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What did you want to be when you grew up?

(149 Posts)
Newatthis Wed 25-Aug-21 17:03:51

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an archaeologist.

FindingNemo15 Thu 26-Aug-21 11:19:01

Happy - still waiting.

jaybee66 Thu 26-Aug-21 11:19:23

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

Humbertbear Thu 26-Aug-21 11:20:53

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.

Silvertwigs Thu 26-Aug-21 11:24:03

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

Aepgirl Thu 26-Aug-21 11:31:38

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.

Gwenisgreat1 Thu 26-Aug-21 11:33:46

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

Alioop Thu 26-Aug-21 11:42:39

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.

Hetty58 Thu 26-Aug-21 11:45:32

I haven't decided yet.

pen50 Thu 26-Aug-21 11:48:28

Astronomer or nuclear physicist.

I'm an accountant sad.

Theoddbird Thu 26-Aug-21 11:59:27

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.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Thu 26-Aug-21 12:05:03

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....

Juliet27 Thu 26-Aug-21 12:05:43

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

nannypiano Thu 26-Aug-21 12:07:19

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.

JaneJudge Thu 26-Aug-21 12:09:39

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! grin

Krispii Thu 26-Aug-21 12:15:21

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.

Paperbackwriter Thu 26-Aug-21 12:20:33

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.

inishowen Thu 26-Aug-21 12:31:20

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.

JaneJudge Thu 26-Aug-21 12:34:10

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

Smurf52 Thu 26-Aug-21 12:36:34

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 wink

Grammaretto Thu 26-Aug-21 12:43:48

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...... wink

jaylucy Thu 26-Aug-21 12:53:08

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!!

Lettice Thu 26-Aug-21 12:58:23

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.

grandtanteJE65 Thu 26-Aug-21 13:49:47

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.

nipsmum Thu 26-Aug-21 13:50:22

I wanted to look after children. I trained as a fever nurse, then as a general nurse. I loved nursing and retired after doing it for almost 50 years. Latterly looking after the elderly. I can't imagine doing anything else. I worked in offices for 2 years before I was old enough to do nurse training. I hated office work.

Foxyferret Thu 26-Aug-21 13:59:07

Hotel receptionist or air hostess. Hilarious now as I am too afraid to fly.