Interview Chatter

58 opinions for What Did You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

• Jennifer
  Apr 2, 2008 at 1:12 am

  I wanted to act - in theater, not film or tv. I did actually act for years in the theater. Did all kinds of plays, danced, sang, etc.

  Then I started volunteering and learned how much I liked working with disabled kids, and homeless youth. Basically social work. Both theater and social work are all or nothing sort of gigs (at least to me) and I had to make a decision.

  I choose working with youth. Later, the same thing happened when I morphed into writing, it was social work or writing. All or nothing. I guess that’s just who I am, I don’t like PT jobs as much as full time focus. But when I was a kid, I was such a star. I couldn’t see me anywhere else but on the stage. It was my whole world as a kid.

• GreatManagement
  Apr 2, 2008 at 10:16 am

  I have to say I had no idea what I wanted to be.

  I do remember going to the careers room at school. Careers room sounds elaborate doesn’t it? Well it was a small room with a couple of posters and a box of cards. Each card had details of the different jobs there were around (I am talking about 30 years ago - bear that in mind) and the salary.

  This, and only day I visited the careers room I went through all the cards looking for the job with best salary. It was an Actuary.

  So that’s what I wanted to be. Then I found out you need to have a mathematic degree and then spend 5 - 7 years further study and pass all the Actuarial exams. No wonder they earn so much, I thought.

  I didn’t want to do all that studying.

  So I left school, went to college dropped out after a year.

  I was fed up with studying. I was 19 and wanted to earn some money.

  My first job was right in the middle of London – the finance city. I started in a Life Assurance company as a pensions clerk, applied to an internal role to join the computing department and that was the start of my great career.

  During my career I have managed teams of 1000’s, purchased and sold numerous companies, managed multi-million dollar projects, been outsourced, taken over and merged several times. I have also had the opportunities to travel and work around the world.

  I have loved my career but I did stumble upon it.

  Andrew

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 2, 2008 at 6:48 pm

  Jennifer and Andrew! Thank you both for getting things rolling. I would love to hear more about your careers. Please let me know if either of you would be interested in sharing a little more specifics of what you do and the path to getting there. I would love to feature some of my readers this month given the focus.

  You are welcome to send me an email or leave another comment. I don’t have a particular format in mind, I would just like you to share a little more, and I will feature you. If you are interested let me know. If you want to share a picture of yourself or your office, let me know that as well.

  Thanks for visiting Interview Chatter!

• greatmanagement
  Apr 3, 2008 at 5:38 pm

  Darlene,

  I’d be more than happy to share much more!

  Andrew

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 3, 2008 at 9:52 pm

  Hey Andrew! Thanks! Just send me what you would like to share regarding your career. Feel free to send it to my email address and I will feature you!! Thanks!

• On A Personal Note: Where in the World is Darlene?
  Apr 4, 2008 at 10:11 am

  [...] first leg of my flight. He was very friendly, and we got to talking about what we do. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up? And he said he is doing it. He wanted to be in sales and that is what he is doing. It was great to [...]

• And The Winner Is…
  Apr 7, 2008 at 7:21 pm

  [...] are running a contest this month here on the Business Channel, in honor of Take Your Daughter and Son to Work Day. [...]

• Phyllis B. Horsley
  Apr 8, 2008 at 4:22 pm

  I wanted to make the world a better place for everybody to live, work and frow old

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 8, 2008 at 4:39 pm

  Hi Aunt Phyllis, Thanks for stopping by Interview Chatter today and leaving a comment. You are entered into two contest!! I will let you know if you win!

• Jenn McDaniel
  Apr 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm

  I wanted to be a doctor!

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 8, 2008 at 5:24 pm

  Hey Jenn, Thanks for visiting today. Get some of your friends to visit.

• Ashley Thompson
  Apr 8, 2008 at 5:44 pm

  I wanted to be a princess!

• Paula T
  Apr 8, 2008 at 7:02 pm

  I knew from the time I did my term paper in the 8th grade that I wanted to do something with computers. I was so fascinated with how they looked, what they could do, and the fact that someone would be creating new and improved ones all the time.
  When I turned 18 and graduated high school, I had to make up my mind what I was going to do and how to do it. My mom looked into the military for me. We found out I could get computer operations training in the Army and expand from there. I signed up at 17 1/2 (delayed entry) and joined a month later. Once I completed basic training in Ft. McClellan, Ala., some academic instructors tried to convince me to become a systems analyst, but I wanted hands on the computers and stuck to my guns to become a computer operator. After basic, I was PCS’s (permanent change of station for you non-military folk) to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Ind. I underwent about 8 weeks of intensive computer operations training for Univac 1004/1005 computers….the kind that had punched paper cards that were created on a data entry key punch machine, then sorted on a sorter that had to be hard wired to sort the cards and print, then run through a collator that also had to be hard wired. This process may have to take place numerous times before feeding the properly sorted cards through the mainframe. I stuck with the Army for 8 1/2 yr. and it really paid off.
  I went to work for a major retail food chain when I got out of the Army and added PC’s to my experience while working for Safeway. I was able to work on an IBM, a Wang, a Tandem, and a Unix mainframe during my tenure with Safeway.
  My work experiences have taken me down numerous paths from life and health insurance to claims preparer to secretarial duties and even to my current job with the federal government (SSA) working in the paperless section of the mailroom. I thank God for each every experience for I was able to learn to stand no matter what the situation or the duration of the circumstances. The race isn’t given to the swift or the strong, but to the one who endures to the end. God bless.
  Paula T

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 8, 2008 at 7:12 pm

  Hey Paula, Thank you for visiting Interview Chatter and sharing your story! You are in the contest!! Thanks!

• dana
  Apr 8, 2008 at 7:17 pm

  I wanted to be an Obstetrician. I eventually realized that science was not for me. Managing people and business operations suited me better. So I pursued a career in Human Resources. I also took on an operations management position as well. So far I have attained my professional goals. Now I want to focus on building my own business as all MBA’s should.

• kathy
  Apr 8, 2008 at 10:02 pm

  I always wanted to be an attorney. Unfortunately, I never got to become one. Instead of college, I opted to get married right out of high school. Now, I’m a stay-at-home fiancé, and am looking at taking classes to pursue my dream. I might be 34, but I think I’d be more committed to school now than I was 17 years ago.

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 8, 2008 at 10:14 pm

  Hi Kathy,

  Thank you for stopping by Interview Chatter. I trust that you will fulfill your dream! Go for it!! There are times and seasons for all of us. Your time is now!! What do you want to study in school?

• kathy
  Apr 8, 2008 at 10:28 pm

  I’m debating between getting my law degree (corporate law or criminal justice….haven’t quite decided), or something with telecommunications. I spent 15 of the 17 years since High School working in the telecom field. I could do a degree in telecommunications with a minor in computer science, since I also spent that time doing various computer jobs.

• Amy G.
  Apr 9, 2008 at 2:39 am

  I never really had one thing that I wished I could be when I grew up. I always thought it would be cool to be a famous singer or actress. Or whenever people would ask me this question I would give a smart ass answer like “a billionaire/winner of a lottery. Even after graduating from college with a degree in psychology (after considering other majors like business or social work), I’m still not closer to knowing what I want to be when I grow up. And I have a feeling I will have that same answer when I’m 90 years old. The only thing I can say for an answer to this question is I want to be happy.

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 9, 2008 at 5:37 am

  Kathy - no matter what you study, you will do well. Go for it, and as you begin to take classes, you will know which direction to go in. Do what you want to do rather than what is expedient. Enjoy!

  I am back in school working on my Masters and I am enjoying myself. Taking my time doing it, but having fun!! Good luck to you!!

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 9, 2008 at 5:39 am

  Hi Amy! Thanks for stopping by and visiting Interview Chatter. I like your story. Being Happy is all about choosing it!!!

  Stop by Interview Chatter any time!

• Leslie
  Apr 9, 2008 at 6:53 am

  I wanted to be a veterinarian, as I have always loved all kinds of animals. That’s not what I ended up doing, but I have had quite a variety of ‘pets’ in my house over the years (mostly of my son’s) from dogs & cats to a ferret, bearded dragon, Savannah monitor & ball pythons. Never dull…

• Leslie
  Apr 9, 2008 at 6:55 am

  Your books sound interesting. My job will soon be ending & I could use all the help I can get…

• adonna
  Apr 9, 2008 at 7:02 am

  I remember when I was in 3rd grade, my teacher asked us to write an essay on the very same topic. I wrote I wanted to be an actor, singer, school teacher and a business woman (I envisioned carrying a briefcase). The reason my memory of this essay is so vivid is because that very teacher sent me the essay as a high school graduation present. Throughout my life I have managed to accomplish all on the list. It’s amazing to me if you have a vision for your life, God is faithful to complete.

• C. LaMont DeVance
  Apr 9, 2008 at 9:42 am

  I was in 2nd or 3rd grade when it was clear to me thatI I wanted to be an oceanographer like Jaques Cousteau.

• lisa
  Apr 9, 2008 at 11:10 am

  I know when I was a 8 yrs. old I wanted to be a actress. I was dressed up like different characters from television shows and make pretend I was them. When I was 13 my mom enrolled me at Childrens theater association and I fell in love with it. Years later I went back to theater at arena players and bush up on my skills. My grandmother who was a preacher wanted me to be a lawyer or preacher but I told her I think God have me gear for something else. I have also love teaching children and it is funny when something you used to do back then and you go into a totally different direction but God brings you back to what you gear too. Currently while working from home I am also working with a after school program part time with kids in the inner city. I am also looking to go back to school this fall for radio and tv broadcasting. After being in the corporate world for over 20 years I had to do soul searching and re-examing myself life and ask God what am I gear to do. And now although I don’t make the big megga $$$ working for a Major Corp. I enjoy what I do and I know that God will make that vision come to pass because just like the last person comment, God is faithful to complete.

• Jess
  Apr 9, 2008 at 12:19 pm

  When i was wee little i wanted to be a princess of course. Then I wanted to be an art teacher. When i was 12 until my mid-teens i wanted to join the peace corp and travel to different countries helping people.

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 9, 2008 at 12:30 pm

  Dana, Jess, C. Lamont, Adonna, Lisa, Leslie, Thank you all for visiting Interview Chatter! All of you have entered the b5 Business Channel contest and my contest/giveaway.

  Leslie - I am available to assist you in your job search. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. You can send an email separately or leave another comment!

  Feel free to stop by Interview Chatter any time and tell all your friends about this site!

• Karen Mermel
  Apr 9, 2008 at 5:12 pm

  I wanted desperately to be an astronomer. There was no money for college so I couldn’t go. I still have it as a life’s goal but can’t find just the right school in the area that will take me.

• Eugene Fields
  Apr 9, 2008 at 7:20 pm

  Hi Darlene. I wanted to play in the NFL, be a prostetic engineer, and a millionaire. Wait a minute! So, how did I end up being a police officer? I didn’t even like the police when I was young. I guess that old saying is true. If you can’t beat’em, join em’!

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 9, 2008 at 7:33 pm

  Hi Eugene! Thanks for stopping by Interview Chatter!! I am really glad you became a police officer. I personally feel much safer knowing you are one of America’s finest!

• Just A Quick Reminder… Business Channel Contest
  Apr 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm

  [...] Lots of people have stopped by to share what they wanted to be when they grew up. How about you? What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing [...]

• Bettina H.
  Apr 11, 2008 at 12:38 pm

  My name is Bettina. I am almost 8 years old. When I grow up I want to be a prowfesheno (professional) dancer. Why I like dancing is because it is exercise and it’s movement. I like dancing at the Block parties and sharing the good news about Christ so that pepole(people) can get saved.

• Bethany H.
  Apr 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm

  My name is Bethany. I am 10 years old. When I grow up I would like to teach. I like having fun with kids and helping people to know Jesus. Iwant to change kids lives forever. I would like to teach kindergarten or second grade. They are easy to work with. There’s lots of cool things to do with them.

• Brianna H.
  Apr 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm

  Hello. My name is Brianna. I am 12 years old. When I grow up I want to be an author. I want to be a writer because I want to show my God-given ability and lead others to Christ at the same time. Also, I want to write because it’s something I love doing. I could write and write and write if I had the time! Writing is great entertainment too. If you have a group of children to read to you can put yourself into the story and act it out! This is why I want to be an author.

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 11, 2008 at 8:35 pm

  Hi Bettina, Bethany and Brianna!! Thank you all for visiting Interview Chatter and participating in our contest!! I love the fact that each of you are very clear about what you want to do as adults!! If you trust God with your life, he will direct your path and order your footsteps so that whether you are a dancer, a teacher, or a writer, you will fulfill the call of God on your lives and you will definitely teach people about Jesus!! I love you all and I will pray for you as God grows each of you into beautiful women for HIM! God Bless you!!

  Tell your mommy thank you for allowing you to share your dreams with my readers and with me!!

  Ms. Darlene

• Vicki
  Apr 12, 2008 at 2:42 am

  I wanted to be a model when I grew up.

• Vicki
  Apr 12, 2008 at 2:46 am

  I said I wanted to be a model when I grew up. I’m kind of close to that. I just didn’t know it would a role model. I teach and some of the students do exactly what I do. I stick pencils and pens in my hair and sure enough I have girls that are doing the same thing! Better make sure they copy something good!!!!

• toya5411
  Apr 12, 2008 at 7:28 am

  When I was little, I originally wanted to be a pediatric doctor. As I got older, my dreams changed. At one time, I wanted to deliver babies, then I wanted to be a psychiatrist. By the time I graduated from high school, I decided that I wanted to be a nurse. I went to Coppin State University while I worked full time at Popeyes. I decided that I was not interested in staying at Popeyes for four years while I completed college, so I left Coppin and attended Tesst College of Technology and graduated with a certificate in medical assisting. The plan was to become a medical assistant so that I would make more money and go back to school for nursing. I got pregnant before I right after completing my program at Tesst. I was still able to work as a medical assistant, but was unable to go right back to school. That was in 2005. It is now 2008 and I am currently enrolled at Essex community College. I am in the nursing program. I will be a nurse in no time!

• Doreen
  Apr 13, 2008 at 8:40 pm

  My calling in life was to be a teacher..that I knew from forever. Alas, once I discovered the public school system, my dreams were crushed.

  They were renewed when I discovered Montessori and found an approach that respected children.

  Unfortunately, another calling intervened. Maybe not really unfortunate…my daughter was born with severe, multiple disabilities as a result of lack of oxygen at birth.

  The calling became that of support person and advocate for persons who have severe disabilities.

  I spent so much time and energy volunteering for “the cause” I was depleted. Time to refocus on myself and my daughter.

  As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.”

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 13, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  Hi Doreen! Thank you for stopping by and sharing a glimpse of your story and your life!! I love the quote. I may use it next Sunday for my thought for the day! How old is your daughter? What has been the most significant thing you have advocated for? I am very interested in hearing more.

  Thanks again for stopping by and please come back again! Have a great night!

• Book Winners!!
  Apr 14, 2008 at 12:16 pm

  [...] I had a contest last week for those of you who may have missed it. We are running a contest this month here on the Business Channel, in honor of Take Your Daughter and Son to Work Day. [...]

• Cheryl Larimer
  Apr 14, 2008 at 8:22 pm

  Growing up all I wanted to be was a mom. I got my wish and raised a wonderful son. Now that he is an adult when I grow up I want to race motorcycles.

• Business Channel Contest: Andrew’s Story
  Apr 16, 2008 at 8:10 pm

  [...] The Business Channel Contest is going VERY well and more than 100 readers have shared their childhood dream… “when I grow up I want to be…” here at Interview Chatter. Here’s what I know, there are more people who read Interview Chatter that could share their childhood dream job. All you need to do is scroll down to the comments and share what you wanted to be when you grew up. Easy!! Last week I gave away two books, 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions. I have one more book to give away this month, between now and April 20, if you leave your comment. That is all it takes to play! [...]

• So, What Did You Want to be When You Grow Up?
  Apr 19, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  [...] what did you want to be when you grow up? What are you waiting for? Add your dream and enter the contest!! I can’t wait to hear from [...]

• Judy
  Apr 19, 2008 at 7:56 pm

  I wanted to be a veterinarian. Now I’m just a dog lover……….with four kids!

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 6:54 am

  I wanted to be a doctor because I liked helping people get better, plus I was good in biology during high school. But then I took an engineering degree, so that didn’t happen.

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 6:58 am

  I also had dreamt of being a model, but I never grew that tall!! So, being a model was certainly out of the question :P

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 6:59 am

  I wanted to be a children’s book writer. I still hope that one can be achieved in the future :)

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 7:01 am

  I also wanted to be a singer, but it seems that I don’t own a voice that will sell millions of albums :P

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 7:25 am

  I had wanted to be wedding planner at some point because I love the thought of helping loving couples planning their special day. I do help out my friends with their wedding plans though :)

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 7:27 am

  I want to be a good child and help support my parents once they retire. I truly appreciate all they had done for me and want to be able to provide them well, as they have done for me :)

• bunny
  Apr 20, 2008 at 7:28 am

  I had also wanted to be a VJ because I thought I knew all the latest entertainment news. Funny though, that now most of my friends are in the entertainment world, but I’m not. However, I’m glad that I’m not because I’ve found out that that’s not the path I wish to take

• Joseph Boltz
  Apr 20, 2008 at 4:13 pm

  What did you want to be when you grow up?

  That is the $25 answer, well I’m not sure yet. I thought about being a teacher (math - social studies), a interior designer (according to my career test in high school), accountant (did go to college for that), but I don’t think I have ever really said “I want to be……. when I grow up” and now at age 41 I don’t think I have grown up yet. I am still a big kid at heart.

  Yes, like many my age, I’ve had quite a few jobs (gardener, store clerk, assistant manager, store manager, loan officer, buyer, territory manager, warehouse stocker, dishwasher, merhandiser, student, uncle, friend) including unemployed at the moment.

  I guess when I do decide to grow up I would like to be a father a child would love and appreciate no matter what the circumstances. To have the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time.

  So I guess to answer your question simply, I don’t ever want to grow up! I want to always stay a child at heart and continue doing what I do best - everything that makes me happy!

  Joseph

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 20, 2008 at 4:48 pm

  Hi Joseph, Thank you for stopping by Interview Chatter and sharing your story. I love your story and may share it over the next couple of days. I love that you are a child at heart. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Enjoy living!!

• Darlene McDaniel
  Apr 20, 2008 at 4:49 pm

  Cheryl, Bunny and Judy, Thank you all for stopping by Interview Chatter and sharing you dream. Please feel free to stop by any time!!

• amy s
  Apr 20, 2008 at 5:51 pm

  i wanted to be a dancer but an knee injury made me give up my dream.
  so now i work as an actress in a local theater

• Reminder: What I Want To Be…
  Apr 27, 2008 at 8:25 pm

  [...] have had great dialog this month on Interview Chatter about “What you want to be when you grow up”. One comment was selected by our Channel Editor here at the Business Channel. Click here to see the [...]

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