What did you want to be when you grew up?

A ballet dancer until the grown-ups insisted that was impossible because my big toes are longer than the next two on both feet. As they said I had a lovely singing voice, I changed my dream to becomng an opera singer.

That didn't work out either, so I changed completely and did something I wanted and came up with by myself and enjoyed it.

My other dream of having at least four children, six for preference didn't come true either.

A Naturalist, never went anywhere without a little magnifying glass. Loved spiders. Read everything I could lay my hands on about the flora and fauna of GB. However, studied psychology I became a probation officer, with a speciality for serious offenders.

Firstly a Nurse, then a Hairdresser (and was told by my primary school teacher if that was all I wanted to do, he had little hope for me!) and then in my teens a Veterinary Nurse!
None of which I have done, often due to either academic qualifications that I was lacking at the time or other restrictions such as age and training places available!
The thought of being a hairdresser and having to clean out the plug holes in the sinks as part of the job, quit frankly now makes me feel ill!!

It was frowned upon for me back then too Theoddbird but I must have worn down the opposition because I got to go to Art School and wear all those crazy outfits.
My siblings were at university so the parental pride was satisfied and it was thought, as a girl, I would probably get married and not need to make a living......

Kennel maid or vet’s assistant. Then when I left school in 1969 and into fashion, becoming a clerk typist in the city of London, my priorities changed. £5 a week as kennel maid or £10 a week working in the city. No contest

I also went through a phase of wanting to work in a Jazz club, Ronnie Scots in particular

A fashion designer. I spent hours every day drawing designs. There was no chance I was going to art school. I left school and went straight into a job as an office junior. I then moved to an architects office and drooled over plans for buildings! I think that if I'd been male I'd have been an architect. Now I binge watch house renovation shows to get my fix.

I think I always wanted to do something that involved writing. I got to it via a couple of other careers first though.
For those who still want to write but think they're too old - just go for it. I think it's better to have life experiences under your belt first anyway, because you've seen a lot and have something to say.

I wanted to be a deep sea diver - I blame years of watching Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso.

I left school at 16 and went into a bank because that's what other girls were doing, then ended up in computer operations at a power station. After my 4 children, I went into credit control and administration. From there, a bit of a leap into 16 years of digital forensics, from which I have just taken early retirement.

Amberone

When I was about five apparently I announced that I wanted to be a fire engine. I think I fell in love with the idea of having flashing lights and making a lot of noise.

By the time I was about 12 I wanted to be an air hostess.

By the time I was 14 I wanted to go to art school and be a fashion designer.

By the time I was 16 I just wanted to leave school and have a pay packet.

This was also me minus the fire engine comment!

I ended up at 16 as a shop window dresser. Wasn't really what I wanted to do, but didn't fancy office work, which seemed to be the only other option at the time. Once I passed my driving test I knew without any doubt that I wanted to teach driving. Loved it for 45 years. If I were to be able to choose a career now I would choose to be a psychologist.

I wanted to be a Romany gypsy or a native Indian ??
Profession wise I wanted to be a vet

A nurse or a concert pianist. Ended up mostly in office /admin/office management jobs and a brief spell as a probation service officer. When the Time Team series started airing, I SO wished I'd become an archaeologist. I never looked like Carenza Lewis but I do look a bit like Mary Beard....

I wanted to be a fashion designer. I still have all my drawings done in early 60s There is even the mini skirt...way before Mary Quant. My parents would not let me go to art college 'with all those hippies' I am still interested in clothes and interior design. I was told I was a talented sculptor when in my 40s. I am now an ancient hippy living on a narrow boat.

Astronomer or nuclear physicist.

I'm an accountant .

I haven't decided yet.

A hairdresser, but my mum said no as they didn't make much money. I think she got that wrong, it's a fortune going to a salon now.

Dress designer, failed miserably! But when my daughters were small I did design and make a lot of their clothes!!

I wanted to work in a theatre - but at the age of 5ish, I suppose to me that was being an actress. I never managed that but have always done amateur dramatics - the nearest I got to my dream.

A Milliner or Blacksmith, I ended up in the Ambulance field!

I think I was born a teacher. It was all I ever wanted to be. I taught in secondary schools but then moved into HE where I taught the staff and post - grads. Retired but still teaching my grandchildren to cook.

A secretary or a civil servant. I became a teacher.

Happy - still waiting.

I loved horses and wanted to be a jockey. I was certainly small and light enough. Unfortunately I was petrified of horses which seemed huge then!

Study Home Economics or Journalist. Went abroad with my husband not long after leaving school, so never studied Home Economics, but have done other Open University studies, and been a Freelance Journalist....and love to cook, keep house and sew etc, etc, so 'kind of' doing the Home Economics bit!!