Definitely not a policewoman, think of those scratchy polyester uniforms

I remember the last time I uttered the phrase "I want to do x when I grow up" (where x=something amazing). I was in my 20s and out of college, working in a job that fit within my broadcasting degree options. By most accounts, I was already successful. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I felt ridiculous.

Except that I've never really felt like a grownup. Maybe that's because the older we get, the more we feel we have to achieve in order to not be stagnant. In terms of success, the sky's the limit, so I'll always have a long way to go.

I'm also a very different person than I was at 18, when choosing a major had more to do with a creative, engaging course load and less to do with how I might spend the rest of my life. I was on financial aid in college, so money was this exotic thing I didn't have and didn't really obsess over. I also never considered that the rather limiting television market would made it hard for me to just live anywhere, especially since I was graduating into a top market already (at the time, San Francisco ranked #5, behind New York, LA, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Dallas/Ft. Worth has since pushed us to #6). Did I want to move to one of the top 4 markets once I exhausted my options in San Francisco? I had no idea. I was just happy to be out of Sebastopol. Of course, now that the video landscape is changing so rapidly, I have a whole new set of rules to consider.

I think lots of people go through a similar "what does it all mean" period around the time they hit 30, which is right about when you have to stop claiming that you aren't a grownup yet. It's not that I don't like my career or that I feel unfulfilled, it's more of a "wow, I could have been a veterinarian" type of wistfulness. Sure, I could still do that, but I probably won't. Mentally I've missed my window.

But then I think about my dad, who, as a result of never getting a college degreee, suffered through a string of crappy jobs throughout my childhood. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore, so at age 45 he went back to school. And graduated with honors. And then became an elementary school teacher and really really loved his job. I'm sure he wished that he had taken the plunge 20 years earlier, but at least he was finally happy. In that sense, it's never too late.

Personally, I don't fantasize about teaching fractions to fourth graders, but there are a few careers I wouldn't mind pursuing somewhere down the road, such as:

1. Geographical Linguist
2. Travel Photographer
3. Tea Shop Owner
4. Acupuncturist
5. Cat Whisperer

What about you? Kind of a fun exercise.

Comments

[Joseph]

I always wanted to be the guy that cleaned up the roadkill.

[Dennis D]

I sometimes wonder how different things would have been If i had gone through with what i thought i was gonna do, I once signed up for the armed forces but didn't go take the test, that was just out high school, gotta wonder just what i would be doing these days if I had gone through with that. I always wanted to spin tunes and I am still doing that today and I must say Im very happy with doing so. But i really wish i could of been an Astronaut. But that looks like alot of really hard work lol but none the less very rewarding. Ive always also always enjoyed tinkering with computers and have often pondered about taking a course or two to maybe get into repair or certification's. And of course growing up Canadian I wanted to be a Star in the NHL, but that never happened lol.

[Jason Burns]

I think those are all awesome occupations. I love the travel photographer idea. I know it sounds crazy, but I tried to get on as a photographer in Iraq or Afaganistan. I thought that would be a cool way to see the world a bit and take some amazing photos. - JB

[kelly]

~Cellist

~Equestrian

~One of those people who gets paid to read books and decide whether or not they would make good movies

[Jamie]

I know how you feel, except I am still in college and I have the chance to change, but that would defer graduation by about another 2 years. I like being an MIS major, but sometimes i wonder what it would be like if I were studying particle physics. To me, that would be so cool.

I actually want a job like the one that you used to have on Screen Savers. As a girl in high school who was also really nerdy and into computers, it was awesome to see you on TV.

[kelly]

Jamie...don't be afraid to change your major!! I did it twice and I have never regretted it.

[C.]

I like this entry, Sarah. A lot. Good one. Oh, you've got the wheels turning…But I don’t know, as I approach the end of my 30’s I find myself wondering more about what would have been.

As a kid in high school, I had two pretty cool jobs. I helped out some storm chasers, and I worked in and around the death industry. I decided to not pursue the meteorologist path because I loved the rush of storm chasing, but the rest of the gig seemed honestly a bit boring. I just wanted the exciting aspects. I wouldn’t have lasted long. Don’t get me wrong – weather can be interesting, just not ALL the time. At least for me. Plus, when I’m back home during tornado season, I still chase…

I also worked in a funeral home for my cousin, I helped do it all – digging graves, prepping bodies, pick ups, flew all over the states (and sometimes other countries) to escort bodies back, a fill-in pallbearer, and even playing the organ when needed.I then went to Mortician school and after a year and a half I realized it wasn’t for me. To be completely honest, I think deep down inside, I was just in it for the money. (It really is spectacular money and hey, you’re never out of work…) And just doing it for the money is never a good reason. But I also struggled with the deaths of children. I had to do a pick up on Xmas day for an 18 month old. I did a lot of difficult, difficult things – including pick up other children - but that day set off something in me. I knew it wasn’t for me. To this day, I’m still a bit haunted by it.

I sometimes catch myself wondering what life would have been like if Xmas day of 1993 would have been different. Sure, I would have probably made buckets of money, steady work, and had a conversation starting job. But something catapulted me that day and I fell ass-backward into what I do now – and it’s been a great career, (AWESOME BONUS: I wouldn't have met my wife otherwise) and I’ve done far, far more than I should have have been allowed to.

Now I have trouble of a different sort: I know that the next step is to go into teaching. My dream job would be to find a small liberal arts college, in say Montana, Idaho, somewhere remote (I’m getting to where I’ve had enough of the urban – time to go back to my roots.) Buy a fixer-upper, and spend the rest of my days remodeling my house and watching my son grow up. My trouble is I don’t know when. Go too soon, and always wonder what if, or go too late and no one would be interested in me. That’s my struggle. But hey- always evolve – that’s my motto, and it’s worked well for me.

Sorry, I’ll get my own blog. Back to the thing. My jobs:

ChefPilotMaster DetectiveRailroad Engineer (I know, I know…)Forrester

Any of those I’ve pondered from time to time…

[peteo]

Well, like your dad, I went back to school last year, at age 50. I'm finishing a degree that I started in 1970 but never finished because my dad became ill and I had to go work to help. Then as they say, life happened. Now #1 son is graduated & #2 will be done next year. If things work out, I will be graduating with him from the same school, him in Physics and me in Molecular Biology! How cool is that!!..

[Jen]

-Nurse

-Pastry Chef (you don't understand - I make cookies that are so good they make you wanna slap your Momma)

-Full Time Stay at Home Mom (I don't have kids yet)

-Barista at Starbucks (I love coffee. I want to marry coffee and have its babies.)

-Professional Stylist

-Something that doesn't make me work for The Man. (I currently work for The Man. It is killing my soul. I miss my soul.)

[Darla]

This has got me thinking a little more about what I want to do with my life. I'm still in high school and up until this year I have never really thought about what I want to do with my life. I would love to go into television, radio, or photography but living in a very small town in Tennessee leaves me with limited job opportunities in those fields.I know I'll probably end up going to college in one of those areas and never do anything with it. I just hope that I don't end up working at the Lazy-Boy factory like everyone else in this county.Lets just hope I figure it out before the end of my senior year.

[Amanda]

I'm lucky enough to be allowed to follow any fancy that occurs to me (go college!) and I'm studying to be an archaeologist, which I know won't make me any money at all for about a decade. But it makes me happier than anything in the world. :D

Though, if that falls through, I want to be the person who's responsible for designing concert tours. Ah, to be amongst rock stars...

[Chris Milton]

I was going to be a bigtime ccomputational linguistic. For a while I worked in bookstores and libraries, Now I mostly work on big computer systems, programming. Proprietary stuff that I can't show anyone, so nobody believes me when I tell them what I do. But no linguistics.

[Anonymous]

Sarah, wouldn't you already be considered a travel photographer?

[coby]

I am 31. I also hate my job. I went to college to become a teacher. I decided to go back and get a MS in education. I don't like teaching. Kids are okay it's the real world end of it I can't. Other teachers that don't teach. Back stabbing. Teaching is a brutal world. I wanna change direction...but where the hell do you start???

[Jeff B]

Without a doubt, I would go back to school to become a Pediatric Surgeon. I have worked several of this cases in my past life and found them more rewarding than any other case I dealt with. Theres nothing better than seeing a little person have a better chance at life.

[sarah]

@coby- please tell me you're not an English teacher. :)

@Anon- I mean a travel photographer that makes a good living doing it. That would rock.

[semanticdrifter]

My biggest problem is narrowing the list down to just one thing at a time. I've always had the urge to be kind of a Doc Samson/Leonardo Da Vinci/Buckaroo Banzai type. I've never really understood why I couldn't be a professional fighter who runs a law practice, and is also a chef and writes travel books while solving mysteries and building houses.

[kenneth]

me I would like to be a actor but I don't know were to start

[micah]

I'm 29 and still live life like it is a game.

Each accomplishment is like reaching a new level. I just got married two months ago, so that has to be, like, a super-high level.

I keep telling myself that if I keep thinking like a child, I never really have to grow up. So far, it hasn't failed me. I still love a lot of the same things I did when I was a precocious teenager (and/or college slacker). And I don't really see a need to change.

I've found that I can still hold down a well paying job, keep a relationship loving and functional, all while deluding myself that 29 really isn't THAT old.

My choice of alternate professions:

* Archaeologist/Paleontologist* Pastry/Dessert Chef* Photographer* Founder of Successful Start-up

[hillman321]

Welcome to real adulthood.

The ancient Druids did not consider someone to be an adult until the age of 27. Something happens in the mind at that age. The things that seemed so important have fallen to the wayside and real life sets in.

I once met an astrophysicist that was wise.He told me that your vocation is what allows you to pursue your avocation. Very few get to have both in one.

[Saturday]

You likely have 40 years of workforce ahead of you. Go be a vet if you want. Why not? At least you'd be working at something you liked, doing some good, and gaining karma points. Photography and IT can be hobbies for a vet. I don't think it can be the other way around.

[Scott]

I personally wanted to marry Sarah Lane...and call her sugar mama, have two kids, and be the dad that dropped the kids at school, soccer, and made dinner.

[Mike]

In regards to what you wrote Sarah, im going through the same decisions as you. Im 23 and after screwing around for 5+ years out of high school and SOME community college I finally realized it was time to grow up and pick a profession. So now I find myself in an actual college university with a major in Communications/Broadcasting. But is it what I really want to do? I dont know. When it all comes down to it, I don't think im very much into the "growing up" thing. I find your words inspiring and reassuring. I know I want to enjoy my job and thats something that you look like you do at revision3. Thanks!

CheersMike

[sarah]

@Scott- I don't think I'd be a good sugar mama. Too much pressure. Plus, sugar rots your teeth.

[Mike]

I would like to be a radio DJ, that would be kinda cool. I'm still in high school, so I got time.

[Lookman Mojeed]

I'm 17 right now in 12th grade and I feel like I must choose a major that will give me that comfortable life in 5-10 years. I feel like im being too over-influenced by my family on my major just for them to support me financially. Its nice to know that its never too late to go back to school if your not satisfied because there are dozens of things i want to do, i just dont want to me cheated out of it or left with a crappy uninteresting life. They say 2/3 of freshman change their majors : (

[BrionG]

"... a few careers I wouldn't mind pursuing somewhere down the road, such as:"- Futurist.- Speculative Science Fiction writer.- Haiku creator.- Kendo student.- Professional player of Go.

[Shayna]

Hi Sarah! I absolutely love your blog (so much so that I followed your writing here after first falling for "The Traveling Newlyweds" on iVillage)! I always wanted to be a doctor, but after suffering a string of serious illnesses in college, I started a (much less demanding) career as I writer. I loved my job (as a magazine columnist) for four years, but at the end of the day, there was always just a little something missing. So, I enrolled in a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-medical program and next May, I will be applying to Medical school! Here's to good health and no regrets! (And for what it's worth, I think that you've already accomplished a lot of REALLY cool things in your life! You haven't missed your window, you're just tapping into potential you didn't realize you had.)

[denver]

I don't need to be anything otherThan a prison guard's sonI don't need to be anything otherThan a specialist's sonI don't have to be anyone otherThan the birth of two souls in onePart of where I'm going, is knowing where I'm coming from

I don't want to beAnything other than what I've been trying to be latelyAll I have to doIs think of me and I have peace of mindI'm tired of looking 'round roomsWondering what I've got to doOr who I'm supposed to beI don't want to be anything other than me

I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turnI'm surrounded by imposters everywhere I turnI'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turnAm I the only one who noticed?I can't be the only one who's learned!



Can I have everyone's attention please?If you're not like this and that, you're gonna have to leaveI came from the mountainThe crust of creationMy whole situation-made from clay to stoneAnd now I'm telling everybody

[ZA]

Pastry Chef

Anthropologist

Tea and/or used books shop owner

I hope I haven't missed my window of opportunity, but I am in grad school, pursuing none of the above :)

[Claudine]

I always though of being something great - over achieving type of goals:President of the United StatesPower Lawyer fighting for justice for the massesCongress womanAstronaut

Then there is the creative side of me that wanted to be more like:Advertising guruOwn a movie theaterMake jewelry for a livingI worked as a presenter at a museum and I loved working with the kids and adults as they learned, but I don't want to be a teacher. More like a creative director in the learning process - whatever that means.

But, I do enjoy computer programming for the moment - it allows me to use both sides of my brain. Because you know "where ever you go there you are..." and that makes me pretty happy right now!

[Bunny Emerald]

* Scribe for cat witticisms* Beachcomber* Artisan* Mystic* Sleuth

[Liana]

If I could do anything, I would go to Culinary School and become a fantasmic chef. :)

I still could...

[john d'arc]

Sarah, you understand that you are a married, successful woman who has seen most of the world and probably done things that almost no one else has done. The way your life has turned out is pretty darn sweet, so don't sell yourself short. You might even be a household name. Some people might have even wanted to be like you at a point.

Some of us.

(Well, come on, TechTV seemed like a dream job. I was young and impressionable. I'd still take a job like that in a heartbeat if so offered)

[Melissa]

I have had a few different jobs, chef, financial advisor, bank manager, all of which didn't feel like my true calling. I always grew up wanting to be a veterinarian but once in college, decided I would not find my life's ambition in that career. I am now in a transition and looking for a sales job which lets me move around and meet different people. I live in San Francisco and I love it! I am fascinated by all of the startups and would love to work for a company close to the ground floor, and help it grow to be a huge success.

I am still happy with my finance/economics degree. the hardest part is finding like minded people.

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