the custodians do NOT wipe the desks in our school).  I get to do it regularly if I want a clean classroom.