If you could go back what would you be............?

I was too hasty in getting married and having children. I wish now I had taken my fathers advice and had a career. Not sure what I would have done though, some form of social work, I think.

A midwife ...... just never got round to it

I would do nothing differently.

My experiences through life has made me who I am. Sure, I made questionable decisions, but also some brilliant decisions and were it not for my chosen path through life I would not have my lovely Husband and Son and amazing Granddaughter.

If I could turn back time I wouldn't have finished with a boy was going out with (I was 18).

Met him again when I was 64 and married him.

I had, in between that what turned out to be a very unhappy 20 year marriage, then I had the courage to leave.

Work wise - I was happy in my first job - typist. However, at 36 I got a degree and went into teaching. That became my love up till the day I retired.

I did enjoy teaching but have always wanted to do a horticultural degree in Kew. What an opportunity that would have been.

I have a Master's in English Language and Literature, but it was no good to me. I did Shakespeare's 26 plays, what good has that done for me? Taught for 2 years, got married. Divorced. Don't regret having the children, but wished I did more with my life. Would have liked to do something with crime and investigation.

Barrister or accountant

I would have liked to be a researcher for children's TV programmes - not in front of the camera but behind. I love looking things up and finding things out.

I worked in hospital admin all my life, but wish I'd gone to art college. It was just never considered to be a 'proper' thing to do, not academic enough, and I would never earn a living from it, so I never pursued it. A big regret.

I would have loved to have become a hairdresser but chased the higher paypacket offered by The Post Office on their then switchboards.

Single

I would have been a doctor, or worked in a cool independent record shop, or run my own care home.

Midgey that made me laugh!!

Given the choice I would probably\ stay single - but then I wouldn't have my son & daughter & wonderful grandchildren.

I would definitely not get married at 20 as I did and I would definitely choose a different partner.

Definitely some kind of social work or caring career for me. At 16 I was told I would never make a social worker as I wasn't clever enough (true) . I then had my son at 18 and so my future was signed, sealed and delivered. I had made my bed!

Like you have said Mossfar I would not have married my baby son's father (the marriage lasted weeks) and I ended up as a single parent anyway with the stress and hassle of having to get divorced.

I would follow the same career in biomedical science, but when I misread the title I thought to myself that what I would come back as would be a pet cat! What a lovely life they lead!

Having to earn a living (because there was no financial back-up anywhere for me) determined my career straight after University.

However, I'd have loved to have gone into acting. I'd have loved that, but it doesn't pay immediately and most actors spend long periods of time 'resting' so not for me. I needed the security of a regular wage. I'd have also liked to have been a journalist and kick myself that I took the safe route, career-wise, in my early twenties.

I feel mine's a life unfulfilled so I intend to join an am-dram group one day. (Just need the courage to give it ago. Not sure many groups require women in their 60s to tread the boards.)

Gone to art school

A journalist.

Single. No marriage, and frankly, no children.

Other than that, I'd still be a teacher. No desire to be a head teacher, but maybe more specialised somehow.

I could (and should?) have done a degree in languages and become a bilingual lawyer. As it was, I took a post grad teaching qualification which led me to wonderful experience working in Africa. I specially enjoyed teaching adults. So I really can't regret my decision. But I would come back as a linguist in some shape or form.

I absolutely loved my career as a textile designer, but if I’d been any good at chemistry, I would rather have liked to be a perfumer/perfume chemist .

An archivist. I remember that years ago, at school, a man came to talk to us about his job with the London Evening Standard newspaper. His name was John King and he was an archivist at the paper. He name that job sound so interesting, I would have loved to have gone into something like that. Maybe later on becoming an archivist with a county records office. Fascinating.

When I was 15 I was offered an audition for the National Youth Theatre, just getting into its stride then. My Dad said no, they could in those days, so I got on with the rest of my life. A boy who was offered an audition with me went on to join the company, studied at RADA, and after we'd left school the next time I saw him was on TV! A memory I buried for many years which resurfaced maybe 20/25 years ago when a friend asked me what would I have been. It was hard to stop the tears coming to my eyes.

A book conservator. I saw a programme about the subject years ago, and it was so interesting.
I don't regret mental health nursing. I loved it, and it gave me a wonderful career, but I do love old books. Unfortunately I only have half a dozen.